Footprints In The Sand

If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in a beautiful resort on the beach, it is mandatory that you explore the sands, no matter how appealing the pool and its wet bar may be.

The view from one of the higher perches in the resort.
Photographer was tilted...not the horizon.

Mary is fulfilling her obligation to explore,
heading off toward the north.

But the sands soon meet the rocks.

Maybe there's a way through the jagged footing to the sand beyond...

...for a better look at the shack atop the next hill.

Just time the waves, sneak through the arch, and then scale the rocks beyond.

Nope.
Time to retrace steps back to the sand.

Avoid stepping on other beach walkers.

Another rocky point forces one back up the stairs and through the resort
to get back down to the sand on the other side.

Not like the beach, but not a bad walk, either.

That's more like it.

The Westin, right next to where we stayed, was buzzing with construction activity.
It was heavily damaged when Hurricane Odile slammed into Cabo San Lucas in 2015.
What are the odds that the rebuilding will be impervious to hurricanes?

Mary makes footprints.  She's good at it.

But alas, the lass cannot make them last.

The waterfall from this rocky plateau flowed continuously,
since each successive wave refilled the central basin.

Just the tip of the rockberg.

Changing types of rocks appeared along the way,
but none were an insurmountable barrier to bipedal locomotion.

I see Mary sitting on the rockman's shoulder, near his face,
as he claws his way out of the sand.

The flow has done a little sand sculpting.
Be careful not to get caught by the Undertoad,
who lives underwater and pulls in the careless.

A great day for a walk.

Or to fly in the clear blue sky.

Unconcerned with who watches below.

 

Or perhaps watching he who walks below.

And then flying on, unconcerned.

Time to turn around...

...and head back!

A good walk is its own reward.  

And as Mary says, "Si camino más, más margaritas!"

(If I walk more, more margaritas!)

A Couple More Peaks At Arizona

Pinnacle Peak, our goal for the day.

One very expressive saguaro cactus.
What's he trying to say?

Mary and the guys heading upward.

Rock climbing, anyone?

The rocks along the trail had great character.
Here is the smiling cartoon rock.

Plenty of great views along the trail.

In every direction.

No shortage of depth in this image.
From the touchable rock on the lower left, look to the cactus-filled valley
between it and the rocky hillock, the mounds welling up from the valley floor
and the mountains beyond.
They spread out before you under the infinite blue, blue sky.

But there are also matters closer at hand.

No, do not touch!

Teddy Bear?  Really?
Do Teddy Bears shred you if you hug them?

And don't try to smell them.

And never, ever sit on any kind of cactus!

The top of the jowly rock's face obscures part of the distant trail.
That's his foot on the right.
Obviously, he is climbing instead of taking the trail.
Rock climbing?

Invasive species, like golf courses, are plain to see
from high above the valley floor.

More invasiveness.
Looks like about 7000 square feet worth.

The baby's head emerges from the crawling troll's backpack.
Perhaps the thin air had some effect on my perceptual process.

This one looks like a big rock.

Mary leads the old guys back to the car.

They kept up for awhile.

But not for long.

Where'd she go?

 But enough about rocks and hiking.  The desert was in bloom!  Very lovely...just don't touch!

Lovely buds.  The stem?  Not so much.

Many of the saguaro cacti were blooming.

Like this...

...and this!

The flowers were well protected on this barrel cactus.

But nonetheless beautiful for their thorny accompaniment.

Full bloom.

The aerial view of one not quite all popped.

And finally the delicate blooms of a flowering tree.