Dead Battery Hike

Waning Gibbous

When Dr. K, Willow and I piled into Whitey the CR-V this morning to take the short drive for our daily hike we had quite a shock:  dead battery.  We overcame that problem by taking Red, Dr. K's CR-V to the trailhead.

We did our normal trek because I had to deal with the battery problem while Dr. K was going to do all the shopping, giving me a waiver from my weekly stint at Albertsons.

Dr. K and I talked it over and decided to use our AAA membership for the first time and have the battery replaced rather than me jumping Whitey and driving it somewhere for a new battery.  Turned out it was a really good choice; the driver came out in under an hour and replaced the old, dead battery with a new Interstate battery.  Not that expensive, either.

This & next:  Willow and her shadow

Swainsy atop yucca

Prickly Pear blossom

Willow and Dr. K

This & next 5:  Swainsy and Mrs. Swainsy

Artsy hummer

Hummer and ocotillo flower

Willow in yucca shadow

Swainson's Hawk hunting

Western Kingbird

Willow in the left branch arroyo

Prickly Pear flower

 

Moonday Hike

Morning moon

We got a really early start this morning, and the weather was quite cooperative:  56F at the beginning of the trek with only a slight breeze.

We did our usual hike, adding extra distance by bushwhacking out of the left branch arroyo, heading to the saddle south of 4210 hill and climbing said hill.  Willow really loves the viewpoint up there, taking her time to scan the land below.

Afterwards she wanted to descend the hill on the southwest side, and we did so, returning to the left branch arroyo and finishing the normal route.  We did see the Basset people and their hounds heading down LDR-A when we were on the way out.

House Finch

Top:  road across the desert

Tortugas and the Organs

Break time for the Wilster

Mesquite trees along an arroyo

Soaptree Yucca (left) and Torrey Yucca

Western Kingbird

Ocotillo flower, 4210 hill, Tortugas Mountain

This & next:  same Prickly Pear flowers

Willow on break in the right branch arroyo

Same Western Kingbird as above

This & next:  moon in ocotillo

Ocotillo blossoms

This & next:  Bunny Ears cactus flowers

Atop 4210 hill

 

Lengthy Bushwhack

1st 2:  Cactus Wren

We decided while descending LDR-A arroyo this morning that we'd add distance by crossing the Tellbrook Arroyo and heading north through the desert.  We ended up tacking to the northeast for a good bit before turning around to retrace our steps.

When we crossed the Tellbrook Arroyo again we followed our usual route finishing the normal hike that we do every day.  Although there were vehicles parked at the corner of Tellbrook and Sonoma Ranch we never saw any of the occupants out and about.

After the trek we drove over to our local Circle K to gas up the CR-V.  No ride today because Dr. K had a lunch date with an old friend.

Soaptree Yuccas

Prickly Pear blossoms popping

This & next 2:  Freddie turning tail

Tortugas and the Organs

This & next:  House Finch

Prickly Pear flower

Tortugas and the Organs (phone pic)

Hedgehog (phone pic)

Willow on break

Prickly Pear

Prickly Pear flower (phone pic)