We finally left Silver City, NM, and were headed north through western New Mexico. I wasn't really sure where I was headed. It is appalling when RVers actually know that they are heading to a specific place on a certain date.

That doesn't mean that a full time RVer wanders around at random. Sophisticated "software" is employed to find high altitude land, rather sparse with trees, with flatness and steepness in opposition. Also I need Verizon Wireless coverage, public lands camping and interesting towns.

When we drove over one of the highest passes in west, central New Mexico I pulled off on the dirt road that ran along the top of mountain. The mountain ridge was thirty mile long, at 8000 feet.

I was pleased to find a nice ponderosa forest. There was wireless coverage even though we were almost 20 miles from the tower in Alpine, AZ. Does that make sense? I got camped and we immediately went out for a walk. The sun was so piercing that I felt hot, even though the air was cool.

Much to my surprise the quiet of the forest gave way suddenly to a roaring wind at the edge of a cliff, from which you can see so much of western New Mexico. But not a single town.

There is nothing more rousing than standing at the edge of a cliff and looking out into the quietness of distance, while at your back you remember the dead air of the forest. But right where you are standing, the air is a chilly fury.

I chose the word 'rousing' because of its etymology: it originally meant 'ruffling feathers.' Feathers indeed. While the dogs amused themselves by walking right up to the edge, two birds played with the ridge-lift.

Perhaps a reader who is an experienced birder will correct me, but this bird seems like a turkey vulture with a featherless red head, and the silvery feathers underneath. The latter are subtly attractive when they catch the setting sun. For a bird who has such an unpleasant image they are magnificent in the air. At a place like this cliff face, they seldom flap.

What a species of mastery it must be to channel inanimate forces--the things of land and sky--into something of your own purpose...something that seems alive.