First Arroyo on Saturday

Just getting started

Late start after a tasty pancake breakfast prepared by Dr. K this morning.  Then it was on to our regular hiking spot off Tellbrook.  We hiked up to First Arroyo, spotting one couple while heading down LDR-A and encountering another couple just as we started on LDR.

We took a brief shade and water break inside the arroyo before heading back.  Although it was cool at the beginning of our trek (52F) we're headed for a high of 90F--way too hot for mid-October in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Ocotillos

Soaptree Yuccas on the arroyo bank

Mesquite

This and the next 6:  Soaptree Yuccas

This and the next:  Willow and Frio

Barrel Cactus fruit ripening nicely

The long view

Bee fly

Pretty sure it's Poecilanthrax effrenus (a bee fly)

Hairy False Goldenaster

Sunlight on screen background