San Antonio, New Mexico is a small town, located just off I-25, south of Socorro by 10 miles, Albuquerque by 80 miles. It is home to 2 unique spots: Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge and The Owl bar and Cafe.
Bosque del Apache is Spanish for “woods of the Apache,” and is rooted in the time when the Spanish observed Apaches routinely camped in the riverside forest. Since then the name has come to mean one of the most spectacular National Wildlife Refuges in North America. Here, tens of thousands of birds–including sandhill cranes, Arctic geese, and many kinds of ducks–gather each autumn and stay through the winter. Feeding snow geese erupt in explosions of wings when frightened by a stalking coyote, and at dusk, flight after flight of geese and cranes return to roost in the marshes.
In the summer Bosque del Apache lives its quiet, green life as an oasis in the arid lands that surround it. From the Bosque del Apache Wildlife website
From the main intersection in town, a small sign pointed the way to Bosque Birdwatcher’s RV Park, 3 miles south. The spot appeared to be a farm turned into RV spot with maybe 30 spaces that bordered the wildlife refuge.
This morning I saw what I think are Sandhill Cranes that live in the refuge.
Beautiful in the morning’s pink alpenglow.
Sunrise to the east was worth watching as well.
Some time later we met Mike, Steve’s longtime friend who was his best man at our wedding, at The Owl Bar and Cafe.
The Owl opened in 1947 as a bar but soon after opening, the atomic scientists working the area on the atomic bomb, convinced the owners to start grilling some food at the bar which gave birth to the “Owlburger” – a green chile cheeseburger which has both local and world fame.
These 4 booths, a few tables and a long carved wood bar make up the interior. The burgers were great and the company wonderful. Mike continued north on his way home in eastern MT after a trip to the southwest. We went on our way to Silver City and are now parked at the Rose Valley RV Ranch.
Rose Valley RV Ranch has some interesting history as well…minana!
