Just Hanging Around

It's been a rather quiet week.  We started the week by going for a bit of a drive to see if there were any flowers starting to bloom - yes they are!  There has been quite a bit of rain in this area over the past several months so the prediction is that there will be quite a display of wildflowers - and it has started.

With the weather rather pleasant, we took a hike up Palm Canyon in the state park.  We had done this hike a number of years ago, and from what I remember, it hasn't become any easier.  Of course, the first thing I want to do is take a photo - crap, the battery is dead.  Fortunately, we still had phones and they were charged.  But it is a lovely hike, the scenery is terrific, and if one is lucky, there are a fair number of big horn sheep in the canyon (there is usually water running).  The hike is 1.5 miles each way, uphill both ways!!   At the top of the hike, there is a group of palm trees where we enjoyed our lunch.  Actually coming back we decided to take the alternate route back.  Well, there sure was a lot of uphill to come down; however, this is also where we saw a number of big horn sheep.  There were some rams who were obviously trying to determine who was the "boss" (it is mating season); and there were also some young ones so it was amazing to see all of these fairly close up!  In all, my pedometer said it was 5.5 miles, my body just said "enough""!!  Here are a few of the photos we took.

Looking down the canyon

Notice how this rock is balanced on a log - it happened during a big flood of 2004

A view of the trail

Lunch

And some of the sheep.  Notice how well they blend in.  Often, if they are not moving, we can't spot them.

We also took a drive to Font's Point.   This is an overlook with a great view of the area badlands and, on a clear day, you can see out to the Salton Sea - a distance of about 20 miles.  The road is marked as a 4-wheel drive road but not necessarily so although since it is in a wash, it is quite rough and washboard, and they may be soft sand so one has to drive carefully.

The weather has been cool, and there has been a bit a rain this week.   And generally, the sky is clear all the time but not so this year.  There really has been more cloud than I remember.  We will not complain - the night lows dip down to about +10C which is great for sleeping.  The coyotes have been particularly active as some nights, you can hear them off in the distance at almost any time during the night.

Late one afternoon, there was an interesting contrail - one we hadn't seen before - a sharp angle.  It was unusual.

 

If you are not in a warmer clime - stay warm out there.  I see the temps are very cold and with the wind - yikes.  Have a great week!!