In going thru pix from the trip again [marked (2) in these posts] I realized there are more from the Big Bend part that I really like, but didn’t have time to share during the trip. So even tho there were also a few more good ones from the Las Cruces area, I’m going to skip those because these are so much more memorable for me. Approaching this area the terrain gets ever more severe and beautiful, even in the late evening light and a fairly thick haze that seems to dwell there.
5305 Bend Approach
You can search this blog (find the Search box in the right column) for the earlier stuff I posted about our charming stop. But soon after takeoff we were skirting the Mexican border enjoying scenes like this.
5342 Water Works
I love how the shadows and colors converge in a sandstone sculpture that sings the desert song of heat and flash floods over eons. With hints of how humans may have used these places during our relatively brief forays here since ancient times. Some formations seem to evoke cowboy hats, while others in the distance scratch the clouds into interesting patterns of their own.
5357 Rocks & Clouds
The rock layers carved into intricate shapes make this area interesting to fly in, with different angles on the features providing new panoramas.
5362 Angles
Some of the formations have an imposing grandeur about them. This one’s perfect for a western movie backdrop.
5366 Western Set
I’m curious what forces created this razorback ridge that’s so different from the surrounding terrain.
5373 Razorback
As the light faded we flew through a gradual shift from the shapes, colors and layers of a vast sculpture garden, into a realm of two-dimensional cutouts.
5380 Cutout Fantasies
Just when we thought the show was over, sun and clouds conspired to put on a spectacular light show with both brilliant and subtle hues. Our official invitation to revisit this friendly and intriguing corner of the world.
5469 Soft Palette
John & Anne Wiley 
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