Cold Morning Start

Mesquite Tree beginning to flower

The strong cold front that swept in on powerful winds yesterday brought surprisingly cold temperatures overnight.  When we got started this morning it was 32 degrees Fahrenheit with a windchill of 25 F.  I wore a heavier PolarPlus jacket which I never removed during our trek.  Becca wore her white fur with black spots.  When we were driving out after our hike we stopped to say hello to our buddy, Gregg, who was just getting started on his morning outing.  Becca was very happy to see her pal and danced around the car after poking her head out a window to greet him.

Buds and blossoms of the Mesquite Tree

Prickly Pear Cactus on the verge of flowering

A flower and its buds

"Annoyed by a fly" expression

Time for some serious hiking

From a distance it appears as if somebody is standing in the desert

But a telephoto look reveals it's a Yucca

New growth from old

East up an arroyo toward the Tortoise

Ocotillo (aka "buggy whip") with flowers and leaves