Wide Open Plains

• Day:  21
• Start:  16
• End:  43
• Miles:  27
• Hours:  12
• High temp:  68
• Low temp:  38
• People met:  1

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Thomas Ranch at dusk

Porsche JW and I leave the Thomas Ranch at 0730. 

An old building part of the original ranch 

I strike out with a purpose as the next water is a solar well about 8 miles away.

The sky is unmarked and sending a promise of a pleasant hike. The fence post and trees stretch their shadowy fingers across the road. A little cottontail greets me with a couple of hops as I walk by.  

Not long and I'm out of the low pinion pines into a grassy plain. 

 A wind blows at my back or right side all day. Into the evening the force is increased requiring a certain bit of leaning on my part. 

My water source 

I make the well, it has great well water poring from a pipe into a huge tank. The flowing water makes it very easy to fill my containers.  

Beautiful cumulus clouds fill the sky, looks like a New Mexico afternoon. I watch a hawk dive and strike pry a couple of times then land and feast. The day is a road walk with some on highway 117.  Still I have lots of quiet time as there just aren't that may cars out here.  The day is drawing to a close and I'm trying to locate a camping spot. I'm still on the highway and its bordered by barbed wire fence on both sides. 

The sky has turned threatening 

Finally I find a small state park with  privys, tables  and garbage, a real civilized spot. No one here so I have my pick. There are metal roofs over the picnic areas so I setup there as the southern sky looks ominous.   

The rain starts at 1900 hrs., thankful to be in my covered camping spot. What a comforting sound the rain hitting the metal roof.  Soon lightening flashes light up the sky above me and the roiling thunder echoes for a long time. Then the hard rain comes, not lasting long but enough to make a difference.