A single picture is worth a thousand words - boy, I just saved a ton of typing time! These photos were taken on the spring break Desert Ecology Trip that I take to Big Bend National Park in Texas. Visit the "Trips" Page to learn more about this unique class at Calhoun Community College.

Matt Duke, my son, took this unusual picture in Santa Elena Canyon at 11:30 one night. The moon was full, and reflecting off the far wall of the canyon to produce the bright glow we see here. Notice the slight "streaking" of the stars in this photo. Good Job, Matt!
Celebrating the trip in Boquillas, Mexico - Rio Grande River is behind us! We usually spend way too much money in this little village, but the people are friendly and the atmosphere can't be beat!
Lynn Rodman greets the morning with a first cup of coffee.
Signs of Native American habitation are obvious on the riverbank about 20 feet to Lynn's right in this picture!
Steve Threlkeld and Keith Bledsoe, my trusty assistants, discuss the days events at Fern Canyon Beach.
The second day is always a long one on the river - we paddle for about 5 hours total today.

Pitaya, or Hedgehog Cactus, Echinocereus stramineus, is found in the desert flats and along arroyos in the Chihuahuan Desert. Fruits are edible, and taste like strawberries.
Near the end of Santa Elena Canyon, one more delightful surprise awaits us - a huge cave in the canyon wall on the Mexican side. One of these days I'm going to park my canoe at the base of the bluff and climb up to explore this area. It looks almost as if it were hollowed out by human activity, but I think that is highly unlikely.