jan 10, 2012

Caverns of Sonora, January 10, 2012

While supper cooks, I think I’ll get started.  After yesterday’s gloom, the sun was a welcomed sight this morning when we awakened.   Even with all the sunshine, the desert was frozen.  There was a plowed field we passed, and at first we had thought it was a lake.  The snow was reflecting the sunlight because of the thin layer of ice that formed overnight.  The glare hurt our eyes.   The terrain is so flat you can see things that are miles away before you come close to them.  It’s also a strange sight to see a herd of Black Angus crossing a snow covered field.  There’s no way to hide them.

We have discovered the range where the deer play.  I-10 is littered with the bodies of dead deer.  We counted 22 and possibly 23 coming here.  That’s the ones we saw.  We have no idea how many others we missed.   Once again we see working oil wells and huge, flat mesas; lots of windmill farms and singular old-fashioned windmills, all silently working.  The elevation is definitely dropping from yesterday’s mile high views to under 1100 feet, and the vegetation is increasing in numbers as well as height.

Both Dan and I saw 4 cute little black bristled piggies on the side of the road in a wash.  I have no idea what they’re called, but we know they’re wild.  When we got to the campground we found out they’re called Javelina (sp?).  It’s pronounced just like the oil, Haveline with an ah sound at the end and we have been told they are MEAN!  But they’re so little and cute!  The campground also has an Angora goat.  She slipped off the ranch that borders the campground and refuses to go back home.  I managed to get a picture of her eating a prickly pear cactus and then she ate some dead leaves off a live oak tree.

We were not only greeted by the goat when we arrived, there is a peacock and peahen on the premises along with a large flock of Guinea hens and one wild turkey who all grew up together and   think they’re one big family.  The ground is covered by rocks, rocks and more rocks…all white.  Dan said most of the area is covered in sandstone.  They have made it clear that my touring the caverns will be difficult especially with some 350 steps out at the end and Dan chose to stay with me instead of going.  Whitewashed gourds hang from cross arms and await the purple martins that will inhabit them in warmer weather and there is something that looks like an F-troop outdoor shower.  Many of you are way too young to remember that TV show.  I can barely remember it myself.  Want me to tell you another?

We were given a treat this afternoon at 5 by one of the managers.   He spread feed all over one of the roads and told us to go sit quietly near one set of picnic tables that are under a couple of live oak trees.  One, than another, and another, and then more does appeared along with two bucks.  The drought has been so severe they have had to begin feeding the deer.  What a wonderful way to spend time before preparing supper.

Tonight we had tortellini with stir-fry vegetables and roasted chicken breast strips in a mushroom sauce with a corn and bean salad.   Fresh basil really set off the main dish.  Are you drooling yet?

Ah yes, we just tried to make a phone call and there’s no service, so this won’t get posted until tomorrow.  Here I was thinking I’d get things done earlier today.  We’re going to watch a movie since there’s no TV signal either.  We both have lots to read anyway.

Blessings to each of you,

Three Texas Trespassers