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| no partners | | Two nights in site #13 - I like how it is set off by itself. The campground is lovely and charming ... it was surprisingly well-occupied, more so than last time I visited about a year ago, but still quiet.
I am endlessly entertained by the gray jays around the campground, as well as the turkeys, deer, acorn woodpeckers, rufous-sided towhees, etc. The easy wildlife viewing here would be worth the trip even without all the great hikes and other things.
After leaving Roper Tuesday evening after work, I arrived at Bonita just at dark - and right after a pretty good rain had swept through. Only glitch in the whole trip was the bunny I ran over in Dos Cabesas. 
I enjoyed a leisurely early morning around camp with the birds, drinking coffee and reading, before setting off on a stroll to Silver Spur Meadow, Stafford Cabin, and Faraway Ranch. This is a glorious walk that I could enjoy every day - also one of the few you can take dogs on, if that's your thing. Heard and saw turkeys along the way, and deer near the ranch.
Faraway Ranch is gorgeous and far more interesting than I thought it would be - I will definitely plan on being there on a day when the tour is offered next time.
I couldn't help but think long and hard about Karen Gonzales and the attack perpetrated on her here near the Ranch a few years ago. I am more familiar than most with the incident because I know a couple people who knew her before it happened, and one of my friends assisted with the investigation. That poor woman had gone through hell in the months before the attack, suffering through the loss of two loved ones ... only to have her head bashed in with a rock by some scumbag looking to steal her truck - while she was working in a National Monument. I almost can't even comprehend the horror. I don't know if Karen has - or ever will - fully recover, but the fact that she survived is a testament to her strength. Recently the scumbag was convicted and sentenced to over 70 years, so there's that.
Anyhow, the campground rocks and the hike rocks ... on to the next. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Anyway, I got down there pretty early Friday and it was going to be very warm that low, so I drove up the mountain to see how things looked at Rustler and Barfoot Parks and kill some time at the cooler 8500 foot level.
there was a Huge black bear standing in the middle of the road 
What a thrill and I got a pretty good shot of him before he moved up the embankment!
