All though up early, we left a little later than planned, first stop along the route was Sam Nail Ranch, or what was left of it. From the old house only a couple of wall are still standing, the mill is still going and pumps up water which creates a little haven for plants and birds. The Nail family planted fig and pecan trees that still grow there, however the native species are taking over the area rapidly. Mossies and flies infested the place big time, so we did not stay there that long.At the Homer Wilson Ranch Overlook we took the trail to the ranch. This ranch was deserted in 1945, but the ranch would still make a very nice house. Amazingly how cool it was inside, in spite the fact that the temperature outside was soaring. In the olden days they used to keep 4000 sheep and 2.500 goat up in this area. In the summer months they would herd them up into the canyon not far from the ranch. Just when I was contemplating out loud how life would have been in those days and I stepped outside, I heard the rattle of a rattlesnake. With two jumps and a big yell I was back inside the house. Just in the corner outside near the steps was a smallish rattler, no mistake about that. Strangely enough Wahid had gone down those steps only minutes before and had walked the small path right passed the rattler.
Even though we stepped onto the porch in order to see the rattler from the other side, he was very much aware of us. Because the animal was all coiled up we did not come in striking range. After taking a couple of photos we went back to the motor home to continue our route.At Mule Ears Overlook we stopped off and decided to go for the 3,8 mile round trip to the springs. It was around 13:00 and the temperature was probably over 90 degrees again. This hike leads though a desert area with no shade what so even until the end. We walked the trail in 45 minutes, and we were both glad to reach the shady area of the springs. Surprising to see how many frogs, tadpoles, dragonflies and other insects were living in this little oasis. After a good rest we walked back to the overlook in just over an hour, this time the heat seemed even more intense, probably a part of the route was uphill. We stopped off at Tuff Canyon, we walked up to the overlook, but this time we did not go into the canyon. We both could not face another hike in the heat. At Castolon we stopped off at the store, had an ice cream and walked up to Abobe House, which was in the middle of restoration, the floods of September 2008 nearly destroyed it, Mexicans came to help the restore the adobe with old techniques, a lot work still has to be done. Cottonwood campground was near by and we searched for a nice shady place for the night. A bucket with water to cool my feet in was like sheer heaven to me.
After a good hour rest we drove to Santa Elena Gorge, at the Overlook we stopped but remained in the shade, the heat seemed too intense.
When we arrived at the canyon, the sun had turned so a great part of the canyon was in the shade, all though still very warm it made the walk up into the canyon a little more bearable. The water level of the Rio Grand seemed lower than last time we had been there, therefore we could wake up a little further up the canyon. I think I managed to get some darn good photos of the canyon. By the time we arrived back at Cottonwood it was after 20:00 hours, filling up the fresh water tank took ages, and half an hour later I was cooking diner. By that time we were both bushed and wanted to go to bed as soon as possible, all so because the next morning the alarm clock would go off early. Unfortunately again, not a breath of fresh air came into the bedroom and it took ages before we finally fell asleep.
In the middle of the night we both were awoken by the sound of the step going in and out, the previous day we had some trouble to keep the step out once parked up, but now it seemed like it had a mind of its own. In the silence of the night it made an awful loud sound. After a number of attempts to suss the bloody thing out, we both went back to bed we could hear the steps go in and out a couple of more times. After that we both fell asleep again. In the morning Wahid managed to keep the step out, hoping that it would go back in once we had to drive off. After a slow start we wandered around the campground, the trail to the Nature Trail had been closed due to a big flood in September 2008. The boardwalk was completely destroyed. Via another path we managed to get on to the trail any way and could avoid the boardwalk. We climbed up to the top to admire the view, in the distance we could see a number of kayaks peddling down the Rio Grand, if only we had a kayak. At the top a Mexican vendor had left some trinkets as souvenirs, but we did not have any money on us, midway the trail we could see him at the top, looking if we had bought anything. Unfortunately the Mexicans that live in this side of Mexico have to travel a long way to get to civilisation, a good 150 miles either way, they used to before 9/11 take tourist to the little restaurants on the Mexican side. But now the tourists are not allowed to cross the Rio Grande and their livelihood has been destroyed. How they survive is beyond me.
