Fool Us Once

To the southwest

It rained a bit overnight, and it was partly cloudy and cool when Willow and I set off on our morning hike.  Because the clouds suggested it was going to remain cool we decided to do a longer exploratory trek today.  A little over a quarter of the way the sun broke through, and with the sky-high humidity we soon began regretting how far we had hiked.  It was okay, though, exploring arroyos still wet from the overnight rain.  We had one encounter with a lover of the outdoors, a large guy riding an electric bike down LDR-A.  After the brief exchange of hellos we was gone, and we saw no one else during our outing.

View from LDR-A

Tellbrook Arroyo

Side arroyo we explored

Willow in a side arroyo

Bushwhacking view of Tortugas and the Organs

How many barrel cacti do you see?

How far back to our vehicle?

This & next:  male Ladder-backed Woodpecker

 

Young adult male or female Rufous?

Last 2:  Western Kingbird

Pre-Solo Stretch

Heading down LDR-A

Dr. K accompanied Willow and me on a morning hike, the last we'll share together for about a week; one of us is heading to Santa Fe.  Willow and I will be going solo for the next five days.  Today's outing was rather hot and somewhat humid; no breeze.  We're anxious for the temperatures to go down, which looks likely for the coming week.  Chances of rain are higher, but never more than 40% yet.

Sky southwest

Tortugas and the Organs

This & next:  Dayflowers

Tortugas and the Organs again

Yucca pee receptacle

Dr. K and Willow

Wils on another break

This American Kestrel looks like a parrot

 

Solo Sojourn with Wils

Tortugas and the Organs early

Dr. K had a morning meeting so it was Willow and me on the daily trek.  When we got to the decision section of the route Willow chose the shorter path; therefore we did only half a hike.  That's just as well since it was already beginning to heat up.  Surprisingly there seemed to be a bit fewer ants today.  No ride after the trek since Willow was eager to get back home.

Looking southwest

Alternate long dirt road

Taking another break

What are you looking at?

Whiptail

Distant view of Tortugas and the Organs

 

Roadrunner Friend

Long arroyo

We made a slight detour this morning due to a truck parked midway down LDR; we bushwhacked over to the right branch arroyo, headed down to the intersection with the left, trekked up the left until we reached the cross trail and then turned around.  We reversed route, eventually following the right branch arroyo to where it exits over the steep hill.  On the other side of the hill we met a curious roadrunner who wasn't at all concerned about our being there.

Willow in the right branch

Somebody's been eating prickly pear fruit

The rest:  curious roadrunner near the trailhead

 

Routine Change

Wils on break

Brutally humid this morning, adding to the discomfort created by the blazing sun.  We started down LDR-A arroyo on our regular route, but had to alter track due to a guy and his two dogs heading up the dirt road.  His dogs were perfectly well behaved, but Willow went ballistic trying to get over to them  She's long had this aggressive streak that has lessened only slightly over the years.  We've never known for certain whether it's from the abuse she suffered at the hands of a previous owner who had to surrender her to the Texas Cattle Dog Association.  Oddly enough, though, she's very friendly with people.  Just another of those things we may never find out.

White-winged Dove

This & next 2:  right branch arroyo west of the footpath

Male Gambel's Quail through the patio door glass

 

Old Friends

Desert still wet from overnight rain

Apparently it began raining hard last night at about 11:30.  The evidence was clear when Willow and I began our morning hike; rainwater had run forcefully along the arroyos and roads we explored.  For a change of pace Wils and I hiked LDR-A and LDR all the way up to First Arroyo where we hadn't been for some time.  We had to keep on the move with only minor breaks because the rain brought out ants everywhere.  I was able to give Willow water several times, and then again back at Whitey the CR-V.  I sure worked up a sweat today hiking in blazing sun, high humidity and very little breeze.  It was worth it, though.

This & next:  headed down LDR-A

Evidence of running rainwater on LDR

Haven't seen this hedgehog in quite some time

This & next:  Willow taking a break in First Arroyo

A wide section of First Arroyo

Looking back at the way we came into the arroyo

This & next:  Soaptree Yucca friends in First Arroyo

View from steep hill ridge as Willow and I returned to the car