Friday, Feb 23 - My, the time is flying by. Still lots of weather back home, according to the MacKays, who filled us in about the 'hood' this evening. Great to talk to them. And even here there is weather. Tucson had snow yesterday, and even Las Vegas has had snow, maybe for the first time. And at home there is the chance of big winds on the week-end. It's been one crazy winter everywhere.

Last we spoke we were trying to decide what to do for our last day in the Big Bend Park area. The choice was to go to the State Big Bend Park, where we spent a day three years ago. There's a neat canyon, Closed Canyon, that we'd hiked, as well as a HooDoo area further along the Rio Grande. So that's what we did. Both hikes were enjoyable, short but worth doing. After that we wandered around the Terlingua Ghost Town, checking out the rather sad old cemetery and other sites. The Ghost Town is going through a rediscovery, so there has been a surge of AirBnBs', which a lot of locals are concerned about. Good to see growth, but sad it's changing the tone of the place.Sounds like the County.

Next day we drove to the Fort Davis Mountains, and set up camp in the State Park. Then we drove up to the McDonald Observatory, and took in a lecture about the Sun. They have the second largest telescope in the world here, and are able to do direct observations of our main star. As with all such lectures, it leaves you feeling totally like a speck of sand in the desert. Two billion stars like the sun in our solar system alone, and zillions of other solar systems in the broad universe. We are but nothing.

We then did a nice little up and down hike back in the park, and called it a day. We were lucky to spot four lovely mule deer at the bird feeding station, which was a highlight. During our stay there, we also saw a few birds we hadn't seen before, and a pair of javelinas, so that was good. Next day, we did a two trail hike of about 5 miles, up a pretty good incline, and then another, and then down a steep grade. The area is very pretty, and although desert in nature, it has  fields of soft yellow grass that lend a different look to the topography.

Next morning, Anna did a 1.5 hour walk with a group that brings homeless dogs to the park, hoping  that someone will adopt one. Anna had a cute little chihuahua, but we didn't let her keep it, mean grand-parents that we are. Then it was on to El Paso, for a reasonably early check in, and laundry chores. They happened to have a hot tub, so that felt pretty good. No wifi or t.v., but we're getting used to that.

Today we went to the Franklin State Park, which is actually within the city limits of El Paso, and did a 3 hour hike, 900 foot vertical, for quite spectacular views of the city, of New Mexico, and across the river to Juarez, a huge metropolis on the Mexican side. It was a fairly tough hike, but well worth it for the views and the exercise.

What next? Tucson has had snow, and quite cold temps, if you can believe it. So we decided to come here to a place most of you have never heard of, Alamogordo, New Mexico. We're north of the huge military base, Fort Bliss, in the White Sands area, not far from where the first Atomic Bomb test was done.  We came here to delay our advance to Tucson, and to visit the Space Museum/Theatre complex here. Got a nice spot in a mobile home park, and went to a terrific grocery store, Albertson's, to stock up. Rain ended the day, but we were snug in our little house, so no matter.

Tomorrow we'll do the Museum Complex, then the White Sands National Monument, and then decide whether to stay here or go on to Las Cruces. Perhaps Tucson on Sunday, when the weather is supposed to be better. After that? Who knows! Anna claims she will depart from Tucson for San Diego, so we have to face that. It's been great having her along for the past couple of weeks, and we'll miss her when she goes out on her own.

One final little bit about interesting people we've met. This one was Phillip, an 80 year old who rides a dirt bike all over the country. He decided after a serious accident when he was young that he would look after one person in his life, and decided that that person was him. So he's knocked around for the rest of his life, here, there, and everywhere. He had many stories, talked non-stop, and clearly has an eye for ladies, as he mentioned several that he had spent time with. He had two pieces of advice for Anna. "One, never go anywhere without clean underwear. And two, marry rich!" He was fun to listen to, as conversation was definitely one way.

That's all for now. More later. Stay tuned. Some pictures follow. The first is of two javelinas that make a daily stop at the bird feeding station to feed on whatever they can scrounge. Along came four mule deer, who were spooked off by the jav's. But one intrepid fellow with a powerful thirst edged his way slowly, ever watchful of his adversaries, and finally got to the water tank for a good drink. Interesting to watch the approach-avoidence the mule deer displayed, all the while ignored by the javelinas. They just kept munching away.
The next three shots were taken this morning on our hike up into the heights of the Franklin Mountains. Which way to go? We made it! Finally a shot of El Paso below, a huge sprawling metropolitan area, especially when Juarez is taken in as part of the scene.