Bosque del Apache

Our jaunt today to the Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge south of San Antonio uncovered a new bit of bureaucratic language. The Rio Viejo Trail in the refuge was posted with a sign saying motorized vehicles were not allowed. That was fine. Then the sign offered an explanation. The ban was so that people using the trail could have "a non-motorized recreational experience." The need to explain the ban was odd enough, but "non-motorized..." Gad!  And We the People pay people to think up this stuff?

The trail was decorated with a cell phone tower. At least the tower was 20 or so yards off the trail, mostly hidden in the trees. Our surprise at seeing the tower quickly gave way to admiration for the wildlife folks who run the bosque for picking up a few bucks leasing the tower site. (We assume it was leased.) It isn't as if technology and "motorized" stuff is not found at the bosque. The bird food,—corn and other grains—is planted using machinery and made available to the bird using machinery.

As we entered the driving tour loop, we saw a bald eagle perched alone at the top of the skeleton of a tree. Glorious.