HI - Long Time No See

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted updates.  We actually left Aztec, NM on October 3rd and arrived at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge on October 6th.  We hadn't planned on leaving New Mexico so soon, but because of the Government Shutdown they gave us 48 hours to leave.  Fortunately I had already  been in touch with the Santa Ana folks and they said "come on down" their volunteer campground was open and they had room for us.  So we were able to camp out there until the park opened back up and we were able to get to work.  Dale is a Tram driver and I'm  his narrator.  We started our training on October 21st.  Sam and Bette Learned have been coming to the refuge for about 7 years and they were our instructors.  We're sort of short handed because the 3rd couple that was expected had to cancel.  So the tram is only able to run 6 days a week instead of 7.
The Tram didn't actually start running until November 1st.  We are really enjoying ourselves and like being on the "Tram Team"  The refuge is located about 7 miles south of Alamo, TX right on the Mexico border.  When we arrived the first thing we said was "This looks just like home".  As most of you know we were born and raised in California and lived in the San Joaquin Valley until 1984 when we moved to Missouri.  There is lots of agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley.  Well there is LOTS of agriculture here in the Lower Rio Grand Valley, too.  There is always something going on.  Lots of produce, here.  There are Grapefruit and Orange groves, as well as, almost any produce you can think of.  Cabbage, lettuce, Swiss Chard, Broccoli, Cilantro, squash, carrots, tomatoes....too many to name.
They are either plowing, planting, spraying, picking, cutting, crop dusting.  Always something.  We love it.  The weather has been great.  In the 80's most of the time.  We did have a cold spell a few weeks ago.  That was a shock to the system.  One day the high just got up to 45, Brrrrr.   I know you folks in Missouri aren't too sympathetic :).  I'll try to post some more photos soon.