Gnat Paradise

The arroyo (lower left) shows evidence of heavy runoff from recent rains

When I took Becca out to the arroyo alongside our house this morning I knew it was going to be an unpleasant bug-related hike later on; that's because gnats were already swarming everywhere we looked.

I was not mistaken; as soon as we stepped out of Whitey the CR-V we were engulfed in a cloud of the pesky little punkies.  I guess, strictly speaking, they were not the biting kind of gnats, but they sure managed to get into Becca's coat and onto my face.  Later, as I worked up a sweat, the gnats started sticking to exposed skin.  Oftentimes when you see a swarm ahead, you can manage to avoid it; but nothing's worse than suddenly discovering yourself inside an insect tornado, feebly waving your arms about in a futile effort to clear a path through.

Soaptree Yucca, Torrey Yucca, Ocotillos and Prickly Pear

Leading the way . . .

. . . to that shady spot ahead

On break

Pebbles and rocks

West side of Tortugas Mountain