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<\/a><\/p>\nleaving it up to us to make the quarter mile trek to the gate whenever the Fed is delivering a package but leaving that all behind I was out the gate before nine on the twelfth<\/p>\n
to 447 north<\/p>\n over the Buffs<\/p>\n and crossing Duck Flat began overtaking a convoy of cow haulers, the first sporting a gloriously bellicose twelve foot image of OLD on the rear door, fist raised in triumph to “Save America”.\u00a0 Kinda inspirational, really, even though what they want to save America from is most likely me.<\/p>\n By the California line I’d overtaken the other two and after dropping Linda’s quarterlies [pay for that Parade!] at the Post Office, buying an apple next door and gas at Rabbit Traxx was on my<\/p>\n way out of Cedarville in time to wave “Save America” west over the pass as I went east<\/p>\n to run, after the Middle Lake Causeway, simultaneously out of 299 and pavement at the border.<\/p>\n I passed the last three vehicles of the day climbing Fortynine Pass [6240′] and once over<\/p>\n the other side I did spot a fourth in Long Valley but he and his ATV trailer disappeared south on 34 before I was down to turn north to where<\/p>\n Board Corral Ranch is maybe [?] currently off the market<\/a>. No For Sale signs on the gate<\/p>\n anyway…then it was into the Refuge<\/a> and goodbye to<\/p>\n Cow Lake,<\/p>\n Calcutta Lake,<\/p>\n Long Valley and,<\/p>\n after Bald Mountain Summit [6574′], cell phone service.<\/p>\n Down the other side past the old Refuge Headquarters on the way to<\/p>\n the original Refuge Headquarters at Last Chance Ranch<\/a> was easy,<\/p>\n followed by a mysterious memorial for three people killed in the 50s [two on the same day]<\/p>\n which didn’t say how then a viewing opportunity for, in the far distance, Catnip<\/a> Mountain,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n of which more in a subsequent post. I approached <\/span>Swan Lake Reservoir<\/a>…and Catnip Mountain<\/a>,<\/p>\n [7294′] less distant.<\/p>\n Just outside the boundary the one antelope<\/a> of the day was sighted [not shown] on the way<\/p>\n to Catnip Reservoir<\/a>\u00a0where flocks of nighthawks<\/a> danced over the water during a brief lunch.<\/p>\n I seem to remember similar antics from when I was here years ago…<\/p>\n but at that point a cryptic map and<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n