Strike up the Band

Bumper crop of Prickly Pear "pears" this year

School is back in session, and marching-band members at Centennial High School--across Dripping Springs Road from the Tortugas Mountain Trails area--are practicing music for the upcoming football season.  I was in the high school band for a while, and even served a stint as student band director, so I know how much fun it can be strive for musical perfection.  But now that I've entered the curmudgeon era of my life I'm feeling quite crabby about having to listen to the cacophony emanating from the school.  Even when Becca and I had hiked several miles away from the racket we could still hear quite clearly the steady drumbeat of the drums.  Do they have to practice so early in the morning?  If I recall correctly our band classes were at the end of the day after school.

Places not to sit in the Chihuahuan Desert

On the west slope of Tortugas Mountain

Up the trail

Plumed Crinklemat

Plumed Crinklemat and Ocotillos

Plumed Crinklemat and Ocotillos on Tortugas Mountain

Becca drinking from her new water bottle

There's a Roadrunner eating a meal back there

Black-tailed Jackrabbit having a morning snack

"Peeved" expression

Beautiful morning

Chinchweed covers many areas on the desert floor

Chinchweed

Pretty sky

Trekking along the outer loop road

Organ Mountains in the distance

Ever more Barrel Cactus buds

A very fine specimen:  Hedgehog Cactus 1-1/2 feet tall

Great place for a break

Cutleaf Globe Berry

♫ "We are the champions, my friends" ♫

Unripe berries of Allthorn