Page 6 - Spring 2013 magazine FINAL

Aggressive drivers, crowded intersections and traffic lights
fade away as we point our car west on Route 159. Marilyn
and I are headed out to Bonnie Springs Ranch with a planned
stop in Calico Basin to enjoy a thermos of coffee.

When part of the fun is enjoying the journey, the short detour
through beautiful Calico Basin is a treat worth savoring.
Peering from corrals scattered along our way, horses watch

our progress with an occasional approving nod. Shortly, we
find a paved parking lot with plenty of covered picnic tables
and just a few other cars ahead of us. Huffing and puffing we
make our way up the Red Springs boardwalk to our favorite
resting spot under a small grove of shade trees. Friends of
Red Rock Canyon help maintain this enchanting walkway
and each time we stroll here something new and wonderful Up ahead we see an amazing natural spring flowing directly

captures our attention. I remembered to bring binoculars and from the rock walls of the mountainside. As we walk farther,
we can make out tiny specks dressed in blue jeans peering in a large boulder to our left displays the outline of a curious-
our direction from the very rim of the mountains. For the looking insect. We’re gazing upon a wonderful piece of art left
next few minutes, the distant hikers seem to be fascinated by for us by Native Americans who lived here centuries ago. In-
the two gray-haired specks with binoculars trained in their formative signs are conveniently located along the boardwalk
direction. After this brief long-distance encounter, we’re and we stop at one to read about the surrounding desert

ready to complete our boardwalk stroll. plants. Back on the highway, we roll past the Red Rock Can-
yon Visitor Center. There’s so much to see and do there that
we’ll have to save that stop for another day.

Page 6