The $5,000 question

On the US side of the border, we call the river that separates the US from Mexico Rio Grande.  In Mexico, they call that same river Rio Bravo.  As a result of this name difference, we weren’t sure which river we were visiting today.  When we got in on the US side, it was probably grand.  When we stepped out in Mexico and got back in, I suppose it was bravo. Hard to say.

Today started with a really nice breakfast at the lodge resturant.  When we wrapped that up, we took a second shot at the Lost Mine Trail.  It apppears that it hasn’t been lost in quite some time, because whenever we arrive at the trailhead, the parking lot is full.  Somebody found it.  Our plan was to try parking at Lost Mine and hiking that.  If we couldn’t do it, we would go on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.  When we slowly rolled past the totally full parking area, I looked at Cas and said, “Scenic Drive?”  He said, “Yep.”  

It’s a pretty great scenic drive, actually.  We pulled off the road and looked at things, walked out, took photos and saw lots of beautiful stuff.  We did that on the way to Terlingua.  We had a reservation at 1 pm to do a river float.  I called the company that does this while we were in  Marathon and booked the last two spots in their tour this afternoon.  We got to a place called Far Flung Adventures for our trip down the Rio Grande.  They do it with kayaks when the water level is good, which it was today.  I was initially a little worried about having to pilot a kayak.  I use the rowing machine at the gym, but I usually tap out after about 15 minutes.  The woman on the phone to whom I was expressing this concern let me know that 10 year old kids do this trip all the time.  I think she was trying to tell me that I was being a little too concerned about my rowing abilities.  

Cas and I had a really great time.  I am so glad we did that- we pulled up with our group on the Mexico side for a moment to have a mid-trip snack, then we got back in and headed downstream a little more for the return to the US.  Nobody even asked me for my passport.  I hadn’t planned to make it to Mexico on spring break, but there I was.  I guess there are lots of stories people have about accidentally ending up in Mexico during Spring Break, but none of them are probably this tame.  

When we got back to the point where the tour company was set to retrieve the kayaks and hoist them all onto a trailer for return to their facility, there was a sign on the side of the water that said unauthorized crossing of the border at other than a point of entry would result in a $5,000 fine.  I hope they don’t know where to send the bill, and I hope that ignorance of the law is a proper excuse, because I wasn’t entirely sure we were in Mexico until I asked the person from the tour company who directed us to step on foireign soil.  

Tomorrow ends our adventure.  I think we will take one more stab at the Lost Mine Trail- hopefully, it will be a little more lost to all the other visitors on a Sunday morning.  After that, we head back to Dallas.  Nothing like hanging out in a beautiful National Park to remind you how flat and dull Dallas is.  I love home, but it’s not exactly brimming with the splendor of nature or anything.  

Anyhow, I had yet another fantastic day with Cas.  He’s a whole lot of fun to travel with.  Here’s what he looks like when kayaking in International Waters, by the way:

See you back home.