Almost as if it’s one of the characters, Big Bend country in far west Texas is the setting in my novel “A Song in the Park“. I’ve been there many times. To me it’s one of the most romantic places on earth with its high-country fresh dry air, crystalline skies and captivating sunsets. They say it’s where the desert and mountains meet the sky, not to mention the mysterious Rio Grande that flows through desert grasslands, breathtaking canyons and creates the border between Mexico and the United States.
This (above) is Farm to Market Road 170, west of the park, which passes through some of the country’s most incredible scenery as it winds it’s way to Presidio. Here you can see a glimpse of the Rio Grande to the left of the road.
It’s in country like this Michael Anderson, a California surgeon, and Justin Brooks, a park ranger, meet, form a friendship and ultimately build their future together.
This is the horizon (above), the view from behind Justin’s remote ranch house, where he and Michael spend many of their evenings sipping coffee and contemplating the small gifts in life.
This location (above) is similar to that just south of Justin’s house. The first day they spend skinny-dipping here is the day they realize there may be more than simple friendship between them.
A view like this (above) is typical of many seen when crossing through the park’s southern terrain on a rutted, sixty mile long goat-path called the River Road. It’s this road Justin patrols when he’s wearing his park service uniform.
Stanta Elena Canyon, (above) 2000 foot cliffs cut from the limestone over eons by the Rio Grande. Can you imagine what’s it like to canoe through here?
One of many cliffs along the Rio Grande (above).
