Wednesday's Trek with Wils

Yucca leaves

Dr. K had to shop early at Target this morning so it was Wils and me on the morning hike.  We did the regular.

It was pretty cool when we were out there (63F), but we're heading for a high of 95F.  I'm more than ready for the hot days to disappear.

This has been one of the driest monsoon seasons we've ever experienced; we're at least 4" below average in precipitation.  When will we get more I wonder.

View from LDR-A arroyo

Looking northward from LDR-A

 

Bowl of desert south of the left branch arroyo

This & next:  Wils near the ancient Soaptree Yucca

Prickly Pear pads

Southwest flank of Tortugas Mountain

Pleasant, but Warming Again

Armadillo carcass or ancient car part?

It was nice out there this morning while Dr. K, Willow and I did our daily trek:  low 60s.  But we're expected to reach 92F today.

A vehicle was parked at the corner of Tellbrook and Sonoma Ranch Road both before and after the hike, but we saw nobody in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.

When we got home I washed up and then left for my weekly shopping expedition at Albertsons.  Took me about an hour--just the way I like it.

Brighter green is where the arroyo runs

Mesquite hanging on

 

Willow and Dr. K

This & next:  upper section of the middle branch arroyo

What manner of beast?

Looking northward

Variegated Meadowhawk on ocotillo branch

Upper section of the right branch arroyo

Hazy Day Hike

Looking northeast from the crossover trail

66F this morning when Dr. K, Willow and I did our daily trek.  We saw no nature enthusiasts while we were out there, and no cars were parked in the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch corner lot both before and after the hike.

Followed our usual route, and when we were done we took a long drive around quite a few neighborhoods while listening to Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf on their Sunday Morning show.

This & next:  Willow on the crossover trail

Barrel cactus with a few buds

 

Saturday's Morning Trek

This & next:  ocotillo leaves still green

Dr. K, Willow and I followed our usual route this morning; on the drive to the trailhead we saw the Basset people and their hounds, but we spotted no one else in the desert.

It felt quite comfortable out there today with a temperature in the low 70s, some clouds and a steady wind.  Despite the pleasant conditions Willow took her standard number of shade breaks:  7.

After the hike we took a long drive before heading home.

Willow and our favorite yucca

 

This & next:  ocotillo chorus line

Wils on break

White-winged Dove

This & next:  same scene, slightly different shading

This & next:  ocotillos on a hill

Chinchweed

Sliding Glass Door Day

I spent about three hours this morning working with John the handyman; we were replacing the rollers on the bottom of three sliding glass doors in our patio.

I'm pooped.

 

Willow on the ridge trail

Woody

We've never seen it so dry out here

It was a bit warmer out there this morning; we're headed for a high of 91F today.

Dr. K, Willow and I followed our regular route this morning, encountering one very special resident of this section of northern Chihuahuan Desert:  a Ladder-backed Woodpecker.

We saw a few jackrabbits during our outing, but never close enough for me to get any photos of the critters.  Other than the jacks, the woodpecker and a few other birds we saw no other desert denizens.

When we got back home I spent over an hour cleaning the tracks for our sliding glass patio doors.  Tomorrow Handyman John and I are going to replace the wheels on the three doors.

This & next:  Stinging Serpent plant

 

This & next:  barrel cactus

Very dry ancient Soaptree Yucca

This & next 3:  Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Few Photos Day

This & next: Wils between left and middle branch arroyos

We did our regular hike this morning, but I took only six photos during the outing; it was a combination of me being uninspired and the absence of inspiring scenery.  No critters, either.

It felt quite a bit hotter today; the absence of wind or even a breeze was a contributing factor of the heat.

After we got home Dr. K went shopping at Target.  I went shopping at Alberstons yesterday.  Our weekly shopping is complete.

Ocotillos in the middle branch

 

Barrel cactus west of the Organs

Ocotillos in the middle branch arroyo