Enough bandwidth to post but not to load pics or vid-heading back out- no coverage will update in a couple of days. Updated 2/10.
Wednesday 2/7
No sense in a early start this morning, ranger station doesn’t open till 8. This CG is high up in a valley and this morning the fog was creeping over the ridges and tumbling down the mountainside. Very odd, the fog would gain some ground the heat would chase it back up the hill. I shot some video. We’ll see. The valley is sunny but the road out will be foggy.
Nice spot but a bit crowded. I want a little bit more wild in my campsite. Off we go, heavy fog,slow go but soon make it over the top and drop below it. Panther Junction 3 miles and it is 8:30 so cake…nope,Ranger Station doesn’t open till 9. Not one to wait this morning, i take on fuel (14.01 mpg WTH? Bill likes Texas!) and head to Bonquillas Canyon. The speed limit in the park is 45mph and i catch myself speeding! Whoa Nellie! Set cruise for 42 and kick back. Half way or so is Dugout Wells with a nature hike. i like knowing the plants that I’ll be seeing. Prickly Pear Cactus without splines are called “blind”. I’m starting to know my desert plants a little.
Nice 20 mile drive to the canyon. Which is much the same as Santa Elena Canyon but you are up river. There is a small house(?) across the Rio Grande and i can see smoke. There is also these little curio stores on the pathways. The honor system. I see a canoe tucked up by the cove on the other side of the river, that’s Mexico, amigos! Interesting. If there had been a tarantula i would of bought it. Mostly wire work. My feet hurt.Why? Because i wore my shoes not boots!
Okay, now head to Rio Grande Village Ranger Station and get permit for backroad camping. Nope, only issued in Panther Junction Ranger Station. 20 miles back. Patiences might of paid off this morning. But there are a couple of venues to see on the way back and hell, if Bill is feeling that frisky, Mr. Fourteen, what’s 20 miles? And they have wi-fi! I haven’t posted in awhile.
Okay, hit Panther Junction about 12:15 and was glad to see they were not closed from 12-1 for lunch. Got the permit for two days, mailed a post card or two and logged onto NPS wi-fi. If i sat in the schooner the connection was really slow, if i sat in the wind on a bench by the front door better. Got 6 DAYS loaded but only had patiences for one day of photos. So will update the photos and some videos when able.
Yea, this is a bit more wild. On the NP map it shows all these backroad CG, i thought, but they are really camp sites! Spread out a couple of miles apart. Nothing but a bear box and a semi-flat spot. Nice. I told the young NP girl what i wanted and she picked out my spot. I must say, exactly what i wanted. The roads are ROCKY. You don’t need 4×4 you need tough tires.A texas couple having lunch in PC3. I pull in and chat for a bit before i pull the 10mm and order them out of there! Well, we chatted anyways. Gosh, nice spot. Secluded is what i asked for. Yep! There is a ridge to the south that is very hikable, might be a view of the Rio Grande. This should be lightweight work for etrex 20. Tomorrow, already done a couple of miles today. I’m letting my feet rest. It will be DARK tonight. I hope it’s clear!
Kinda out of food, plenty to sustain not much to excite. I do have a single stack of Chips Ahoy. It would be nice to have a few hiking tomorrow. We’ll see. Plenty of water. One tea bag. One bagel-plenty of cereal and milk. The refer, last few times a bit of a problem, so i got a thermometer for inside. Once I got it dialed in, she has just been a perfect little refer. I don’t store much, mostly replenish every 2-3 days. Bought beer a couple of weeks ago still have 4. Usually deli meat / bagels / cheese. Potatoes / minute rice. Bananas and oranges seem to be in favor this week. Lot’s of salsa. Going to try 6 eggs next run. We’ll see. I buy pork chops or cube steaks for dinner. Nutrition-grain bars for snack and breakfast. Cookies if i have a safety meeting before going shopping. Wrong, zero tea bags, having my last cuppa. Good night.
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