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

 

Twofold Tuesday

This & next:  Golden Crownbeard

All three of us agreed that it felt really hot this morning; it was sunny with high humidity and no breeze.  We didn't pontificate about whether we should do a full or half hike; when Willow chose the right branch arroyo at the junction decision point we went along with her pick.  Just as well.  My back was hurting from either a pulled muscle or pinched nerve, and I had to go shopping at Albertsons when we got home.

Headed down LDR-A

Tortugas and the Organs

Willow!

White-winged Dove

Scott's Oriole female

 

Wind or Breeze?

Typical desert scene

Regardless of whether it was wind or a breeze the air circulation kept us cool on this morning's trek.  The cooler conditions led Dr. K and me to consider if a long hike was in order, but when we reached "decision junction" Willow chose to do the half-a-hike route.  It was fine with us humans.  We decided to take a long drive after the outing, which was a pleasant experience since not many other drivers were on the roads early this Labor Day.

Who's on top of the yucca?

This & next:  it's a Loggerhead Shrike

Guess who slept here?

Willow on break again

Mr. House Finch

Need I say it?

White-winged Dove

 

This Sunday Hike

Cholla closeup

Surprisingly hot and humid this morning despite the temperature being in the lower 70s.  Unlike yesterday when we did more than the usual trek we stuck to the half-a-hike format we've been following during these especially hot days.  We spotted the Pickup-Truck-Lady's pickup at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch lot when we started down the trailhead, but we didn't see her or her dog.  Later, during the outing, we saw a guy jogging south on the long dirt road.  He was the only outdoor enthusiast we actually spotted.  After the trek we took an extra long drive--the Sunday drive--just to see what we could see.

Willow closeup

Across the Rio Grande (artsy interpretation)

This & next:  2 views of 4210 hill

Whiptail with red ant

Last 2:  acacia

 

Cool yet Hot

Headed down LDR-A

Sunny, but a bit cooler for our morning walk; high humidity made for some discomfort at times.  Dr. K, Willow and I changed up the route today, crossing the Tellbrook arroyo from the east/west cross trail and exploring a side arroyo before turning back.  We then trekked up the left branch to where it branched off from the right branch and followed the right arroyo up to the exit trail that scales the steep hill east of where Whitey the CR-V was parked at the trailhead.

Western flank of Tortugas Mountain

House finch

Youth (house finch)

House finch

Willow on break

Clouds over Tortugas

Willow in a wide arroyo

 

Critter Panoply

1st 3:  after the morning rain

It was raining just before Dr. K, Willow and I left for our morning hike; as a result the desert floor was somewhat wet from the precipitation.  The good part of the cloud cover and lack of sun was the more bearable hiking conditions.  The bad part of the recent rain was the large number of ants out and about in the area we usually explore.  As a result of the ant presence we cut the trek short so as not to test our luck with the biting creatures.

Willow in wet sand

Br'er hare

Distant lousy pic of a kestrel

Texas Horned Lizard

Impressionist painting of a Texas Horned Lizard

Looking down the right branch arroyo at the way we came

Prickly pear cactus and the Organ Mountains

Barrel cacti

Willow and Dr. K in the right branch