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Monday, March 18, 2024

Bad Day All Around

Rest in peace, best male heeler ever.  Our beloved Frio
The first thing we did this morning was to take Frio to the vet to put him out of his misery; his condition had degenerated so quickly and badly it was the only thing we could do.  For several nights now he sounded as if he was suffocating, and the ragged, rapid and shallow breathing had carried over into mornings.  I don't think we'll ever get over losing this very special friend.  Hope there's an afterlife so we may all reunite.

At about 10:30, even though the wind was blowing hard and gusting badly we took Willow out on our regular route, though we truncated the trek by half.  We're monitoring her to see what effects Frio's absence has on her behavior.

The rest:  yucca and clouds, mountains and clouds








 

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Holy Crap Hike

Soaptrees and the Organs
Not a bad morning for a hike:  slightly chilly with sunshine and very little breeze.  Our enjoyment of the outing was diminished by our concern for Frio whose health has declined rapidly.
Tortugas and the Organs
He managed a short trek with some difficulty, but seemed to enjoy himself.

We took a ride after the hike, and then, after we got home, I took Frio for a lengthy drive in the Jeep; he always likes that, but he slept most of the way.  It's really hell watching a young, strong, spirited dog waste away.  If he was older he'd have been gone a long while back.

It seems pretty clear to Dr. K and me that Frio isn't suffering from Valley Fever at all, but rather a cancer that has metastasized into his lungs.  What a raw deal our boy got from life.

This & next:  one of 3 Pyrrhuloxias chasing each other


Organ Mountains

Flank of Tortugas Mountain

Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus with buds

Prickly Pear Cactus

South into the source of Middle Branch Arroyo

Cactus Wren

American Kestrel

Willow and Frio

Tortugas and the Organs again

 

Saturday, March 16, 2024

After Yesterday's Bad Wind

Above the mouth of Right Branch Arroyo
After yesterday's wind-abbreviated hike it was a pleasure for all of us to get out early on a pleasant morning.  It did cloud up a bit toward the end of our trek, but not enough to cause consternation.

As soon as we exited the CR-V at the start, though, we had to alter route to avoid the Basset people and their hounds who were approaching us on the upper flatland road.  Therefore we headed south toward Tellbrook before bushwhacking eastward across a few steep hills and deep valleys.

We ended up descending into the right branch arroyo from its mouth, descending it to the junction with the left, ascending the left, heading down the middle and then ascending the right branch the opposite way we came down.  A bit of a more strenuous hike, but worth the effort.

Prickly Pears and Ocotillos

Fishhook Barrel Cactus

This & next:  Right Branch Arroyo


Soaptree Yucca and the mountains

Three barrel cacti

Distant view of Tortugas and the Organs

Clouds over the Organs

Those are not pimples on the Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus

This & next:  the "O"s


Cloudy Organs

Soaptree in the left branch arroyo

Female and male House Finch

Cactus Wren on yucca

Organs with clouds

This & next:  Picacho and surroundings


"O"s again

Guess I like clouds on the Organs

This & next:  Desert Evening Primrose


Tortugas and the Organs

 

Friday, March 15, 2024

Wind-shortened Hike

1st 2:  clouds over the Organs
Very strong wind shortened our hike by about half.  That is all.


"O"s mostly in yucca shadow

 

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Abbreviated by Half

1st 3:  Tortugas and the Organs
In order to make sure Frio didn't get overly tired on our trek we cut the hike in half, choosing to ascend the right branch arroyo instead of going up the left and down the middle.  Couldn't tell whether he appreciated the gesture or not.

When we were descending the LDR-A arroyo we saw the man driving his black side-by-side down LDR.  The photo I posted of the distant bushwhacker may, in fact, be the side-by-side driver.  We saw no one else during our outing.

The weather was very pleasant for daily trek.



Distant bushwhacker with dog

"O"s in yucca shadow

Yucca that provides the shadow for the "O"s

 

Bad Day All Around

Rest in peace, best male heeler ever.  Our beloved Frio The first thing we did this morning was to take Frio to the vet to put him out of hi...