See You
©Bert Gildart: It is intended that Janie’s gesture suggest a certain nostalgia as we make ready to leave the Sonoran Desert. While here we’ve camped at Gilbert Ray, Peg Leg, Springs of Borrego and, today, we’re moving for a few nights to the State Park because Springs of Borrego is full.
Janie bidding a fair adieu to our many Sonoran Desert friends. Note our Airstream toward upper left.
The focus of our stay in each has been to learn more about the Sonoran’s natural history. A few flowers are starting to pop up and last night we watched from our RV pad as dozens of Swenson’s Hawks circled over our heads. They’ve wintered in South America, places as distant as Argentina, and they’re returning. From here they’ll disperse, some settling in Montana, Alberta and other areas in the Northwest. Each year about 300 Swenson’s move through the area, making this a particularly dramatic event.
L to R: Cactus Wren, Barn Owl, Prairie Falcon
Monday we’ll leave the State Park and then we’ll follow the Swenson’s, moving north. Like these hawks we may find a few “staging areas” along the way where we’ll take time to regroup and enjoy attractions in these new areas. In the meantime, we say goodbye to the many friends. We’ve biked extreme areas with Ron, shared a glass of early morning wine with Tony and Betty, watched birds with Mike, Randy. We’ve learned about Chinese history (see below) with Bill and Larry, and studied the stars with Ted and Carol. And we’ve climbed Coyote Peak with some very special friends, Don and Nancy.
Sadly, some may not be back but our memories are so vivid that they’ll always be with us. So we won’t say goodby, rather we’ll do as native friends in Alaska do, and simply say, “See you.”
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*AIRSTREAM TRAVELS TWO YEARS AGO:
4th ed. Autographed by the Authors
Hiking Shenandoah National Park
Hiking Shenandoah National Park is the 4th edition of a favorite guide book, created by Bert & Janie, a professional husband-wife journalism team. Lots of updates including more waterfall trails, updated descriptions of confusing trail junctions, and new color photographs. New text describes more of the park’s compelling natural history. Often the descriptions are personal as the Gildarts have hiked virtually every single park trail, sometimes repeatedly.
Big Sky Country is beautiful
Montana Icons: 50 Classic Symbols of the Treasure State
Montana Icons is a book for lovers of the western vista. Features photographs of fifty famous landmarks from what many call the “Last Best Place.” The book will make you feel homesick for Montana even if you already live here. Bert Gildart’s varied careers in Montana (Bus driver on an Indian reservation, a teacher, backcountry ranger, as well as a newspaper reporter, and photographer) have given him a special view of Montana, which he shares in this book. Share the view; click here.
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
What makes Glacier, Glacier?
Glacier Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Crown of the Continent
Glacier Icons: What makes Glacier Park so special? In this book you can discover the story behind fifty of this park’s most amazing features. With this entertaining collection of photos, anecdotes and little known facts, Bert Gildart will be your backcountry guide. A former Glacier backcountry ranger turned writer/photographer, his hundreds of stories and images have appeared in literally dozens of periodicals including Time/Life, Smithsonian, and Field & Stream. Take a look at Glacier Icons
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
March 14th, 2014 at 9:43 pm
Bert and Janie,
Vaya bien.
Feast and travel well!
Looking forward to seeing you again next season!
Best, from Bill and Larry