At four on 4/4/14

Shortly after four o'clock yesterday 4/4/14 we pulled in at our driveway, ending a 10,000 mile winter sojourn (7000 driving, 3000 sailing). 

We'll take a month off before our next major adventure, to Asia.  

Well, maybe a few days in Moab.

To recap:

4/2/14. The highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Mtn, at 7842 ft. The wind blew 60-70 mph through the campground overnight. 

The trail up:

 

4/3/14. Dusty II with its top popped up on a peninsula in Elephant Butte SP, where primitive camping is only $4 a night. 

4/4/14. My favorite plate todo mundo, the pollo adovo at El Bruno's restaurant in Cuba NM. Our last stop before home. 

Waders

Wading in the Rio Grande at Boquillas Canyon, Big Bend. 

Other sights in Big Bend NP:

Roadrunners can go as fast as 20 mph -- but coyotes have been clocked at 43!

Ocotillo blooming at sunset.

 

South Rim

At 7375 ft elevation on the South Rim of the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend, a fourteen mile hike up to the 2500 ft escarpment overlooking the Rio Grande and Mexico. 

Texans have a saying: you're not a real Texan unless you've been to the South Rim. Well, there we are.

Many years ago I was up here backpacking with my bud Terry Banen.  The view, as Terry was wont to say, is "intense."

French Market

Hot apple beignets at the French Market. 

St Joseph Peninsula State Park

Very nice out-of-the-mainstream park. But the wind!

Yellow flag warnings in the morning. 

Red flag in the afternoon. Sure does hold down the crowds. 

Sun went down, wind went up. 

Cozumel

Back aboard after visiting the Tulum ruins on Friday. 

Back in Tampa today. 

Pano before sailing away. 

Off again

Off again....

In more ways than one!