New leg, snake, pigs...

I've been getting around for over 8 months on a prosthetic leg that doesn't have any weight resistance in the knee, so imagine my joy in getting a new limb. Yay, I can safely walk down hills and stairs again.
I had to go to San Mateo to get calibrated to the new knee and so on the drive back I wanted to put it through its paces and stopped off at Lake Sonoma for hiking and an overnight stay.
The marina campground has been fixed up, gravel road and the steep hill has been paved. As for Liberty Glen, it is no longer a first/come first/serve campground. To stay there you need to make reservations two days in advance. No day-use either, they won't let you park down by the kiosk. Regardless of camping, to park anywhere it costs you $3.
I cursed the system, paid my fee and parked at No Name lot. I walked the Boar Scat loop and was taking in the scenery where you can look west from the wooden bench. I'd been standing for a couple of seconds cooling off in the shade when I notice a rattler almost right next to me. It never coiled and rattled. It finally noticed me taking pics and leisurely slithered off the trail and into the grass.
I spent the night at Gray Pine. In the morning I parked near the archery range, buttered up, and walked west towards Liberty Glen. It was a beautiful foggy morning. I saw lots of deer, including two solid bucks up close that scared the crap out of me.
The biggest wallows are down to one pig at a time usage, and they're being used. Down at the creek bottom where you start to walk up towards the knob I start to see lots of pig tracks in the dust. I walk to the group camps for water and then down to Corona Bottle for a gander. That's as far as I go and turn around. Group camps were very full but quiet.
I was on the Rockpile side of the creek bottom looking west towards the lower knob when I saw the pigs, at least a dozen of them, about 80 yrds out. Big ones, small ones, one very big saggy sow in the rear. The most striking one was a big white one with uniform black spreckles. A bloody red spot would show up well on that one!
After that the fog burned off, I hiked out and went home.
As for the new knee, it rocks. I felt like a bird whose wings had finally healed.

congrats on the new hardware juan, but that snake would have made me jump and scream like a three year old, thats way to close, cameron

Congrats on the new limb señor ....should have let the rattler taste it 

I was thinking the same thing! Here in Texas because of all the pigs and round ups the rumor has it the rattlers here quit rattling! Makes them more dangerous now. My buddy had one on his front door step the other morning curled up and silent in San Angelo. If he didn't see it first it would have bit him. The poor snake met Mr. Shovel and was no more.

Report of the month!  Congrats on the new knee Juan, does this mean no more night time pics of you falling in the mud?  That white pigs got your name on it!  Do you know if liberty will be open for hunting season? 

Sweet new hardware Juan!  Looks like you'll be taking a few pigs this fall

Camp host's opinion was that it would be back to normal come the season.
I'll believe it when I see it.

Cool Juan! It looked like a meaty one... Ive found that Westerns dont always rattle, at least you have a 50 % chance of him tagging the titanium leg. Ive been thinking of hiking there for some pre season scouting. Maybe cook up a snake or two, Mmmmm. So watchya gonna do with your old leg? Art? A hunting stool? Fish bonker?

Congrats on the new peg.
I bet you'll be covering a lot of ground come this season.

You're an inspiration bro.
Thanks for sharing

Loved reading your post, Juan--happy days are here again!

Very cool Juan. I took my dog up there last weekend. Very dry. Rattler country for sure!

Congrats on the new knee my friend! That rattler wouldn't have made it to the grass if I ran into it.

so now what,,,,you're gonna get 8,ooo mi. in this year instead of the usual 4,ooo? 

you are a hunting beast!

so now what,,,,you're gonna get 8,ooo mi. in this year instead of the usual 4,ooo? 

you are a hunting beast!

That's what I was thinking!