Saturday's Strong Winds

This kind of morning today

Windy, cloudy and cold when Dr. K, Willow and I set off on our morning hike.  We were nearly dressed for winter, as you can see from the photos of Dr. K and Willow below.  I wore my earband and gloves for the entire trek.

We saw the guy driving the black side-by-side early on, but spotted no one else, although Dr. K said she saw the two-white-dogs lady.  And here we thought we were the only nuts out and about on such a blustery morning.

The biggest surprise was the vast number of Claret Cup Cacti blooming despite the lack of sun; usually they don't open in such conditions.  We spotted a huge one while we were driving down Tellbrook after the outing, and I turned around and parked in order to take a few pics of it (last 2 photos).

We took a drive after the trek, still in disbelief that the fourth member of the crew, Frio, is no longer with us.  I feel like I'll never get over losing him.

This & next:  landscape experiments

Soaptrees and the Organs

Junction of LDR-A and LDR-A arroyo

This & next:  Willow at rest

This & next:  Dr. K and Willow in the right branch arroyo

Soaptree Yucca on the right branch arroyo's west bank

This & next:  same Claret Cup Cactus

Cloudy morning

This & next 5:  Claret Cups

Tortugas and the Organs

Willow and Dr. K in Whitey

Last 2:  Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus (phone photos)