9/11/09: I arrived at Big Bend National Park. It's a 60 miles south of Marathon, Texas. Marathon is 60 miles south of Fort Stockton and I-10. And Fort Stockton is about halfway between El Paso and San Antonio. The closest town to the north of Big Bend NP is Study Butte. (pron. "stoody-boot"). It was around 2 p.m. when I arrived at the visitor center. This was my first contact with National Park Service personnel. The park ranger at the Visitor Center was very helpful planning out a 6 day adventure of hiking, backpacking, camping and canoeing for me. The first hike was a day hike up the Lost Mine Trail. Only 5 miles in and out. On the hike up the trail I met two hikers heading back down to the trailhead. We all took a break for a few minutes and I learned about the amaryllis plant. The very tall, thin plant is actually known as the Century plant. The plant we stood next to was 12 feet high. I was told these plants bloom once every 20 years or so, then die after their seeds drop. Seemed to me an unusual story. I also got some hints from these fellows about good camping areas in New Mexico. There was a great meditative opportunity at the summit. I sat and let my thoughts drift. There was the warm sun and dry air. I was starting to let the spirit guides communicate. In whatever way my thoughts drifted, I got closer to the peace and calm I'd been seeking.
On the way back to the camp I passed a coyote trying to pull a large snake from the road. On approaching, the coyote fled, leaving the large, dead snake. There were many tarantulas crossing the road. Some spiders made it across the road, some did not. I never saw a large spider in the camp areas or on the trail. I'm just starting to sense that the desert southwest U.S. triggers a Native-American kind of spirituality in me. I enjoyed that.
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