[This one is based on a real life story that happened in the early 1990s.]
Pam and Jake loved coming to the Southwest. The contrast with the urban metro New York City area couldn’t be more vivid. Maybe it was the vast blue sky, the rugged mesas, the ever-changing play of light on the mountains. Perhaps it was most of all the change from hiking and walking in northern England. It always rained in the English Lake District, no matter what time of the summer they traveled there. Rain the Southwest, when it came, stayed briefly, and often ended in a rainbow. And slickrock was much easier to traverse than the stony paths of Cumbria and Yorkshire.
This morning they were going to Bandelier National Monument. It was pleasantly warm for late May, whatever chill had been in the air was burned off by the time they reached the park’s entrance off Route 4. The ride there from Santa Fe had been satisfactory, a slingshot ride around dips and hills and hints of intriguing buildings behind barbed wire, labeled as Los Alamos Laboratory property. Their destination came shortly after they paid admission at the toll booth. A right turn and they were in Juniper Campground. Only a handful of camping sites were occupied.
The Campground was located on the upper portion of Bandelier. Those wishing to access the Visitor’s Center and main area still faced a five-mile swoop down into Frijoles Canyon. This morning, however, the Campground possessed a scenic quality they’d never seen before. The layout of the area was dotted by neat rows of knee-high bushes casting shade on the various access roads into campground sites and along the route to the parking lots. And occupying the shade under these bushes sat dozens upon dozens of rabbits. Jake slowed down and they counted the bunnies with fascination. Pam and Jake had two rabbits at home that ruled the roost. Seeing a wild rabbit out West always seemed like a piece of luck, but this was a bonanza!
They were sizable, too. Pam estimated most could weigh at least ten pounds. This spring had proved to be highly favorable for the Bandelier rabbit population. A majority appeared to be Western cottontails with smooth brown coats, but a number of yellowish jackrabbits with dark tails could be counted as they passed by. Most of the creatures eyed their slowly moving car tolerantly, and only a few got up from their sitting position to inspect the vehicle with suspicion.
Pam was delighted. This bonanza of bunnies seemed to portend a good hike ahead. They reached the farthest parking lot near the amphitheater and pulled into a spot. There was only one car parked, a white Ford Escort. Even here, rabbits could be seen lounging under the sheltering bushes. Now came the pleasurable ritual of exchanging sneakers for hiking boots. Jake got their daypacks from the rental car trunk. Once Pam had finished lacing her boots, she carefully stowed her purse inside the daypack.
(To be continued)
