Ancient Pictographs and Shells in the Desert

Our first stop on the way to Big Bend National Park was the Calliham Unit of the Choke Canyon State Park. We stayed just one night here, but enjoyed walking the nature trails. It’s a great park for bird lovers, we saw some new varieties that were just gorgeous – a Green Jay, Vermillion Flycatcher, the Crested Caracara and many others. Few were willing to hold still long enough for a decent picture so you’ll just have to take my word on it. Lol.

A whole tree full of red wing blackbirds!

Female cardinal (maybe), definitely in that family. Lol.

Crested Caracara - majestic dude. :) 

While there, we decided to buy an annual Texas State Park Pass for $70, otherwise they tack on a per/person $3-$5 daily entrance fee even if you’re camping in the park. It adds up quick so we figured just a week or so in the state parks and the pass should pay for itself. We’ve heard good things about several of the state parks on our route, so we’re hoping it’s a worthwhile investment. 

Our second stop was Seminole Canyon State Park near Comstock, Texas. Several folks we talked to at Padre Island had recommended it, so we booked four nights. Environmentally, it’s a drastic change of pace. We’ve gone from swamp to oceanfront to scrubland desert. Image how tickled I was to find there is still an opportunity for shelling here! There is a desert adapted land snail that leaves a lovely white shell behind. The snails still need moisture, so when the environment gets too dry they retreat into their shells, seal the entrance and wait for rain. I went on the hunt and picked up several until Rog finally reminded me to leave some for somebody else. Umph. There are plenty out there.

Seminole Canyon

Shelling in the desert!

The other thing we found to add to the collection were totally awesome fossilized shells. This whole area used to be an ocean reef and when the sandstone breaks down it releases the fossilized shells. They look like tiny little ram’s horns. Fun.

Fossilized shells - something new to add to the collection!

The other big draw at Seminole Canyon State Park are the pictographs – ancient painted rock art. Along the canyon, there are large undercut areas that were used as shelters by nomadic hunter-gatherer tribes about 4000 years ago. The Park offers guided tours to view the rock art. I got a quick lesson from the ranger at check-in when I asked about the petroglyph tour – petroglyphs are etched into the rock; pictographs are painted onto the rock. See, I’m learning already! Lol. The tour was great and the volunteer guide spent a lot of time talking about how the nomadic tribes survived and thrived in this hostile environment. Really fascinating stuff. 

Puking panther pictograph. Hey, it's all open to interpretation. :)

Butterfly shaman???

I was as fascinated with the rock formations as the ancient rock art. Lol.

More awesome fossils. 

There are miles of hiking, biking trails around the canyon too. We have been enjoying the views – the Canyon Rim loop trail was 6+ miles and had several scenic overlooks including a view across the Rio Grande into Mexico. Sheer cliff walls on both sides of the canyon – we don’t need no stinkin’ wall here! I can’t imagine the expense, not to mention ruining a beautiful natural area. What a waste.

Rog on the Canyon Rim Trail. 

Can't miss these trail markers. Lol. 

The Maker of Peace - park sculpture.

Windmills driven pumps and fencing changed the nature of ranching.

Birdie was snacking on the bugs that were attracted to the yucca bloom.

Stone bake oven for the 1882 Southern Pacific RR construction workers.

Amistad Reservoir contributes to the Rio Grande.

Looking across the Rio Grande into Mexico. No wall needed, thank you very much. 

US on the left, Mexico on the right, Rio Grande in the middle. 

We are out of alligator territory, but now it is snakes we need to watch for. So different from hiking at home when the worst thing you might step on is a slug! :)  We saw a troop of about 10 wild pigs (javelinas or the collared peccary if you want to get technical) and tried to follow them. The pigs disappeared into the scrub and I about jumped out of my skin when a giant jackrabbit shot out of the brush.  Lol.

Don't need to tell me twice!

So excited to see our first javelina. 

Honestly though, if I had to pick a fight between the desert animals or the plants. I’m going with the beasties. The plants here are all ridiculously armed! Dang near everything has spikes, barbs, thorns, poison or some combination thereof!

Prickly Pear

Prickly Something or Other! :) 

See the nest in the middle - this bird is either a genius or suicidal. Lol. 

Cactus growing on the cliffs above the Rio Grande.

Horse Crippler Cactus. Yep, that's a thing. 

The pokey plants even made it into the sunset picture! 

I’m going to whine a little more about the lack of connectivity. Our Verizon cell service varies between a blazing fast (NOT) tiny nubbin of 1x and no service at all. It’s not enough to make a phone call and barely enough for an occasional text. The park office (about a mile away) and the campground restroom (about ¼ mile away) have some Wifi. So I make the pilgrimage at least once a day to update Fitbit and Stridekick. It’s been four days since my e-mail updated and the last text I tried to send has been “pending” for over two days. Please don’t take a lack of response personally! Lol.  My understanding is that most of the sites in Big Bend are also totally without service. We plan on being there a week or so.  Hmmmm... data withdrawals, this may not be pretty. Lol.

Our plan is to add a night or two at a private RV park in Marathon, TX before we move into Big Bend. Our hot water heater is acting up and we’re hoping to find some parts in the town of Alpine about 30 miles away. I am no fan of cold showers, not even in the desert! We also want to take advantage of their Wifi and stock up on groceries before leaving civilization (or what passes for it around here). :)