The Barnes Homestead

   Last Thursday Carl and Jan, fellow voluteers who happen to be archeologists.  Took R and me on a field trip to the southern part of the refuge.  We began with breakfast at the Frenchglen Hotel.  Fortified we got back into the refuge vehicle and opened a locked gate and drove the short distance to the Barnes Homestead.  They started renting it about 1927 and the family lived in it for over 50 years.  Since then, it has remained empty, unused, neglected, forgotten.   Not much remains.  A sod building that may have been a cabin but more likely, a storage building.  25 -30 feet of willow fencing,  a loading chute that is on it's last legs.  A couple of apple trees struggle to survive among some beautiful cottonwoods.








   The highlight of the place is a natural warm spring that flows out form the hillside into a small pool and then away into the meadow.  A wonderful oasis that beckons one to stop and soak the feet in the clear tepid water.  You can imagine the ranch hands lined up down the path for their annual bath.  The dragonfly enjoys the area is well.


    Reluctantly, we continued our trip, traveling on some lightly used refuge tracks that took us on a circle around Boca Lake watching the Pelicans, Canada Geese, and other water fowl,  even disturbing some 4 point bucks as well.




    Before going home, we visited a rock outcropping that sported many pictographs, many too faded to be recognizable.  Thanks to our friends for the day.