South Padre Island to Big Bend

As the temperature rose we looked for ways to beat the heat.  What better way than to go to the beach for a few days?  We spent Easter weekend at the county beach park on South Padre Island right across the road from the World Birding Centre wetlands.

Windblown dune sand covers half of the road the farther north you drive on the Island

Maxine on the beach.  You are allowed to drive on most of the beaches in Texas.
Some are better packed than others - we were cautious so we didn't get stuck.

Daily removal of sand from the road, except on weekends.

Enjoying the sunshine on South Padre Island beach

Our indoor dining area - used when too cold, dark or windy to eat outside

BBQ gulf shrimp was our Easter dinner

Eventually we had to begin our slow journey northward, along the Rio Grande with stops to check out the World Birding Centre locations along the way.  We will post another entry with pictures of the wildlife we saw.

A huge cactus in our campsite at the AmeriCana RV park near Mission TX

At Bentson Rio Grande State Park.  We did see some hungry looking alligators there.

Huisache, a type of acacia tree that we saw all over south Texas

The prickly pear cacti were beginning to bloom

On our way north west to Big Bend we passed Laredo, where we only stopped for groceries and gas as the temperature was 42 degrees that day.  No cowboys wrapped in white linen were lying about, but there were lots of Border Patrol trucks cruising around.  We stayed at Seminole Canyon State Park for two nights.  It was very hot there so we didn't go on the guided walk to see the rock paintings.  We sat in the shade for the afternoon watching cactus wrens, mockingbirds and a hooded oriole.

Seminole Canyon

At Big Bend National Park we camped in the mountains at Chisos Basin, where it was a pleasant 26 degrees due to the high elevation.  Down along the Rio Grande Valley it was in the mid 30s - far too hot for much strenuous activity.

Casa Grande Mountain, behind our campsite, with deer in foreground.

Morning light on the Chisos Mountains as we headed out for a day of sightseeing

The yuccas were in bloom at Big Bend

A windy view point of the Chisos Mountains or perhaps just bedhead?

The Rio Grande as it flows along between Mexico and Texas.
The cliff is in Mexico.  

The water in the Rio Grande at this point is very shallow but there are signs all over saying how dangerous it is to wade across the river.  They really just don't want anyone going over to the Mexican side.

Paintbrush along the roadside

The view from our table in Chisos Basin campground.