Wednesday Feb 9, 2012 Going to QBQ

Long day yesterday. Meet at the Visitor Center at 7:45am. The LEs have the first part of the briefing telling how things are going to happen followed by a few annoucements and after getting the "OK" from our security, we loaded up the park staff and volunteers for the trip. Four mile of pavement followed by twenty of dirt, dust, washboards, dips, and some real holes ment an hour of slow going. I was glad that I was driving and not sitting the back. I'm not sure my stomach could take it.
More than an hour was spent touring the area and getting the details of the history and biology of this oasis in the desert. Then lunch. Then back in the vans for another hour of dust, dips, and bumps with a stop halfway to pick up litter. We stopped at an area that seemed to be a busy place because we picked over a dozen large bags in a relatively short time. Another trip could gather another dozen bags easily. This litter can not be blamed of legal park visitors, but either blew in from Mexico which is four feet away or was brought over and discarded by "illegal" park visitors. The terms is UDA ( UnDocumented Alien) Since the installation of the listening devices the numbers of UDAs in this area has dropped significantly. Other areas..... the opposite.

End of the litter patrol and back in the vans and home followed by a quick shower and off to the campground. For the last few days the campground has been nearly filled to capcity. A couple of Escapee camping groups have been fulling us up. Years ago, the campground of 220 sites were full every night this time of year. In the morning, campers waited at the gate for units to leave so that they could take their sites. Since the border issues and troubles in Mexico have developed, the numbers have dwindled. Sixty to seventy was a big night. It's a sad thing because you will not find a prettier desert campground anywhere. The sites are large, well-spaced, pull-thrus. Every spot has several cacti and other desert plants in it making each one unique. The only down side is the lack of electrity at the sites. The bathrooms have power and flush toilets and solar showers, and water is close. Generators are allowed for two hours in the morning and evening to help recharging of batteries.
Getting back to the story, last night was a cattered dinner for all of the Escapees and we volunteers were invited. Great people, wonderful Mexican food, we all felt very welcome there and went home with smiles on our stomachs.
This morning most of the Escapees loaded up and drove down to Puerto Penasco ( Rocky Point) which is on the Gulf of California. This particular Escapee group leads trips to Mexico every year to help newcomers learn that is is safe to travel there and the ins and outs of the trip. They have reservations in one of the many RV parks in town and will spend about ten days looking around before heading out. Most will drive the 60 miles back up north to the US, but some will continue to explore Mexico.
It sounded very tempting to me. There is strength and security in numbers.

The lower photo is of the pond at Quitobaquito. If you look at historic pics of the pond you will see the cottonwood tree then. This is what is looks like now. It is nearly dead but no one has the heart to kill it just yet.