I slept in this morning until 8, and went downtown to get a hearty breakfast. The cafe that was recommended to me was closed, but there was a fine greasy spoon right by it that had exactly what I craved- a ham and cheese omelette, juice, coffee, and toast.

I walked around downtown and took some pictures until about 10:15, then went back to the hotel and packed before hopping in the truck and hitting the road.

I didn’t know what today would be like. I had planned to go to the Catwalks and Mogollon. I made a detour to Bill Evans Lake to check it out. I stopped here and there for photos. I got to the Catwalks at about 3. I joined three other adults my age who were starting out when I did, and we found the lower waterfall. The trail we took was formally closed, but everyone seemed to take it to get back there. The sky was gray and it spit on us a little as we came back. It was a nice experience.

From there, I set out to Mogollon, to see the old mining town, and the road to it was closed. Wouldn’t you know it.

So then I just pointed the truck at home and drove, stopping here and there for photos.

I saw three herd of elk today. The saddest experience was driving up on a sizable group that was actually hanging near the road. And then I saw it- one of them was trying to cross the road, but it clearly was in pain, and could not put its weight on a front leg. I watched it limp slowly across the road and it stopped at one point mid-road, hoof dangling in air, to stare at me. When it got across, I slowly drove through the other animals that stood and sat lingering on both sides of the road, troubled by the ramifications of the injury on that animals life- despite the fact “That’s life.”

I also stopped and visited with a handful of horses that were hanging by a windmill and a cooling pond by the road I was on heading north from Alma. When I approached their fence, three of the animals came over to investigate me, and two of them nibbled at the sleeve of my shirt to rub their heads.

By the time I hit Reserve, I was hungry, so I ate some green chile enchiladas at JoJo’s Restaurant, an eatery at the main intersection of the town that seemed to fare far worse than Uncle Bill’s Bar across the street. All of the parking spaces in front of Uncle Bill’s were full when I entered town, and there was one car in front of JoJo’s. I took my chances because the building said it was a Mexican restaurant, and when I entered the diner, it was empty. In time, a handful of people came into the restaurant while I was there. The enchiladas were okay. They had green chile and gooey cheese, which were appreciated. It just that the green chili poured on the enchiladas was more like a soup than a sauce- pepper chunks in a watery broth. I ate it and did not get sick on the rest of my drive home, so I guess that worked.

The sunlight when I was coming into Datil near 8:00 was brilliant, and it remained golden as I drove across the blonde and golden flat where the VLA units looked up into the sky to the south.

I arrived home around 10:30. It was a good day, but a long day of driving, and I will sleep well in my own bed tonight.

Sometimes you need a little help.