Garden Canyon

Walking this canyon was KimG's idea.  She texted me yesterday morning early to ask if I wanted to walk the canyon with her.  I had some errands to run in the morning so we settled for today.  I invited Steve so we were a group of three with two dogs.

I left the house at 7:25am for the drive to Fort Huachuca. I got to the trailhead at 8am for the 8:30am meetup.  Steve came in right behind me and we parked where several other cars were/  Most of them were for cyclists riding the potholed road.  KimG drove up at 8:32am.

I was surprised the canyon wasn't more lush after the rain we have had.  The road showed recent signs of a flashflood, but the creek along the road was trickling, and as we walked up the road we were disappointed in the few flowers.  Kim is a butterfly specialist and was looking for the varied butterflies in the canyon.  She was also looking for the purple-white Basketflower. I was just happy to see any flowers this morning 

Hansel and Trace got along very well today, chasing each other up and down the road.  Trace at first was apprehensive of Hansel, but by the end of the hike they were best buds.  When Steve took a break at the two-mile mark and then walked back to ther cars, Hansel whined for his friend and kept looking back to see if Trace would show up. On our return walk he ran ahead to meet Steve and his friend Trace.

We only came across another woman and her two dogs on this hike.  We met another couple on our return walk

Kim and I made the petroglyph site our turn-around point.  I was fine with that as it was getting warm and sunny.  By now we were seeing many Basketflowers and several species of milkweed.  I was also developing an allergy to something.  When we got back to the cars I took a Claritin pill with my iced tea.

The walk was just over four miles.

We had a late lunch at Urbano's.  Kim had never been to this place.  It's an upscale bar-bistro and every time I stop in, I see something new. The patio is dog friendly which is why Kim picked this place. It was a good decision.

We all had a a rice bowl with chicken.  The dogs rested and were well-behaved, but the Claritin I took at the trailhead was now making me drowsy.  I got home at 1:30pm

I needed to nap a bit before tackling some gardening but I never did snooze.  Storm clouds were billowing from the southeast.  At 4:45pm my phone alerted me to a dangerous dust storm coming my way.  I'm glad I was at home as it came quickly.  I closed the patio door and made sure all the dogs were inside. Twenty minutes after the wind began, the rain came, and it came down hard

The storm was a nice surprise.  Chances of rain were 15% all day but that proved to be wrong.  I still need to plant some more  trees but that can now wait until tomorrow afternoon