Rhapsody on FR181

OK, I'll only bore you with a few details from my favorite road. This is mainly because I can't read the notes I scribbled while walking:

Billowing white clouds were building over Pajarito Mountain, Cerro Grande and Sangres but deep, New Mexico blue skies prevailed.

Sangres were in a grey haze which lifted somewhat as I walked but then, on the way back, I detected the slightest transparent haze over Cerro Grande.

Young aspens's bark greenish but no leaves yet. Gambel oak still has rust orange leaves of winter.

Most mud I saw was on downhill portion going into Water Canyon. One patch of snow there too. Butterflies especially loved the puddles and sunshine near Water Canyon.

Area east and uphill of Water Canyon (after you pass the two side roads) which is usually a mud bog isn't this year. It's rutted so there was mud earlier but it's dried out now.

Saw deer track but not much elk sign on road. Lots of dog prints including black ones from where the dog stepped into black mud of American Springs seep that drains next to and under road.

Patted the warm bark of a straight and mighty ponderosa that grows alongside road. Listened to far off wind, with many birdcalls carried on the breeze.

Going out of Water Canyon, on my way back, I saw plastic yellow flagging tied to trees on each side of the road. It made me look around to see what there was to see. I was astonished to see below in Water Canyon the skinny dead trunks of aspens that were such a startling burnished silver color! Thought about how Cerro Grande fire has made this land very open but vulnerable; yet, lovely still!