Big Bend Day One

Got lucky for a campsite.  There were only a couple spots left when I arrived, and they were quickly snached up by the the people behind me. 

One of the older volunteer rangers swung by my site when I was setting up. He gave me some really good suggestions for short hikes to fill out my day. 

First I went down to an area called Santa Elena.  Pretty canyon hike with the Rio Grande. Because of the cliffs it is a very safe place because it is too hard for people to try and cross the border in this area.  Very pretty. He also told me  a out a good place by the boat ramp where I could wade into the river and "cross the border".  Technically the center of the river is the border, so I found a shallow spot and went for It!  Lots of kayaks and canoes heading downstream.  

Also went out to an area where there is a pour over for the basin.  Basically that means all of the water that collects in the bowl shaped basin exits at one point. Nice little hike but nothing spectacular.  

There was a really nice full moon that came up early in the evening. I was in the middle of trying to eat dinner, so didn't spend much time trying to get a photo.  It was really bright!  Chilly night and had some noisy young neighbors roll in late, but finally got a decent nights sleep.  Will head up to the mountains area for hikes tomorrow.