We are here to check Aztec 
Ruins National Monument. Museum displays compare and contrast the Pueblo and Chaco civilizations through their pottery, architecture, and building techniques plus try to connect the dots between those populations and the many native tribes that have and still do occupy these lands.
The grounds protect a huge Pueblo settlement of which about half has been excavated. Weather has taken its toll but enough remains to give a good idea of how it looked as-built. A trail allows us to wander through the many rooms of this huge structure. It is amazing. The great Kiva has been rebuilt based on archeologic evidence. There is still debate about exactly what the Kivas were used for but whatever that outcome, this structure is impressive.
Another cool feature, two green stripes of stone are built into the entire length of one exterior wall. This feature has not been seen in any other ruins, Chaco or Pueblo, in the entire four corners area. Cool. What’s that about?
60 ft boardwalk to the bunkhouse at the office complex. We did this one entirely on our own and it came out pretty nice – we think so and so did the Refuge staff. Tear out was good practice for a later project to remove a much longer boardwalk on a trail further out in the Refuge.
In total we hung or rehung 8 signs. All looking good!
(or at least persistently present) in a low fork of a live oak along the entrance road, a guard alligator who lolls on a small dock at the entrance, and a determined cottonmouth who now guards the boardwalk out at San Bernard Oak. The wintering geese showed up too, the white-fronted and the snow geese. Sandhill cranes and Roseate Spoonbills as well.
(out on the drive not in camp!) the very first day.
one a ten point, and several other young males along with a doe and her nearly grown fawn.
Pretty tasty with a new treat, Texas Twinkies: jalapeno stuffed with brisket and cream cheese, wrapped in bacon then smoked. Yummy with a kick.
who made the time here enjoyable and productive. They kinda looked after me while Lynn was in NY, checking on me after vaccinations and during inclement weather. And there was the delicious meal or treat from time to time to save me from my own cooking. Hopefully, our paths will cross again.
We received quite a surprise this morning. Seems we are being sent to help with a project of the regional office. We were specifically tasked with installing a fence around the parking area. Other improvements are slated to begin next week adding public access features around the slough. Turns out you can get a tractor to the regional office via trails through the refuge. Takes about an hour but is much safer than traveling on the open highways of Texas.
With continued residential growth in the area this unit is seeing outstanding usage. The parking area is often full and visitors are turned away due to overcrowding. The answer, an expansion of the parking area. New fencing around parking lot then gravel for parking lot repair and expansion. The parking capacity went from 5 to 18 cars.
We were also tasked with a smaller simpler kiosk for a trail to a noteworthy Live Oak tree located here on the refuge. I was quicker to build, required fewer materials and provides more than adequate space for the trail specific information display needed. Another problem was addressed by adding posts to restrain cars to the parking area and away from the trail.
Moving a sign would not seem like much of a task but, with the soil and dampness here any earthwork requires additional effort. The first task was to clear an area near the driveway to place the sign. Remove one 8” diameter tree and a great deal of brush, thank heavens for the “Billy Goat” mower, to provide access to the area and facilitate vision of the sign. We successfully found materials to replace the uprights since the existing ones were badly eaten by ants. Wrapped up this one and dug the holes for project 7(new San Bernard Oak Kiosk) by end of the day Thursday. Pretty productive week.
