Camping in the Big Bend

One of the awesome things about living in Alpine Texas is that it puts us about as close to the Big Bend National Park as you can get. Joe and I have really fallen in love with this park in the year and a half that we have been in Alpine. We go down about once a month to camp and go fishing (well, Joe fishes and the kids and I play in the sand/mud and go rock hunting). We bought a "new" tent at a yard sale last summer and the kids absolutely love to help us set it up and run in and out of it throughout the afternoon. Joe gets a little grumpy about having toddlers running off with his tent poles or stakes but the kids really do get a thrill out of seeing the massive thing come together.

Donations accepted.

McKay picking up leaves.

This last weekend we did a little more research and decided that we could take Jadyn and McKay on a couple of short hikes. We have been wary of hiking with the kids in the past because we were afraid that they would get bored riding in the backpacks , or that we would get tired of carrying them. As it turns out, both Jadyn and McKay love getting carted around on our backs, though Jadyn was a surprisingly good independent hiker! She hiked almost a whole mile all on her own power! Being right across from Mexico meant that we got to see a lot of "illegal" Mexican merchandise placed strategically among the rocks with plastic "donation" containers. Jade thought the little wire and bead work animals were soooo cool. She wanted one so bad but we thought it would probably be a bad thing to get arrested over an illegitimate souvenir.

Left corner:Boats. Right corner: Victor.

In line with this aspect of the park, we also got to meet "The singing Mexican named Victor," who is a Mexican man who crosses the river at a very narrow spot and sings Mexican ballads to the tourists while standing behind his own plastic donation container. He really had a great voice, and seeing him made our hike that much more fun.

Beyond setting up the tent and going hiking, we also went fishing of course. Joe went a few times on his own and then met up with the kids and I to take Jadyn fishing a couple of times. Jadyn caught a turtle! I wish I had been there to take a picture but sadly I was on McKay-nap-duty at the time. Jadyn told me all about it though, she thought it was pretty awesome.

The kids helping Joe fish.

Returning from fishing.

Boquias Canyon!

We all got a little sunburned this trip, but it was worth it for all of the fun memories! We can't wait to go back soon!