Started the day out with pancakes at ‘our’ restaurant.  It’s riddled with black and white photos of Laurel and Hardy, Shirley Temple, old movie sets and Charlie Chaplin.  Plus, evidently, very large cups of orange juice.  I didn’t hear my guy’s drink order, but when a ginormous odd-looking cup arrived at our table I asked what it was.  Turns out it was O.J.  Remember ordering orange juice and it came in a thimble?   That justifies my confusion and I immediately coveted it.  I know, I know, ‘Thou shall not covet …” But, I think that only applied to a neighbor’s wife?  Maybe not, but I coveted all over his drink and into a straw and away from my iced tea.

HIKE TIME!

We are so lucky to have SO many locations at our disposal.  Almost makes up for those 120 degree summers.

I’ll just start sharing photos and mumble on about them eh?

First pic – (and I took my ‘good camera’ which, while quality was better, I couldn’t really see what I was capturing due to sun on my preview)  We had a storm ahead (and a part of me hoped it arrived, although, I don’t think my backpack is water proof and I had my phone in my pocket tracking the hike).

Me trying to be ‘artsy’ even with a good camera, nothing compares to the actual view.

I was truly hoping for ‘wildlife’.  And to be honest, if I heard a rattle, I’d be grabbing my camera versus carefully avoiding the source of the serpent sound.  Also waiting the moment I turn over a beautiful rock, and find a scorpion under it that will stay still for a National Geographic worthy pic!  I mean c’mon!  I’ve had them in my home a dozen times, WHEN am I going to see one in the wild?

Pi or Stonehenge?  You decide.  But, as you’ll see in the next pic, was located right next to a mining excavation.

We didn’t go in this one.  My guy had already explored it on another hike and there wasn’t much to be seen.

Now comes my favorite part!  Went down into a river bed that is obviously a water source for desert animal dwellers.  Plenty of scat and prints to prove that.  Yes, it did dawn on me that we were literally delicious things walking through an area that many predators visit for protein.  But, the naturally washed rocks and amazing terrain trumped those thoughts.

Mini waterfall.

This rock reminded me of a fish.  A fish that evidently has a stick up its nostril. LOL!

Snake stick, attacking a rock.  We did have to jump down into some brush from quite  a height and MY rock was checking all brush for snakes.  I had snake guards on (he didn’t this time) so I so unselfishly said, “Just go!”  I know.  I’m a giver.

A storm was threatening the entire time – but, did not come to fruition.

A vein!  With vugs.

Just gorgeous!

“Life, uh, finds a way”  Said in my best Jeff Goldblum voice.

Okay, he stops for rocks, I stop for close up shots of flora and fauna.

The colors in this rock was unreal!  Again, better in person.

Where we came from to flat land.

Hoof proof.

A wall that once contained something to do with mining.

This guy continued to watch us for what seemed like forever, protecting his family. Bless his Burro heart. x

The family.  When I took this photo, I only saw the darker burros.  Was happy to discover the other two after downloading.

A thick stringer!

Almost back to the car.

The local gold mine.  It’s for sale for $2,500,000.  We were going to offer 2. lol.

We did not disturb.

Pay dirt!  Sitting RIGHT THERE!  We still did not disturb.  Although, during the hike, one side of my jacket may or may not have been hanging VERY low due to there certainly NOT being any rocks in my pocket. 😉

We ended the day with a stop at a pub after burning over 1,300 calories on the hike!

AND!  That ended in a Snakebite. The only kind you want!

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY ALL MY ‘SOUPER’S’