How Fast Can I Run?

              Palo Alto ~ one more time

As Joe never finished reading about the US/Mexican war, at Palo Alto, we returned to the Center. He continued where he left off and I headed out to the trails. The trails, made for people to walk through the battlefields, were inviting to me, to view the birds and small animals.



Canons set on the grounds, from both sides; flags marking out the areas where the Mexicans and US were posted, are the main features, on the trails.

Signs, with reenactment pictures of the war are also sprinkled here and there. The blue canon is for real, it's one of the vibrant color Mexicans so love.

My excitement of the day came as soon as I walked a short ways down the trail.



There in front of me was an animal!

Sharing the same path, I continued walking taking pictures as I followed this animal, as big as a large dog. I figured it was either an ocelot, bobcat, or mountain lion. Remembering ocelots are only in Laguna Atascosa, that left two choices. When it stopped, I stopped, continuing with the pictures. It finally turned around and looked at me. I thought, "How fast can I run?" Deciding not fast enough, I turned around, catching a glimpse behind me now and then, headed back to the center. The rangers looked at my pictures and identified it, as a bobcat. They knew they were out there, seeing their scat, but no one had ever sighted one before! I was very excited, waiting to tell Joe--he was in watching a video about the war. After I settled down we returned to the trails, for him to read, and for me to scan the acres and acres for more animals. I did see three Nilgai (imported here from India, for exotic hunting, size of an antelope), but not close enough for a picture. 

Enjoy this treasured picture of "My Bobcat"!