Texas – We’re gonna need a bigger fan.

Although I surely could have stayed and enjoyed Bayou Segnette State Park and New Orleans for several more days, it was time to press on toward Big Bend National Park.  The drive yesterday was all interstate and 70mph so I made it all the way to the west side of Houston.  375 miles.  Today was about the same and in the middle of the afternoon, I arrived at Seminole Canyon State Park just north of Del Rio, TX on the Rio Grande.   http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/seminole_canyon/

After two long days of driving (375 miles is long when driving Dora), I’ll be glad to stay here for two nights before moving on to Big Bend.  It was interesting seeing the scenery change from green to brown to grayish brown and prickly all the while watching the temps rise from the 60’s to the 70’s to the 80’s, hence the title of this post.  Much like Richard Dreyfus’ remark in Jaws when he finally saw the shark, “we’re gonna need a bigger boat”, Misty and Mosely  were quick to point out upon our arrival in Texas, “we’re gonna need a bigger fan”.   Here they are in front of the bigger fan with the pitifully small old one nearby for perspective.

After crossing from Louisiana into Texas I stopped at this rest area and really enjoyed the sculptures or ironwork or whatever it’s called.  I also realized you guys have not seen “Dora” since LoLo Pass, so I brought her out for the photo op.  Here she is in front of the Great State of Texas.

It took me awhile to learn why the flags are at half mast.  After many “I don’t knows”, I was told by an unsure Park Ranger that he thought a Texas Supreme Court Justice had died.

Today as I apparently neared the border, I came upon a Border Patrol Station for which I had to stop and answer questions like, “are you a citizen of the United States?” and “where are you going?” while the dog gave Dora a 5 second sniff before resuming his position in the shade with his handler.  I guess I look about as white bread as they come,  so I was told to move along without further ado.

Tomorrow I plan to ride my freshly tuned bike out the trail to the Rio Grande River and have a look see.  In addition to that activity, I plan to take the guided hiking tour of the Canyon and the pictographs therein. (For those of you scoffing at me for taking a guided tour, I must inform you that a guided tour is the only way one is allowed into the Canyon).  I sure hope the pictographs are more exciting than the ones at the National Dinosaur Monument.  You remember how lame those were?  Well, I’ll let you know about these.

Just as a refresher, let’s take a quick peek at the main attraction at the National Dinosaur Monument in Vernal, UT-you know, the one I drove 250 miles out of my way to see.

Yup.  Those are them.  Impressive aren’t they?

While we’re on the topic of Dinosaur Monuments, I will be in Grand Junction, CO in April and understand there is a really good Dinosaur Monument there.  I’ll be sure to check it out and will report back.  In the meantime…remember….just say no to Vernal.

Until next time.