Scooting the Park...

National Parks have a 45 mph (or less) speed limit - it is ideal for a scooter like the PCX.  And, this park (Big Bend National Park) has some great scooting roads.

Before heading out on the scoots, Izzy needed some leash time.  With the Aspect in the background...

This tree is now "hers"...

There were some birds again, letting Izzy know that they weren't happy with her presence.  When one of them landed on a nearby power pedestal, Izzy took the "crouching and chatter" stance.  I then explained to her The Law of the Desert: "Izzy, that is a desert bird.  If something can live in the desert, it can (and will try to) kill you.  Yes, that little bird is that tough.  Don't mess with it.  Really."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"But, I am like a mountain lion."

"In which case, it would be even more embarrassing to have that little bird kick your ass."

With Izzy comfortably back in the coach and the scoots ready, we headed towards the park...

We stopped at the park pay station - this is the first time this week it has been manned.  The Ranger in there was having an issue with his computer and "not getting internet," so he left us standing there with traffic building up behind us while he stood at the window with a phone in his hand.  We both have Geezer Passes, so it would have only taken a few moments.  My only concern was with the cars behind us, thinking we were the hold-up.

He finally looked at our passes and sent us on our way.  While I mentioned cars building up behind us, it was just a few - the traffic this week has been surprisingly sparse.  It has been delightful!  We went by these two bicyclists...

In any other National Park, riding side-by-side would get you flattened.  No shoulders on the roads here, so riding a bicycle is putting your faith that other drivers will "share the road."

You see more of the beautiful scenery on the scoots than in a car or a motorhome...

Our plan: ride the scoots to the Chisos Basin, where there is a lodge and a restaurant.  The road is loaded with curves and changes in elevation... and, we haven't had any place to dine out all week!

A great scooting road.  Some things to watch for, though...

The closest thing to a traffic jam we've seen while here...

It is parking for a trailhead - well, not quite enough parking.

Looking down the mountainside to the campground for this area...

We were in there a few days ago with the CR-V... it is tight - this is the reason for that sign about vehicle length.

Up to the lodge and restaurant, Joan combing her hair after taking off the helmet...

You pass through the gift shop on the way to the restaurant.  We saw these walking sticks just inside the door...

The price: $18.00.  You can buy them in the parking lot of one of the trailheads we were on for $10.00 (direct from the makers).  Or, you may remember when we came across the guy who waded across the Rio Grande to set up his little display... yep, the same walking sticks for $6.00... location, location, location.  ;-)

We stood at the entrance of the restaurant, waiting to see if we would be seated...

The place was packed, but I did scope out an empty table... that hadn't been cleaned.  I saw a young man in a polo shirt with a name tag and asked him if we could sit there.  He said, "I don't work here, but from what I have seen, you sit where you want."

His name tag was for Road Scholars - we used to get those groups at the whale watch company.  I guess he was a tour leader.  Joan was embarrassed by me.  A few moments later, I saw another couple ask the guy how long it would be before they could get a table.  LOL  Only two waiters trying to take care of a bunch of tables... we sat for quite a while before I asked the waiter, who was wearing Boquillas, Mexico t-shirt if we could get the table cleaned and get menus.  He needs a polo shirt and a name tag.  ;-)

Lunch was OK, the view was nice.  When the Road Scholars group left, there were a lot of tables available.  Back to the bikes, and proof that I was there today...

We rode through the campground on our way out of the area - steep and twisty road!  This is what passes for a "campsite" in this particular campground...

No hookups, not level.  Interesting RV, though - when we came up on it from behind, I thought it was a small garbage truck.  XP Campers; I looked them up: billed as an "expedition truck camper."  $40k to $70k, truck not included.

A few more shots as we cruised around the park...

We weren't quite done riding when we left the park, so we decided to ride out past the Terlingua Ghost Town to see if there was more to it... nope.  A tough way to live out here...

We'll be heading out in the morning, plan to get everything ready for rolling this evening.  And, some adult beverages and guitar on the patio.

A wrap up opinion on Big Bend National Park: we have been wanting to see this for years, but it is not "along the way" to anything.  It sits on the US/Mexico border, where the Rio Grande River makes... yep, a big bend.  There is 118 miles of the Rio Grande that runs across the southern border of the park.

It is a big park, over 800,000 acres.  It is ruggedly beautiful.  Not as spectacular as some of the premier parks like Yellowstone, the Tetons, and Yosemite.  But, it is some beautiful scenery that is a definite change from the bleak (my opinion) terrain of west Texas (along I-10 and I-20).  Definitely worth the stop - it takes several days to get a good feel for the place.  Don't expect modern amenities or the "showy turnouts" of other National Parks.  This is one of those places where a drive-through will show you the rugged beauty, but (as we heard a Ranger here say): you have to put in some work to get to the best scenery.

We have been back many times to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.  Love them - we worked "fun summer jobs" in each.  Our niece, Kate, sent me a link to campground host jobs in this park... oh, no thank you.  Great place to visit, it has been on our "list to see"... but I don't see that we'll need to return any time soon.

The RV park in the park is a snug parking lot.  The RV park we are in, that is outside the park, is the "nicest" in the area, but is not much more than a desert lot with hookups.  We will be departing here a LOT dustier than when we arrived.  Izzy seemed to enjoy climbing the dirt hills here, but she is looking forward to some grass, too.  We will be making our way home to the Tropical Tip - with green grass, year-round flowers, palm trees... and lots of water, home to those lovely dolphins.

:-)