Well, I apologize for not answering emails the last few days. We had a chance to slip away to Big Bend for a few days and internet connection is difficult out there. It is amazing how few people you see when your in that area. Brewster county is the largest county in Texas, and it also has the smallest population. It is wide open country with beautiful vistas. Notice Santa Elena Canyon. If you ever make it to that area, it is definitely worth the time to hike up into the canyon although it is a tough climb and since we waited until after 10:00 a.m. it was already almost 100 degrees when we started. At one point it seems like the Rio Grande slides under the Mexican side of the canyon, but it actually makes a turn. On the Mexico side it is the beginning of the Sierra Madre Occidentales, and I guess just the Chisos Mtns on the U.S. side. If your into rocks and minerals like I am, it is a interesting place to go. You will find plenty to study. I got a kick out of one place where a couple of Cottonwood trees were growing because it is so unexpected in the desert. But what really got me was a Date Palm tree growing near the area, heavy laden with almost ripe fruit. The story is a rancher many years ago knew water had to be near the surface because of the Cottonwood trees, so he dug a well and sure enough hit water. He ended up putting up a windmill which is still bringing water to the surface today. I would bet he imported a Date Palm hoping to bring in a few tourists. Unfortunately, he and the ranch are gone but the little well and the Date Palm tree are still there, an oasis for the desert wildlife. I guess Napoleon was right, "There is one kind of robber whom the law does not strike at, and who steals what is most precious to men: time."