This was written as I sat on a rock ledge on March 22, 2011 gazing at the Rio Grande River below as it flows through St. Elena Canyon on the Mexican border in Big Bend N.P. Park  (www.nps.gov/bibe/), Tx.  This morning I found where I watch birds along Terlingua Creek, the mouth of which is downstream where it joins the Rio Grande at the east end of St. Elena Canyon.  During March the Creek may be dry where it meets the river, but there’s water flowing up stream, as well as, intermittent dry sections, which is baffling to me. Where I watched birds this morning there was a pool, but other mornings it isn’t there.
    Last December I saw big healthy coyotes (I almost always see bedraggled ones) and a big bobcat near there, so I thought that area was worth checking out again on this visit. The sun has hit the top of its upward climb, is now sliding down, and I’m getting my shade back. I didn’t see the coyotes or bobcat this year, but I found a great birding spot. One morning as I was photographing the birds I saw motion out of the corner of my eye. I glanced and a catfish had beached itself, then squirmed off the ridge of sand and went back under the overhang of the bank. I also noticed there were tire tracks from a four wheeler a little ways downstream.  The next morning the sand ridge was not there, and there was water covering the tire marks. Other mornings the tire marks were dry, but the ridge never showed itself again. This meant that not only was the creek being dry at the mouth astounding, but water in it upstream in places was startling, too. Plus, the water level rose and fell in the creek and it had not rained a drop. Why? The weather has been dry as a bone for over a month.  Amazing Stuff!!! I was listening to Coast to Coast, a late night talk show, that’s a little whacky with lots of UFO stories, one night and a guest was talking about tides in ground water. I never quite heard the proof, but what he said kept me listening. Could this be what was going on here? Who knows! I don’t have to know why about things. I just accept the way they occur, and enjoy.
    Something else that I try to accept are the rules. I move through so many jurisdictions (counties, cities, states, and parks- many of them federal) I can’t know all the rules. Some places I can sleep on a public street in the camper overnight and some not. In the  parks I try to do what’s right and rely on my logic, not always adequate though. I knew I’d be using my kayak more than once, so why drag/carry it several hundred yards from my camper to the river each time. Why not just lock it to a tree near the river? Sounded good to me and much easier in the 100 degree plus heat. Whoops, Ranger Brett saw it. He’s been to my camp site looking for me and saw egg shells & stones in a paper cup -  terrible crimes! And a ranger flashed his lights at me the day before to slow down.
    As I was preparing to a walk to the river where my kayak was, carrying an open ACB, here came Ranger Rick. I thought, here we go down the unpleasant roller coaster. He said he wanted to talk to me.  He asked for my ID and went to his vehicle, but he seemed rather relaxed and no red flashing lights. The wait for him to come back was excruciating though. As I’d set my paddle and dry bag with my camera gear in it down to get my ID, I covered up the ACB. He finally came back and said he’d written a list of things I needed to be aware of, so his boss would know he was doing his job. Nice approach, but was I getting a fine? Had he seen the ACB? I held my breath. He began by saying I couldn’t store my kayak by the river, needed to pick up the egg shells, and could not collect or possess any minerals, sea shells, or natural items in any National Park.  He didn’t mention the ACB. Had he saved it till last? I said many OKs and waited. Then he asked if I had any shells, minerals or natural items in my camper? I couldn’t tell him what I had inside! I’d have went directly to jail with all the natural souvenirs and mementos I have in there. Then he asked if he could look. I said no, I knew he didn’t have “probable cause.” He didn’t make it an issue, I thanked him, and we talked about water level in the River and the Canyon.  He was a nice guy. When I was done the day’s kayak trip, I locked my kayak to a tree out of site on the Mexican side of the border. They wouldn’t care! I think that makes the score of my encounters with the fuzznics 4 for me and 2 for them this trip, but I didn’t have to pay a fine during this trip, so I guess I won them all!
    If you want to know about the rest, ask me when you see me at HH…  My camera, my watch, says it’s 4:19pm. There’s a nice breeze coming down the Canyon that should push me as I paddle my kayak with the flow of the River as I returned. Great Day! Ranger Rick could’ve made my day so bad.