We're working

We have started our assignments.  John has given his night program (endangered Sonoran pronghorns and captive breeding program here) and I have done a watercolor art 2 hour demo.

We both have driven/talked on the 21 mile free tour in this beautiful desert and I am practicing a patio talk about women and ranching "A Window into Another Time".  I bought a wig, black dress, shoes, black socks, jewelry (all for $9 at thrift shops).  I have never done anything like this before and I came up with this myself!!!!!  I am crazy!!! But I have read a transcript of a woman ranching in this place and I got hooked on her story. I did research on other women and I want to tell the public about "another time and women's contributions".  I will post pictures of "Mary Nell Gray"(me) later. I intend to start  the talk sitting in my volunteer coat and hat with a quilt around my lower half and then when I introduce Mary Nell I get up turn around, take off my hat and coat and put on my wig and earrings and sit down as Mary Nell for beneath my coat I am dressed in socks, shoes and dress of another era.  Am I crazy????? The library here with original documents and transcripts (tapes also) is at our disposal.  It is very interesting to have all original documentation at our disposal and they let you pick an interest and research it.  Of course it has to be approved. 

We are one of 3 couples of interpretive volunteers.  There are also 2 campground volunteer host couples, 2 fee taker volunteer couples and a maintenance volunteer couple working here. They are from throughout the country (most are from western states). We are the couple who have traveled the furthest distance to volunteer. 
 


One of the other interpretive volunteer couples on our field trip

 

This is the group working last time we were here.  We are one of many.
 John is right below the flag looking at my camera.  He is just soooooo happy!



Dripping Springs and working the VC

We have done our 2 week orientation and have started our schedule working 32 hours a week.  We have both been training so we have each worked 32 hours (actually more with research of our programs) but now we should be cutting back on hours.  Our last training field trip was to Dripping Springs, the newest drive and hike opened to the public in the monument.  It is open by permit (5 at a time issued) and the road is very narrow and rutted.  We were glad we were driven in a park vehicle, not our little scion.  We have started driving (John talking) the Ajo Mtn 21 mile loop and John has done an evening program once and I have done my watercolor 2 hour demo once.  We must go to civilization tomorrow for food and things.  So we are settled and starting our commitment for the next 2 1/2 months.  This is a wonderful place to be.  And we feel "the most dangerous park in the nation" is safe and beautiful.  Please do not listen to what you hear and read!

View of the start of the hike up to the dripping springs and it looks like a desert.
 

The springs itself dripping inside of the rock in the middle of the desert.



Randa & Jim, members of our interp team, are looking out at the view on the top
 of the climb. Below is what they are seeing.  Quite a view!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

We have been in class including field trips to get us up to speed here at ORPI.  We traveled to Bates Well, an old ranch and Alamo Canyon ranch site and been given our official clothing. 

 

A New beginning 2014 in the Sonoran Desert

 

Bates Well and Alamo Canyon

We had a training day at 2 old ranch remains in the monument.  Both are remnants of a bygone era in this part of Arizona.  It was very interesting. 

Our interpretive group (people who will tell visitors about the monument and give talks, etc) are discussing the old remains of Bates Well ranch

John looking at ancient stones in Alamo Canyon wash

An old cattle pen made out of recycled materials found in the area.  Recycling is not new.  The old timers just made due with what was available or at hand.

Old ranch home remains at Alamo Canyon used by the Grays, cattle ranchers in the valley of the Ajo.

We have arrived in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

This is our setup for the next 3 months.  We have a good view back of our rig of the area.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

We have arrived after stopping in Tucson to load up groceries, etc.  It was a very uneventful trip to here, thank goodness!  The highlight was visiting PEFO friends in San Angelo, TX.  We arrived in ORPI early so we have not even seen our new boss, Christina.  We did meet old friends we knew before and we are parked next to someone whom we worked with two years ago.  We are still setting up our new home for 3 months.

This is Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and it is good to be back!

 

San Angelo, TX

We left the Lower Rio Grande Valley, TX at noon on Christmas Eve.  We started packing and kept packing so we were ready to go much earlier than expected.  So we said our goodbyes, left our keys and traveled on.  We traveled to Laredo on the Mexican border of western south Texas and stayed overnight at a Walmart on Christmas Eve.  The store closed at 8PM but security was around the clock through Christmas.  The store was closed when we left Christmas morning.  I gave a lip balm with candy cane to the security guard on Christmas morning.  They were another shift but oh well!!!!!

We stayed in a state park on Christmas night.  It was a nice clean park and very quiet, like we thought it was.  There was a ranger on duty Christmas Day.  He must have drawn the short straw!!  We are now in San Angelo, north of I-10 visiting people we had met in Petrified Forest.  We are staying at an Air Force Campground right next to the base (They are retired Air Force) and will be with them for dinner tonight.  Then it is travel on to New Mexico. 

We were taken to San Angelo Christmas lights.
 

This shadowbox reminds us of why we celebrate.