n for sight-seeing.
We toured the historical downtown of Silver City. I enjoyed chatting with the 80-year old man volunteering at the Visitors Center. He's lived here for over 50 years as a biology professor at the local university. He filled in parts of the city's history that I won't find written anywhere.
* Billy the Kid did live here for a few years but compared to the other scoundrels of the area, he was a pussycat. Seems Silver City was established about the same time as Tombstone and for the same reason - mining. Both cities had unscrupulous individuals come to find their fortunes. The mine was within a short walking distance to Main Street.
* This area is also in the heart of Apache territory. Seems as if their anger started at the copper pit within sight from where we're camping. The Apaches were farmers who were enslaved by the Spanish to work the copper mine. They revolted and continue doing so for centuries.
* I walked along Main Street and the park called the "Big Ditch". This was a river about 50 feet below street level. Pretty little park. Originally, Silver City's Ma
in Street existed where the river now exists. The trees and shrubbery around the town were cut down for building, heat, fences, etc. which left the landscape unprotected to erosion. A major rain came which flowed down the mountain in the
now barren areas which led all the water to Main Street. Overnight the street was washed away 35feet below ground... now a huge ditch. Within a few years, another flood occurred which washed away the rest of the loose dirt down to the hard rock leaving a ditch fifty feet deep.I was fascinated that the landscape could change so dramatically in 12 hours. In an area that had no river or stream, just streets, now has a river and no street. The "Big Ditch" hit granite and is stable. The citizens have rocked up the sides of the 50 foot deep ditch to prevent sideways erosion.
* Silver City had many of their men fight in World War II. Some came back not quite mentally whole. The city cherished their "characters" and cared for them - even those that were Peeping Tom's or walked the streets a little crazy. The citizens just endeared them as part of their city.
* We did som
e hiking today looking for local wildlife at the National Bird and Wildlife Refuge. We saw no birds or wildlife except 3 LBT (Little Brown Things - tiny brown birds). The tracks along the river were awesome. Beaver, Raccoon, Deer, Coyote, Wolf?, Bird, and others. I believe the area will be teeming with life and beautiful in about a month or two. The area was surrounded with barren trees that I know will be lush by early summer.
* While crossing the bridge outside the Reserve we did see 4 wild Javelinas and 3 Sandhill Cranes. Unfortunately those rascals can move quickly and disappeared before we could catch a photo of the javelinas. They were just lounging at the bank of a river with the cranes near by.
* The scenery is beautiful west of Silver City. Large rolling hills with meadows surrounded by mountains. After touring the city and the wildlife refuge, we headed for a rock hounding spot to look for Apache Tears. The trip took us th
rough a true forest with real trees - beautiful & comforting. We hiked along a sandy stream bed searching for obsidian which were easily found laying on the ground. The area was just so peaceful and beautiful. Clint caught an early butterfly visiting near by. I was surprised to realize that this tranquil place with the big open areas are calderas from violent ancient volcanoes.Overall Silver City and the surrounding area is very nice. We could stay here for a long time and be very comfortable. The people are friendly, the area is peaceful and there's room to move. A downer - the copper pit (HUGE) is so bright at night that my night sky was washed out. I'd need to travel about 30 miles to have a great night sky. I believe just south of here the City of Rocks has a monthly astronomy club meeting. Oh, and the local Rock Club sounds like a lot of fun.
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