Un'Altra Volta a First Arroyo

This & next:  heading down LDR-A

We hiked down the LDR-A arroyo this morning, crossed the Tellbrook Arroyo and then headed up LDR to First Arroyo.

Along the way we heard several distinct gunshots coming from the direction of the parking lot at the corner of Tellbrook Road and Sonoma Ranch Road.

We didn't see anybody out there today, though we did hear hounds barking--probably the dirty Bassets we see every once in a while.

Wild sky

Grassland

Doña Ana Mountains

Blue palette

Black-throated Sparrow

This & next:  Tortugas and the Organs

Tellbrook Arroyo

Desert Marigolds

Last 2:  Frio and Willow in First Arroyo

 

A First in First Arroyo

This & next:  Desert Shaggy Mane mushroom

60F when we started off this morning.  The long-sleeve shirt I wore was a bad choice, though, because conditions warmed up rapidly.  I didn't overheat, but I would have preferred a short-sleeve shirt.

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I trekked up to First Arroyo, stayed inside for a brief respite, and then turned around and headed back.

We saw nobody hiking while we were out there and heard only one distant gunshot.  We did see and hear a lunatic dirt biker who sped south on LDR, crested the hill into the upper flatland, and then flew down Tellbrook Road at light speed.  Internal combustion engines are the bane of desert solitude.

Desert Shaggy Mane (Podaxis pistillaris)

Ocotillo and the mountains

Held on longer than expected

Tortugas (left) and the Organ Mountains

Mesquite on the east side of LDR

This & next:  Tortugas Mountain Observatory

Juxtaposition

Looking southwest out of First Arroyo

Willow and Frio in First Arroyo

Lots of air traffic this morning

Organ Mountains

Remnants of air traffic

 

Arroyos Escondidos

Yuccabot

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I descended LDR-A arroyo this morning, crossed to the far side of the Tellbrook Arroyo, headed east for a short jaunt, and then turned north into a series of side arroyos.

After exploring some hidden small arroyos we exited them into the Tellbrook and ascended LDR-A on our return to the upper flatland.

While we were out there today we heard only one distant gun retort and one dog barking far away from us.

Frio and Willow with Dr. K

This & next 2:  same side arroyo

Looking toward Tortugas and the Organs

Frio and Willow

Mesquite tree in side arroyo

Barrel Cactus fruit

Frio and Willow

 

Beyond Second Arroyo

Frio and Willow

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I descended LDR-A this morning, crossed the Tellbrook Arroyo and hiked up LDR to Second Arroyo and beyond.

The reason I wanted to go past the arroyo was to take a couple of photos of a late blooming Soaptree Yucca I had spotted while hiking up the dirt road.  It's the second late bloomer we've come upon recently.

After a brief stop we turned around and decided to enter First Arroyo for a short respite.  Afterward we retraced our steps, down LDR, across the Tellbrook Arroyo, and then back up LDR-A to the waiting CR-V.

LDR

Spotted a blooming yucca from a great distance

Pause for thought

This & next 3:  late blooming Soaptree Yucca

Fringed Amaranth in First Arroyo

Soaptree Yucca in First Arroyo

This & next:  same Desert Marigold

Last 2:  Frio and Willow