Tire Mountain hiking adventure.

Little Fox here.  Just enjoying some time on the beach.  Interesting....a starfish.....I thought they only lived near tidepools. I wonder what's up with this one?

As you can probably tell Sequoia is indifferent to the starfish and is ready to go hiking. 

Who can blame him?  Of course we have to leave the beach to go hiking.  That's okay.

This is the beginning of Tire Mountain.  During pioneer times a wagons tire fell off near here and someone named it Tire Mountain.  Go figure. 

Wildflowers are in season (forgot the name of the purple one...ohwell)

Indian paintbrush. 

This is balsam root. 

This is the last of the little yellow ones that come out in the early spring.  

Mountain bikers use this trail and the trail maintenance crew has done a good job of clearing trees and keeping the trail open for hikers, bikers, horses, foxes and dogs. 

This tree is old.  No time to count these rings. 

Some of the views along the way. 

Ironically, Tire Mountain no longer has views as the trees have grown and blocked the open views of the mountains.   Speaking of Tire Mountain, I didn't actually make it to the top as the trail was in really bad shape for the last 1/2 miles.  Many a downed trees but some amazing flowers and views along the way. 

Where is the fox off to next?

 

An afternoon with Baxter

 Hello Blog World,
Baxter here.  Today I am at the Natural History Museum near the University.  They have a nice outdoor plant and sculpture garden for me to explore.  First up, I am going to see if I can find the salmon who is persistent, the bear who is strong (like me) and the wolf who is the protector. 

Sure looks like a salmon to me. 

Is that you wolf? 

Sure looks like a bear from down here. 

Here is a sign you don't see too often.

Does that rule count for stuffies? I don't think so. 

They also have some native plants in the garden.  

Interesting info on this card.  The plant above me is the Nootka Rose native on Vancouver Island. 

As you might recall I am quite the ice cream aficionado.  This is a double scoop of raspberry swirl and chocolate caramel fudge.

What, I have to share? Really? 

Spring Wildflowers

Hello Blog World.  Little Fox here with a wrap up of my Spring wildflowers.  Spring started early this year, right around the end of February.

Yep, you are not mistaken.  These  little flowers are about as tall as me.  These are some of our earliest flowers. Always a good sign that spring is coming.

Fast forward a month.  Now it's early April and I am at an old ranch that is now a state park.  The ranch is an old homestead and they planted a few trees along the creek.  Some of the oaks are still around.

I call this place Little Fox's grotto. It's very peaceful here. 

A nice collection of Lupine and Balsam Root. 

Back at the ranch, a few weeks later.  California Poppy have invaded.  They spread pretty fast when they get started....invasive for us but the State flower of California (and illegal to pick in that state).  A certain dog is attempting to photo bomb.

Away from the ranch but still in the same area.  Flowers are slowly dying off...spring is almost over (this Picture from 5/19/21).

Lupine, an oak tree and...what another photobomb by Sequoia.  This is MY blog....not his.

Sequoia is a little confused why someone would not want him in their blog.  I guess I can't blame him for wanting to share the spotlight with me.

Perhaps we can hit DQ for a PupCup (a vanilla sundae, peanut butter, and two milkbones) or Starbucks for a Pupacino (whipped cream in a small cup...and one of the most popular items on the Starbucks secret menu) for Sequoia?  

Spring is nearing an end.....bring on Summer!

Off to the Jetty.

 Hello Blog World. Little Fox here hanging out at the beach.

It's a nice 80 degrees back home so it should be a nice 65 degrees at the beach.  Note...it's not, it's cold and windy at the beach but the cold and wind doesn't stop this adventurer. 

Off in the distnace is Twin Rocks. I wonder why they are called Twin Rocks?

What's this building in the distance?  It looks like a lifeguard tower but this is the Northern Pacific and it's not really a swimming type of ocean up here.  Way too cold.

Perhaps if I can get a little closer to see what this tower is for.....well I never found out.  Sigh.

I did see this sign. Did you know that the word Tillamook (they have a cheese factory there and free samples....beanie, cocoa?????)

Anyway, Tillamook is a term in the Native American Coast Salish Tribes language meaning lands of many waters.

