March 19, 2020 - Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Headed to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.  This park was also free.  I figured out once I got back to El Paso that the entire park system was suspending entrance fees.  They were keeping the parks open so people could hike or kayak but they they are closing most of the visitor centers, museums and educational centers.  There was a park ranger in the visitor center and when she saw someone coming down the walk, she'd walk out and give them a brochure/map, provide the expected weather for the day and provided hiking advice based on the expected weather.  All in about 120 seconds. 
I expect there was probably wi-fi service available at the visitors center as there were two campers under blankets in camp chairs with computers plugged into the outlet between the vending machines,.
I went back to my car and reviewed the map.  I had hit some side locations on my way to the park and found a few more.  It was one of the best sky days I'd seen, and I'd seen some great skies.  There was most likely a storm coming so we had both great blue in parts of it and interesting cloud colors in other areas.  I drove through and got some great shots.  After I left the park, I found the entrance to another part of the park that I didn't think I'd be able to access.  But after nearly of driving through farm land, I got to it.  It was a beauful picnic spot covered in wild flowers.  Mountains in the background and a great sky. 

And for frosting on that cake, got a second photo of a road runner.  I've seen a few of them...usually running in front of my car and into the bushes.  This was the second one that posed for a photo.
 







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