Sunday Sojourn

Bending around the east side of Tortugas Mountain

Last night we had loud thunder, bright bolts of lightning, heavy wind, but not so much rain; we did get a little.  This morning the humidity was even higher than yesterday.  A cool breeze made an early hike bearable for Dr. K, Becca and I as we made our way from the Monte Vista area of Tortugas Mountain around the south and west sides before turning around and heading back.  This is a bit longer trek than circumnavigating the mountain, and it keeps us from paralleling Dripping Springs Road on the north side of Tortugas.  At the start we ran into quite a few runners, saw a couple of mountain bikers in the distance, spotted an elusive Coyote climbing the south side of the mountain, bumped into a friend, Raymond, and met an off-duty fire fighter walking his rescue dog, a beautiful male Pit Bull who was about three years old.  All in all a very rewarding trek this morning.

Said mountain

Contrail turned zipper across the sky

Garage-sized boulders

A long way to go

Looking back the way we just came

Talk about excellent camouflage

On the southwest flank of Tortugas Mountain

Mountain biking in the Chihuahuan Desert

Nearly at the far point of this morning's trek

The rugged Organ Mountains

Prickly Pear Cactus blossoms

Ocotillo flower

Waiting patiently

Awesome sky from the north side of the mountain

North side of Tortugas Mountain

Not quite open for business

Flowers of the Desert Willow

Desert Willow

Desert Wilow (Chilopsis linearis)

Roadrunner streaking across our yard

Flowers and leaves of a Mesquite Tree

Mesquite beans

The side of our yard nearest the arroyo