Thursday May 23 2024

Thursday May 23

Our final day at Seminole campground. We decided to walk the Rim Trail all the way to the junction of the canyon and the Rio Grande. Fortunately, it was overcast and not hot yet! The Rim Trail follows the western edge of Seminole Canyon and features lots of twists and turns matching the irregularities of the canyon. The light was not great for photographs and I packed my telephoto lens in hopes of capturing some wildlife. We were 30 minutes into the hike when a largish animal jumped out of a bush right in front of us. It made a loud grunting noise and charged across the trail and into the desert shrubs on the other side. It was a Javalina! Although not a pig it is definitely a close relative but weighs only 60 pounds when full grown. They are not known to bother humans… except on rare occasions!

The hike was uneventful after that, but scenic. As we approached the Rio Grande, the sun started to burn through the clouds and the heat was intense. We decided not to go all the way to the Rio Grande overlook and took the access ranch road back to the trailhead. Luckily the clouds filled back in again and only as we approached the parking area did it really start to clear and get hot.

For an afternoon adventure, we headed east for 1 hour to the Amistad Reservoir where we could go for a swim. The reservoir is exceptionally low due to the persistent drought conditions and is less than 30 percent full. Parts of the reservoir have been made into an attractive recreation area and there is a nice swimming place where no boats are allowed. Getting down to the swimmin’ hole was a bit of a challenge because the water is so low and there’s a steep rocky gradient to descend to the waters edge. There was a large floating dock and the water was clear and deep. The dock surface was scorching hot so we didn’t waste time getting into the water, which at 76 degrees Fahrenheit was so refreshing. The air temperature was well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

After the hike we headed back to camp and stayed cool as best we could. The new shade cloth over the trailer really helped to keep the inside temperature bearable.

After a light dinner chez nous, we did a short walk on the Windmill Trail near the visitor center.

Waiting for something to die

Wild goats

Black tailed Jackrabbit

Where Seminole Canyon meets the Rio Grande - which is almost dry

Rock fall in Seminole Canyon

Waiting in the desert for a bus...

Amistad Reservoir, part of the Rio Grande river system

Feeling refreshed!