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Friday, May 31, 2019

Higher Humidity

This and the next:  Mormon Tea flowers
Becca and I were on the trail west of Tortugas Mountain just after 7 this morning, but it already felt hot out there due to elevated humidity.  I think our chances of rain over the next few days have gone up dramatically.

Surprisingly there were a lot or outdoor enthusiasts around the mountain, and we ran into one right off--a woman who was finishing her hike.  After a minor bushwhacking adventure into a sandy area west of Tortugas, Becca and I headed back.  On the way in we ran into three hikers with a dog.  I put Becca on lead, although I think she'd have been fine off because the other canine seemed very friendly.

We had a nice, fairly long hike despite the humidity, but I think our evaporative cooler here at home will be put to use much earlier today than it was yesterday.

A happy hiker

Whitethorn Acacia

Happy Hiker on break

Base of a gnarly old Ocotillo

White-winged Dove

Soaptree Yuccas

Harey the Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Giving me the cold shoulder

LOL!

This and the next 3:  the same Soaptree Yucca




Desert Marigold

This and the next:  same Soaptree Yucca


Leaning flower stalk of a Soaptree Yucca

Same Soaptree with leaning flower stalk

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Thursday Trekking

Littleleaf Palo Verde
Becca and I got a later start this morning because I got caught up watching "Breaking News" on CNN--our idiot president ranting for 17 1/2 minutes, lying his ass off as usual.  I won't do that again.

There were quite a few cars parked out where we leave Whitey the CR-V, but we only encountered one mountain biker--a young woman--on our outbound leg.  On the way in, however, we bumped into a bunch of hikers, and I was puzzled about how crowded the area seemed for a Thursday morning.  Nevertheless, the Beckster and I had a very nice hike today, most of it on the west side of Tortugas Mountain here in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.
Tree Cholla

This and the next 3:  Klein's Pencil Cholla (Cylindropuntia Kleiniae)




Western foothills of Tortugas Mountain

Coming up the hill

Am I there yet?

Becca leading the way

Cactus Wren

Soaptree yucca

Becca on break

Ocotillo

Inside the above Ocotillo looking up

This and the next 2:  Mockingbird



This and the next 3:  Soaptree Yuccas




I think this is a juvenile Cactus Wren, but I'm not sure

Looks less like a Cactus Wren here

Ocotillo buds

Ocotillo with leaves

Cow Tongue Prickly Pear

Two similar images, this one with "Dry Brush" filter applied

On Geothermal Road near Tortugas Mountain

Soaptree Yuccas

Bad Day All Around

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