Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller
Date: May 8, 2024
After driving 100 miles, then hiking all day at Big Bend National Park, it was time to head back to the campsite. We still had to drive 100 miles back to the campsite in 102-degree temperatures. Halfway (50 miles) through the desert we reached our first civilization, the town of Marathon (population 470). We ate a delicious veggie pizza at Big Bend Pizza, one of the few restaurants in town and known for their decorative chairs (Photo #1). A couple blocks away was a true oasis in the desert, the Gage Gardens. Unexpectantly, in the heart of downtown was a 27-acre garden. We hiked a half mile trail that had native landscaping, a rose garden, pond, a mini putting green, beautiful plants and trees, many migrating birds and butterflies and a shady, peaceful walking path. Photo#5 is sage. Picking off a piece of and rubbing it between your fingers produced a sweet aroma.
