Back Again

Lots of yuccas between here and the mountains

We did the same hike as yesterday except we went into Second Arroyo rather than First.  On the way we ran into the friendly man who is generally out running with his wife.  He stopped and we chatted for a brief while.

Then it was on to the arroyo for a shade and water break.  Dr. K waited with Willow and Frio while I went on a short exploration in search of subjects to photograph.

After our brief respite we headed back the way we'd come, climbing up into the high flatland where our CR-V sat waiting for us.

Second Arroyo vista

No ID for this plant

Headed east toward Tortugas Mountain

Soaptree Yucca leaves

Soaptree Yuccas with mountain backdrop

Some Ocotillo leaves are still pretty green

Ocotillos and the Organ Mountains

Ocotillos and the mountains

Some Ocotillo leaves are browning out

 

Back to the Reg

Soaptrees and the Organs

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I were back to our now regular hiking area this morning, content to get in a shorter trek on another cool morning:  52F when we headed out.

While we were taking a break in First Arroyo a white Standard Poodle stood up on a nearby ridge scoping us out.  He barked at us once, but both Willow and Frio didn't take the bait.  Then we saw the dog's human, the woman we often encounter jogging with the dog.  When she heard her dog bark at us, she called out, "Come, Casper," and Casper immediately ran to her.  I waved to the woman and she waved back.

Just as we were exiting the arroyo another woman with a dog--who we also encounter all too often--came running up LDR.  I held Willow back to let them pass, and, at first, it seemed as if Willow would behave well; but as soon as the woman's dog started snarling at the Heelers both went off, and Dr. K and I had to hold them back.  I envision a time in the not-too-distant future when we'll be able to break both dogs of this unwanted behavior.

Just as we got back to the high flatland near the end of our hike a woman riding a beautiful horse rode along LDR ahead of us.  I was only able to get a photo of the equestrians as they descended toward the major east/west arroyo.

Tall Ocotillo

This and the next:  dead tree in B&W and color

Way up into First Arroyo

Soaptree Yucca on the arroyo bank

Frio giving me "the look"

More dead wood in B&W

Big old Soaptree

Soaptree Yuccas in First Arroyo

This and the next:  Frio and Willow on break

Mesquite and the Organs

Up close and personal with a Soaptree Yucca

Barrel Cactus with fruit

Creosote Bush fruit (white fuzzy seed ball)

The long view

Ponytails on horse and rider

 

A Long One

The light green swath is a forest of Ocotillos

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I got a late start on our morning hike, but we went much further than we have on recent outings.  We parked at the western barrier of Geothermal Road, trekked all the way up to a north/south crossroad, headed south until the dirt road intersected the major arroyo, and then explored the arroyo while heading eastward.

We saw several other people out there, including two guys with dogs; we passed by the first man with his well behaved (and leashed) hound, and though Frio barked, Willow was surprisingly calm.  We never encountered the second guy with his two loose dogs.

Hiked the long way back to the waiting CR-V without bumping into anyone else.  Because the weather was quite cool the outing was a really pleasant one.

Way up the major arroyo

This and the next:  Hairy False Goldenaster

Crescent moon or Climbing Milkweed spent seed pod?

This and the next 2:  dead tree

In the arroyo heading east

This and the next:  different photo techniques

This and the next 4:  Ocotillos in various stages of leaf decay

Road to Tortugas Mountain

Road away from Tortugas Mountain

Looking east to the mountains

This and the next 2:  House Finch

Last 2:  Hairy False Goldenaster