Silver City and Surrounding Area

Our Home for the time there; Manzano's RV Park
Our Home for the time there; Manzano’s RV Park
Flurry Lane, yes ist's a dirt road!
Flurry Lane, yes ist’s a dirt road!
Our campsite, nice trees!
Our campsite, nice trees, although if you’ll notice the layout is backwards; the table and chair area is on the service side! No matter, it’s still a beautiful spot!

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View from our dining room window
View from our dining room window.

downtown silver city

Entrance to Main Street in "Old" Silver City
Entrance to Main Street in “Old” Silver City
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Anita Scott Coleman’s house

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Jan's cousin Harry's house. He's in the process of building the wall of bottles; pretty cool!
Jan’s cousin Harry’s house. He’s in the process of building the wall of bottles; pretty cool! The house is a historical landmark in the area.

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Family in Spain
Harry’s wife Chris, Harry, Avery and Willy(Sp?)
Jan, Aunt Fran and Harry when they visited our home.
Jan with Aunt Fran and Harry when they visited our home.

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I even found a really good Bloody Mary at Toad Creek Bar & Grill
I even found a really good Bloody Mary at Toad Creek Bar & Grill

City of Rocks State Park & Campground

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Many interesting rock formations. Very massive as you can see in the following pictures!
Many interesting rock formations. Very massive as you can see in the following pictures!

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Cactus Flowers were in bloom too
Cactus Flowers were in bloom too

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gila cliff dwellings national monument

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Jan on the first of many bridges along the trail leading to the Cliff Dwellings
Jan on the first of many bridges along the trail leading to the Cliff Dwellings
The "Official" greeter?
The “Official” greeter?

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First view of the caves.
First view of the caves.
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Steps up to the caves
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GOOD ADVICE!

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Our new friend!
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Notice the black ceiling from the fires they built for warmth and cooking.
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Jan in there to give it some scale and quiet those who complain we’re not in the pictures!

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Our only exit (Not really, but we took it anyway; shorter distance)
Our only exit (Not really, but we took it anyway; shorter distance)
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Local Residents.

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So sad (and stupid); this fire was caused by careless campers who left their campfire unattended according to the Rangers.

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pino altos, right next to silver city

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The Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House. It looks abandoned, doesn’t it?

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Front of the Opera House, it also looks abandoned!
Front of the Opera House, it also looks abandoned!

 

 

 

 

The End of Our Time in Texas (for now)

spring flowers blooming everywhere!

Blue Bonnets Everywhere in Texas
Blue Bonnets Everywhere in Texas
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Blue Bonnets and other colorful flowers on the roadside
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And in front of Palmetto National Park

japanese botanical gardens-san antonio

The entrance, as you'll notice it says "Chinese". This was changed during WWII but was later, after the war, reverted back. Only this sign remains.
The entrance, as you’ll notice, says “Chinese”. This was changed during WWII but was later, after the war, reverted back. Only this sign remains.
Building at the entrance
Building at the entrance
The main building with wonderful stone work.
The main building with wonderful stone work.
View over the ponds from the main building.
View over the ponds from the main building.
Pond residents, along with Koi fish of course.
Pond residents, along with Koi fish of course.
Beautiful Stone Bridge.
Beautiful Stone Bridge.
Gorgeous lush waterfall.
Gorgeous lush waterfall.
Beautiful Stonework Throughout.
Beautiful Stonework Throughout.
Resident Squirrel posing for his picture!
Resident Squirrel posing for his picture!

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Kiln from the quarry that was on this site.
Kiln from the quarry that was on this site.
History of the site and the kiln.
History of the site and the kiln.

our return to san antonio botanical gardens to see the new blooms

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Entrance to the gardens looking much more lush!
I didn't bother taking a picture of this Wisteria arbor before; it was bare!
I didn’t bother taking a picture of this Wisteria arbor before; it was bare!
Bird mansion!
Bird mansion!
Vegetable Garden, can't get chard this nice at the grocery!
Vegetable Garden, can’t get chard this nice at the grocery!
The blooming Rose garden.
The blooming Rose garden.

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palmetto state park near austin

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The scenic road into the park
The scenic road into the park.
View just inside the park of the valley below.
View just inside the park of the valley below.
Stone event center built by the CCC in the 1930's, beautiful!
Stone event center built by the CCC in the 1930’s, beautiful!

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One of the many beautiful trail walks.
One of the many beautiful trail walks.
VERY lush and green!
VERY lush and green!
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Very deep grass and nice flowers too!
This winters damage along the river. I discovered after I too this I was standing over a deep undercut!!
This winters damage along the river. I discovered after I took this photo that I was standing over a deep undercut!

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caverns of sonora texas (this time i was allowed to take my camera:-)

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Caverns of Sonora is a privately owned working ranch that just happens to have these amazing caverns under it. Family owned and operated for generations.
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SAM the greeter! A very large, slightly dirty (ranch dog) Pyrenees Mountain dog. What a lover!

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The store and offices for the caverns.
The store and offices for the caverns.
The resident male Peacock.
The resident male Peacock.
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And his Herem.

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They had an automatic deer feeder. We saw deer late one night but during the day the birds and squirrels make use of the corn too.
They treat to local birds pretty well I'd say; a massive bird condo complex made of gourds and a self filling watering trough.
They treat the local birds pretty well I’d say; a massive bird condo complex and a self filling watering trough.

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Our pull-thru camp spot; pretty straight shot I'd say!
Our pull-thru camp spot; pretty straight shot I’d say! It wasn’t so spacious once the sites filled up later though. Still a nice spot.
Our guide Bill took us into the caverns. The tour required doing 360+ steps plus steep inclines so Jan decided to just enjoy the pictures I took.
Our guide Bill took us into the caverns. The tour required doing 360+ steps plus steep inclines so Jan decided to just enjoy the pictures I took.

a few pictures inside the caverns of sonora, breathtaking!

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Tossing money into the natural pools is forbidden, but they installed this cement bottomed one for that purpose. All the money collected is given to local charities.

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GOODBYE FOR NOW TEXAS……