Nothing Much

Desert Marigold

It felt pretty uncomfortable out there this morning for our daily trek; it seems as if humidity is creeping back into the atmosphere.  Dr. K, Willow and I decided to cut the hike short for obvious reasons.  We were out there long enough for me to get a few fairly decent photos.  The beetle I'm never able to capture a decent image of--I learned today from conversing with Gemini--is a desert blue-ball blister beetle.  Apparently they are extremely dangerous if touched; they release a chemical that can burn the skin.  Good to know, though we'd never try to pick one up; and now we'll always make certain that Willow doesn't get near one.

LDR-A arroyo

Willow on sand break

This & next:  desert blue-ball blister beetle

Cysteodemus wislizeni

Curve-billed Thrasher

 

Pre-Shop Trek

Roadrunner on the move

We cut the half roughly in two this morning because Willow wasn't enjoying herself and we weren't either.  We were out there long enough for me to get some decent photos of our desert denizens, including a Jewel Beetle which I hadn't seen in years.  After the outing I got ready and left for my weekly shopping stint at Albertsons.  After lunch Dr. K did her rounds at Target.

One second later

Willow on one of her many breaks

Cloud over Tortugas Mountain

Greater Earless Lizard

This creosote fruit is tasty

Southwest of Tortugas Mountain

Last 2:  Gyascutus caelatus (metallic wood-boring beetle)

aka Jewel Beetle

 

Whole Hike

Starting down LDR-A

It felt pretty hot out there when Dr. K, Willow and I started hiking this morning; the humidity was high and the clouds weren't shielding us from the blazing sun.  The only question in the humans' minds was whether to cut the hike short or not.  Dr. K and I couldn't decide so we left it up to Willow, who, at the judgement junction, chose to do the whole trek.  We stopped plenty of times for shade and water often having to depart early due to the appearance of ants; they've been everywhere this season it seems.  We had a good hike, none of us overly tired from the effort.

Clouds over ocotillos

Willow on sand

This & next 4:  Sacred Datura

This & next:  barrel cactus with buds and flowers

 

Blackfoot Daisy

Last 2:  barrel cacti again

Half a Hike

Early morning moon

It was apparent early during our morning hike that yesterday's rainfall had left the atmosphere ripe with humidity.  Dr. K, Willow and I felt it immediately, and we made the decision to cut our outing short. It wasn't a mistake; by the time we finished the trek we were all spent from the heat.  We took a long drive afterward as we usually do after a weekend hike.

Desert Marigold bouquet

Dr. K and Willow in LDR-A arroyo

Prickly pears

Willow on sand rained on yesterday

This & next:  Roundtail Horned Lizard

Side-blotched lizard (probably Eastern)

Roadrunner in ocotillo

 

Post Deluge Hike

Desert Marigold flowers

We really got blasted with rain yesterday afternoon, and this morning's atmosphere bore the proof of lingering moisture:  very high humidity.  It was so uncomfortable that we decided early on to cut the hike short.  Consequences of the heavy downpour were evident everywhere, especially in the arroyos that showed clearly the results of fast-flowing rainwater.  After the trek we took a drive around several neighborhoods just for the heck of it.

Willow and Dr. K in an arroyo

LDR-A arroyo after heavy rain

Desert Marigold bouquet

Barrel cactus with buds and flowers

Willow lying where the rain ran

Why does the mesquite live in an arroyo?

Further up the right branch arroyo

Last 2:  halfway up the hill west of the right branch arroyo

 

Return Trip Blues

Sacramentos vista

Dr. K, Willow and I had a nice hike in the forest above the cabin before heading back inside to pack for the trip down to the lower desert where we are now.  According to my weather app it's 106F presently and 82F at our cabin.  Being down here in the heat is a real pleasure.

Willow on our drive

This & next:  Davis Mountain Mock Vervain

Dr. K and Willow on our road

Allthorn in bloom

Buttefly (Painted Lady?) hanging upside down on Allthorn

Allthorn