We pack up again and are
on our way with many stops today.
First off we view the
'Mule Ears' which really are natural dikes. Millions of years ago
magma was trying to find a way up and filled cracks in the soft
limestone. Since then, the limestone has eroded away, but the harder
solidified magma still stands.
Next stop is the 'Lower
Burro Mesa Pouroff'. A pouroff is a seasonal waterfall. Add millions
of years to the mix and you get a vertical channel eroded in the
rock.
Niels and Lucy have a go a
climbing it but it's pretty smooth. Eventually Niels manages to get
up quite a bit.
The weather has been
closing in over the last few days and our views are pretty limited
today...
Whilst this creates some
dramatic views, it also means that going up to the top of Chiros
Mountain is going to be pointless. The weather is not looking any
better for the next few days so unfortunately we're going to have to
miss out.
On our way out of the park
the landscape changes again. Instead of mountains we see deep and
wide valleys in the plateau. This section is called 'The Badlands'
and is similar to 'The Badlands' that we saw on a previous trip to
Alberta.
We drive to Terlingua, a
mining ghost town. In the early 1900's the Mercury mining was very
good here, but it did not last very long.
Now, only few people live
here but tourism keeps the town going.
After another big drive we
make it to our next campground. Niels and Lucy have fun on the saddle
swing.
Today: 297km - 5h
Total: 20,630km - 408h24m
