No problem running the generator this morning as there is no one to disturb! So after coffee and breakfast we drive south, back to Bosque Del Apache Refuge. More active wildlife this morning!
We see four skunks in the first 10 minutes. Some scurry away into the brush, but we followed this guy for a few minutes.
First thought, as I am hanging out the window: how far can a skunk spray? (Answer I found later, about 10') Second thought - more and longer fur than I expected, but I suppose this is still a winter coat.
Next, we encountered several flocks of turkeys. The Toms were displaying nicely and the early morning light lit their feathers. Whole lot of gobbling going on too.
Next up: a string of young javelina crossed the road. I got out of the van for this picture and caught a whiff of their distinctive odor (Phew!).
Lots more turkey in the fallow fields. We must have seen nearly a hundred total.
Greg stopped as we saw a single deer browsing on the tender shoots of some bushes.
Looking around, I noticed the reflection of the bare trees in the nearby water and switched to taking these pictures.
The lighting was awesome, changing quickly. Some ducks were enjoying the scene too.
These egrets seemed to be just waking up.
It was interesting to see how the refuge manages the water flow depending on the season.
Then it was back to the deer. I thought the soft lighting made it look like a watercolor painting!
Later, we see a larger herd of deer and again Greg stops and I slowly walk closer to them. They are super aware of me and keep a pretty constant distance away.
Near the exit to the refuge, we came across this pretty pheasant!
Nice that we only saw one other person the entire morning.
From here we find I25 south and find the local library in a town called Truth Or Consequences. The town was originally named Hot Springs, but in 1950 the host of a radio program called Truth Or Consequences said he would broadcast the program on its 10th anniversary from the first town to rename itself after the show. The town still celebrates the name change with a "Fiesta" each May.
Some of the hot springs are too hot to swim in, but they have created some bath houses where you can have a good soak. I wonder how many Hot Springs there are in the US - but only one Truth or Consequences! ( I googled it, there are towns called Hot Springs in Arkansas, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Nevada...maybe more.)
We need wi-fi to make some arrangements, cancelling our planned trip to Ireland. The airline we had booked, with a stop in Iceland, has declared bankruptcy! I try to find an alternative flight so that we can maintain our itinerary, but things just don't work at a reasonable price. Very disappointed, but the people at our Chase Visa card are most helpful in cancelling some of the charges. After a spate of emails and a few other phone calls, we move on, feeling a bit more hopeful that things will work out.
From here we head to another Rockhounding spot, way out in the boonies. Nice recently paved road, though, and we find some interesting rocks. Since the road is good and we are heading in the desired direction we continue on this road. Cell phone coverage has been spotty unless we are near a sizable town.
We eventually touch down in Las Cruces and head 17 miles east to Aguirre Spring BLM Rec Area. This field of yellow flowers is along the long windy road into the campground. Beautiful!
The small campground is tucked into the Organ mountains, the only high country in the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert. Sites are rather close together and most of them are occupied by small rv's such as ours because the tortuous road in is closed to anything over 24' long. Nice fresh air and star-studded sky!
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