When the deer moved over a ridge, I refocussed my eyes and noticed a small ground squirrel just below us, foraging among the fallen seeds while keeping one eye on us. We saw plenty of signs that javelina also foraged in this area. After about half an hour, we decided that we would walk a little farther in along the road. As we continued up the road, the peacefulness and isolation from the noise and the works of man, even though we were walking on a jeep road, was deeply impressed upon us. Now canyon wrens sing from the top of the cabin while ruby crowned kinglets play beside the pools of water left by the stream.
Bats make their homes inside the house now.
In no direction other than beneath our feet can we see any sign of the presence of man. It is with extreme reluctance that we decide that we must turn around and begin our walk back. There is also the nature trail through the bosque on the other side of the river and down the hot springs fed streambed. As we walk back Lori decides that she wants to take back one of the uprooted agaves that lie near the spot where we sat overlooking Bass Canyon . For the rest of the walk back I am constantly dodging one end of the plant or the other as Lori swings it from side to side.