Wagons Ho!

Stephen Comstock
Nov 18
2 min read

Well, there were no wagons. Just an SUV filled to the full mark with camera equipment, clothes, refrigerators, and a guitar. Like the Beverly Hillbillies. Just Rosie and me, on tour, finding pet-friendly hotels along the route.

First rest stop in Bryan, Texas to meet up with best friends, Danny and Cheryl. We'll call this the culinary stop, since there was food. Lots of it!

Next, on to Marfa, ostensibly to see the "Marfa Lights." Didn't see the lights, but what a quaint little town Marfa was, with the Hotel Paisano graciously stuck in the mid-20th century. We had a miniature room with a sub-miniature bathroom, but its charm was generous.

A little Hint of the Milky Way from the Marfa Lights viewing station

From Marfa, we landed in Socorro, New Mexico, my bi-annual launch pad for Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. While several past visits there had produced little to photograph, this time it was truly a target rich environment!

The place was full of birds. Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese, Snow Geese and many varieties of ducks and other waterfowl, plus a few Bald Eagles (too far away to shoot this time), Northern Harriers and even a Great-tailed Grackle. Plus two bull Elk and a coyote that just walked toward me on the road where I was standing while talking to one of the Refuge's volunteers.

The birds were very active and at one point, the Canada Geese all decided to leave. Literally thousands, turning the sky dark. Eleven White Pelicans also decided to press on while I was there the 2nd day of my visit.

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