Monday Meandering

Morning sky on fire

The sky was dynamic when we got up this morning, and the ambient temperature cool.  About a fourth of the way through our hike I was able to remove my windbreaker to continue trekking in short-sleeve shirt and shorts.  We had no encounters with other people in the outback, and although we heard Coyotes in the distance we never caught sight of any.  We ran into our friend, Gregg, when we were almost back to the car, and he and I chatted for a few minutes before parting company.

Becca and I are  . . .

. . . here

Now we're heading into the lower desert

Stopping for photos of leafy Ocotillos and

yellow flowers

Sunlight through an Ocotillo makes leaves even greener

Tasajillo (tass-a-HEE-yo), aka "Christmas Cactus"

West into the outback

A still-green Chihuahuan Desert

Hedgehog Cactus

A very tall Torrey Yucca

Probably a fox hole (Becca was very interested)

Long-distance view of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Don't think I've ever seen this plant before

Turns out it's Abert's Buckwheat (Eriogonum abertianum)

Heading back in