Rough Ride

First 4:  Yuccas in bloom along the Sierra Vista Trail (south)

Dr. K, Becca and I headed up to the Sierra Vista Trail for a Sunday Morning hike, knowing full well (Dr. K and me, that is) that Soledad Canyon Road is under construction.  It was a miserable ride, and at one point we crossed paths with a water truck spraying to keep the dust down; mist from the spray messed the front windshield of Whitey the CR-V.  We had an excellent trek, however, and I stopped to take numerous photographs (127 to be exact).

The weather was perfect, sunny with a light wind to make the mid-50-degree temperature feel a bit chilly.  At the turnaround point I removed my lightweight Marmot PreCip jacket and hiked back without ever feeling the cold.  The only other person we encountered out there was a mountain biker who passed us when we were almost done with our trek.

Soledad Rocks with the Organ Mountains behind

Sotol putting up flower stalks

Sotol flower stalk

Looking back at the way we just came

Poppies

Becca and Dr. K

Becca on the Sierra Vista Trail

Almost in blossom

Blackfoot Daisies

This and the next:  more blooming yuccas

This and the next 3:  Curve-billed Thrasher

White Tackstem

Yucca flowers

Poppies and Blackfoot Daisies

More yucca flowers

Blackfoot Daisies and Prickly Pear Cactus

White Tackstem

This and the next 3:  California Poppies

Not a dandelion, but rather a Silver Puff

Silver Puff (Uropappus Lindleyi)

California Poppy