Lower Gallinas campsite

9/17/09: I came into the Gila National Forest area and at the highest point I stopped at the Emory Pass lookout for a tremendous view to the Northeast. As the road started to descend, found a number of camping areas along Route 152. I picked out the best tent site I could find at the Lower Gallinas area. Route 152 ran through 6 camping areas. Each had a trash box, a pit toilet, but no bear boxes. Each would accommodate a fair sized trailer, except the Lower Gallinas. Here, trailers were discouraged due the rougher terrain. Little Ellie Mae seemed to fit well there though, and I pulled in. There was a gurgling stream nearby, and a very cozy sheltered tent area. This became home for a whole week. I unloaded the bike and started making camp. The first visitor I had here road a motorcycle with all his camping hear and said this was his campsite and that I'd picked the best in the entire Gila Wilderness. We talked about the hiking and motorcycling around New Mexico and then he plotted a number of options for me that included a trip all the way into the Pacific Northwest. The trip he described would then continue by ferry from Vancouver B.C. to the Inside Passage and to Alaska northward. He described several favorite eateries in B.C. He had made the passage 7 times by motorcycle. It seemed daunting, but I thought I might try that trip. My visitor also told me about the local "Hike and Bike" shop. And about "Nancy and Diane's", the local Mexican/American restaurant in nearby Silver City. I made several trips to both places. Hike and Bike folks consistently recommended great day hikes and supplied maps. Nancy and Diane's supplied great tacos, tamales, and burritos extraordinaire. At Nancy and Dianes I learned about the difference between ordering the red sauce and the green sauce on your meal. Green was hot enough for me, and I'm told the red sauce is actually the real hot sauce. My visit with this man was one of those that can only happen in campground, only with fellow travelers, and in this case, a fellow motorcyclist. He was impressed with my stories about riding from Key West to Prudhoe Bay, AK. This visit was truly a gift for me.