Lazy Hike

This & next:  Ocotillos alongside LDR-A

Because I didn't feel totally enthused about this morning's trek I decided to meander down the arroyos that run nearly parallel to LDR-A from the upper flatland down to the Tellbrook Arroyo.  Willow and Frio were okay with that as it gave them plenty of time to inhale desert scents.

When we reached the Tellbrook we turned around and followed the arroyos back into the upper flatland.  Even though the hike was shorter than the ones we do normally we all seemed satisfied with the outing.  I was able to get some different perspectives on oft-photographed subjects, and the Heelers were able to explore areas not investigated before.

Soaptree Yuccas south of Tortugas Mountain

Long view east

Arroyo we explored

Yuccas and the mountains

Yucca stalks at nearly a right angle

Prickly Pear and Soaptree Yuccas

Soaptree Yucca stalk

The arroyo narrows

This & next:  same small mesquite

Ripe Barrel Cactus fruit

Yucca stalk scoliosis

Heelers

Soaptrees and the mountains

 

Changing Course

Geranium

As Willow, Frio and I were hiking along the upper flatland road, planning on descending LDR-A to the Tellbrook Arroyo, a guy in a grey pickup with a white dog hanging out the back headed down LDR.  We've seen this man before; he parks in the arroyo and lets his dog run free.  Not wanting to encounter them I decided to take the Heelers across Tellbrook Road in order to do a trek on the south side.

We followed that dirt road to the minor road that leads down to the new arroyo we've explored a few times recently.  Once in the arroyo we descended for a good bit before turning around.  Had the Heelers not been pulling my arms out of their shoulder sockets I might have extended the hike because the weather was beautiful, but I couldn't take the extra exertion of holding them back for an extended distance.  Not sure why they were so revved up today, but I had little patience for their shenanigans.

We crossed Tellbrook Road and headed back the way we'd come, noticing on the way (at least I did) that the guy and dog in the pickup were gone.

This & next:  hills west of the Organ Mountains

Long view to the southwest

This & next:  looking south at rolling hills

Frio and Willow

Our CR-V

This & next:  Soaptree Yuccas

Heelers in new arroyo

Exploring the new arroyo

This & next:  Soaptree Yuccas

Ocotillos and Organs

Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

 

Forty-Four For Starts

Ocotillo

Willow, Frio and I did the same hike as yesterday, descending LDR-A to the Tellbrook Arroyo, turning east for a bit, and then striking up an arroyo that has its head in the hills near the corner parking lot at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch intersection.  A quarter way up we branched off to the right and followed that arroyo up into the high country.

The Basset lady and her hounds were out there when we were, heading down LDR just as we were dropping out of the upper flatland.  Her dogs saw me and mine and the Bassets got to barking and braying, which upset Willow to no end.  Fortunately we soon were hidden by desert brush and the Bassets stopped with their near incessant complaining.

They were long gone by the time we made our return, ascending LDR into the upper flatland and our waiting CR-V.

Prickly Pear

Soaptree Yuccas

Frio and Willow

This & next:  same Prickly Pear

Desiccated Prickly Pear fruit

This & next:  hill west of the Organ Mountains

Mesquite bean pods

Soaptree and the mountains

Desert grassland

Hedgehog Cactus

Black-throated Sparrow

Frio and Willow at rest

Desert Sumac

Same Black-throated Sparrow as above

Deadwood sticks

Soaptree Yucca and the long view

This & next:  Organ Mountains

Turkey

Might be a Lesser Goldfinch