Rusty's RV Ranch, Rodeo, NM Campers came down individually and we had heavy appetizers and happy hour on Monday. On Tuesday we had a potluck dinner in the clubhouse followed by a talk about the Apaches by Bill Cavaliere, the President of the Cochise County Historical Society. The slide talk was very well received and we were invited to his ranch to bird the next day. We birded in the mornings and usually went to the clubhouse about 4:00 to have happy hour, review the day and outline the next day's activities. From a birding perspective the group saw 92 species and the Smiths and Berns, who stayed an extra day, brought the total up to 105. Most of the birding took place in four private yards, but we also hiked up about a mile in South Fork canyon. There was not much activity in the Canyon, but we later determined that birding there would be better a few weeks later, but May could be pretty hot for a Club trip. The yard birding was great and made up for it. One of the yards was in Paradise, an old mining ghost town. The owner of the George Walker B&B, Jackie Lewis, sat with us throughout, giving us a tutorial on the birds there. Afternoons were free time and most of the group visited the Chiracahua Desert Museum, which was only a few miles away from camp. And, several went geocaching in Rodeo and toured the cemetery and remains of the El Paso and Southwestern RR. This is the second straight year this trip was run and the only downside is the wind, which was present every afternoon and a couple of nights. It must have reached 50 mph and rocked the campers making sleep difficult. This is typical of the country, especially in the spring and it is important to warn participants to expect it and the possible closing of Rt 10 at the border. Coming home via Douglas, under those circumstances is not much of a penalty.
I think all enjoyed the trip, but not the wind.
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