Spring Break Day 2: Hiking in Pinto Canyon

We continued driving on Pinto Canyon Road for maybe 20 minutes until Sofia saw a steep hill right off the road that she was desperate to climb. We pulled over again and she and CK headed up while I got Olivia out of her car seat. Despite the steepness of the hill, Olivia started walking up it like it wasn't a problem! I took a ton of photos on the way up since the view just kept getting more and more spectacular. For the last portion of the hill, I had to hold Olivia's hand and help her climb since it was a little too steep for her, but we finally made it up. The view was incredible! Strangely at the top of the hill was a pile of rocks maybe two feet high and six feet long and honestly looked like a grave. The rocks had been purposely placed there and had to have been moved there from below. It was very odd.

We hung out at the top for a bit, took pictures, and then headed back down with CK holding Olivia's hand and helping Sofia as much as she needed. More than anything, Sofia needed guidance on where to walk more than actual help walking down the hill. We took a family photo with the camera on the Jeep and then drove toward Presidio. The Pinto Canyon Road ends in Ruidosa, a tiny little town that looks more like a few houses and closes stores. From there, we took FM 170 which runs along the Rio Grande river, which is also our borer with Mexico. The Rio Grande was actually a few miles off and we could only tell it was there from the trees and greenery surrounding it. The road from Ruidosa to Presidio was completely empty except for a few US Border Patrol cars driving around and a guy on a bike. We made it to Presidio which is a medium-sized border town with very little in English and found a small Mexican restaurant for lunch. The food was cheap and good and the guy on the bike arrived at the restaurant just after we ordered. He sat at the table next to us and we struck up a conversation. Apparently he is a college professor from Montana on Spring Break also and always plans a week-long bike trip for the break. This trip was his first in Texas and he started in Marfa that morning and also rode on the Pinto Canyon Road! His plan was to ride through Big Bend National Park and end up in Marfa by the end of the week, so he could drive home. It's beautiful countryside, but I'm not sure I'd want to do see it from the saddle of a bike!

After lunch, we loaded up in the car and drove the paved road from Presidio back to Marfa and then headed through Alpine and to Marathon, where we would be staying for the rest of the week. Olivia slept and Sofia read while we drove.

CK and Sofia head up the mountain

Olivia follows them up

Our little hiker

The incredible view on the way up

Sofia at the top

Another view of her at the top!!

The view of the road we just drove

CK and his girls

The landscape and road ahead

Sofia and the black Jeep at the bottom of the hill

Our little mountain goat

Heading down the hill

The four of us