Big views from Big Bend

We entered the park at 11:30 pm traversing the winding roads to our campsite unaware of the beautiful topography that would greet us the next morning. Upon sunrise, we appreciated the messas, rolling hills and countless cacti. First thing we took down our tent since the overpowering wind was sure to blow it away. 

Next, we drove to Chisos Basin to do the iconic Window Trail, a 5 mile round trip along a wash to the titular 'window' peering out of a crack in a canyon. We regretted not eating breakfast. After we finished our hike, we sat in the shade for some much needed R&R.

The high was 106°F, cooking the ever living daylights out of us. The rest of the afternoon was spent checking out the gift shop and playing cards back at our home base. We chatted with a fellow camper who was shockingly going on a very similar trip as us! He just graduated from college and was taking his motorcycle from Kentucky through the South West, up California to Glacier National Park and back through Chicago. His may be one of the better road trips to go on, but ours is cooler. It'll last a month longer and we are on it. 

We called it an early night to wake up at 4 am. Our brother kindly found an AutoZone along our route to get the tools needed to finally change the car's oil. An incredible AutoZone employee helped get most of tools needed, offered to let us change the oil in their parking lot and when that didn't work -- sent us to a cheap tire shop to do the job for us. Thank you AutoZone employee, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5! 

We quickly got groceries for the first time on our trip as we grew weary of our packed snacks. We now drive to Guadalupe National Park. We are appropriately nervous about the heat and excited for what the trails might bring!