Another Arroyo to Explore

Looking northeast over the flank of Tortugas Mountain

On an already hot, but overcast, morning the Heelers and I trekked through an arroyo we had considered exploring for the past few days.  It's an arroyo I had seen often in the past, but had never hiked.  It was well worth the effort because it presented us with fairly effortless going and plenty of fine desert scenes, some of which are pictured here.

I decided to abbreviate our hike a bit because the temperature was rising rapidly while we were out there; and we're headed for a high of 96F, a heat index defined by the term "toasty."  The only evidence of other outdoor enthusiasts this morning were the six or seven vehicles we spotted parked at the corner of Tellbrook and Sonoma Ranch Road.

The weather this morning

This and the next:  Ocotillos and the Organs

This and the next 3:  exploring a new (to us) arroyo

Heelers in the arroyo

Looking back at the way we just came

Good-size Soaptree Yucca

Prickly Pear buds about to bloom

This and the next:  Prickly Pear flower in yellow

This and the next:  Mesquite Tree flowers

Heelers in a different arroyo

Desert Marigolds

Littleleaf Ratany

Final 2:  Prickly Pear Cactus blossoms