Category: watercolor

Contrasts

Yesterday was overcast but dry and we made our way to St Andrew’s Beach on the southern end of the island. Ghost crabs were everywhere and provided plenty of entertainment. They are almost invisible on the sand and it’s their eyes on stalks and white claws that give them away. They appear to spend the day scampering around the beach and jumping into holes at the first sign of danger. Their holes are surprisingly deep and we pondered about the labyrinth that was beneath our feet.

The southern beach area has many uprooted trees that create incredible sculptural landscapes as well as homes for oysters and crabs.

Today we were planning on leaving the hotel and go to the northern end of the island and camp for a few days. We woke up to high winds and rain so decided to stay put another day. The thought of trying to get the rain fly and ground sheet installed in high winds and rain did not appeal. We have been pushing this camping stint further and further forward hoping for better weather. So this morning we bundled up and took a beach walk. The wind and sand provided free abrasion and the ocean was warm (bathtub warm). We had the beach to ourselves and the valiant birds looking for breakfast.

The Adventure begins

The route from Green Valley AZ to VanHorn TX, 441 miles

We left a little bit later than planned but all went well. It was a cool and overcast day most of the time. The up-side of that was no sun in our eyes, the downside was we both realized we have packed for an Arizona summer! We are both hoping that we have cold weather gear in Germany. Like idiots we assumed that we would remember what we had left there last year.

The route was busy but the traffic moved well. Lots of large trucks and enormous trains paralleling our route. The rest stop in LasCruces was exceptional and has been awarded “winning rest stop”. I have no idea what they one but the site is graced with a very large metal roadrunner made from salvaged metal and tools. It sits on a ridge and looks over the Las Cruces valley.

El Paso was something else. CONSTRUCTION everywhere! How people live there I don’t know. There was clearly lots of irrigation supporting orchards (pecans and stone fruits) no wonder the Rio Grande is dry when it gets to Mexico.

Once we left El Paso behind us the countryside became monumental. The overcast light added to the drama of the place. There were mountain ranges to the north and south. The landscape appeared a little greener than our local desert in green Valley. I did see a lot of Ocotillo and yucca plants.