 Sure, the Pacific is here, the Kilchis River, and the Trask River is nearby but it rains ALOT here as well. I wonder if the Coast Salish were referring to the rivers, oceans or the rain?????

Okay, I have made it to the end.  Hanging out at the jetty. The Jetty is comprised of 37,000 tons of stone to resist the fierce force of ocean waves and extends about 5000 feet into the ocean.  Apparently explorer Robert Gray landed in Tillamook bay area (which includes 5 bays in the area). This Jetty provides access to one that is used by the fishing industry in the area (salmon, oysters, and crabs).  

Enough chit chat....time to head back for a windy lunch. 

  (Editors Note: The Coast Salish lived up North in Washington, and BC but there was a small tribe living in Tillamook as well).  Who knew? (Besides the Coast Salish people).

Mail Call!

 Hiya Blog Pals.

Little Fox and Cholla here.  We are admiring the cool stamps of Sandy.  

Looks like Sandy's human is on the sticker kick again.  Lots of stickers on these cards.

The first card is dated April 19.  I always like these cards, in case you can't see this one is a Litter of Pigs.

Looks like Sandy is staying busy.  New flooring.  Working in the garden. Waiting for a Covid shot which I hope comes soon.  Lot's of exploring and hiking as well. Lucky bear.

Another card from Sandy is a Husk of Hares.  March 29, 2021. Sounds like they are doing more hiking, exploring the old mine (looking forward to that blog post(s),  trying to find a swimming hole for a certain niece and more gardening.  Sandy is planting similar vegetables to us.  Greens and  Sugar Snap Peas.  I also supervised the planting of zucchini and delicata squash (from seeds).  Paws crossed they are doing something.

Next up is a cool card from Droopy and gang.  April 26 is when this card is dated.  It's a motorcycle on historic route 66 near Williams, AZ.  My roommate used to work at a canyon (dare, I say grand....) about 70 miles north of Williams.

Droopy is on a road trip through the US SW and we are all excited to see future posts of his travels through the Southwest.  

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Blog Update!  Hello Blog World, it's the Easter Bunny and his pal Hedgehog disguised as the Easter Bunny. 

.  Little Fox got a postcard from Ajdin and it's from the Grand Canyon. Little Fox read the postcard to us and since it's a long time until Easter, we put some calls into our travel agent and we are going to see if we can get on the next plane to the Grand Canyon.  

 Thanks for the mail everyone.  

Little Fox, Easter Bunny, and Mr. Hedgehog disguised as the Easter Bunny. 

Introducing Cholla....the Australian Woodrat.....not the Cactus

 Hello Blog World. It's me, Little Fox at the Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree.  It's sunrise and the cacti are amazing.

I was wandring around the park and noticed there were lots of Desert Woodrats at the park. 

Woodrats here?  Perhaps.

Probably some here at Keys mine.

Lot's of old mines and homesteads in the park.  Homesteading in the Mojave has got to be hard. 
Probably a few Desert Woodrats here in another deserted homestead.

Sigh, no pictures of any Desert Woodrats but they were around.  I did meet an Australian Woodrat who  likes the desert but was looking for a new climate.  A little milder.  Perhaps an area with 4 mild seasons.

It didn't take me long to convince her to move to my place.  I got her booked on the same flight as me. 

Blog world, let me introduce Cholla the Australian Woodrat.  She goes by Cholla for short.  Being good global citizens we are maintaining our 6 feet social distancing.  

I didn't have many seeds or nuts for Cholla to snack on but I did have some bread with seeds on it that she seems to like.

It's time to head back home.  Garden needs work, Sequoia needs attention and this fox needs to hike. 

A side trip to Palm Springs, PioneerTown, and a big date farm.

 The park is a cool place.  No doubt about that but today I am off to see what the nearby (relatively speaking) town of Palm Springs can offer.

First stop: Shields Date Farm.  Okay, it's not in Palm Springs but pretty darn close.  Shields is in Indio, CA about 20 minutes east. 

Let's go!

The date farm has a manicured garden, a cafe, and I heard that if I am a well behaved fox I might get a treat. 

The garden was closed today due to the wind. 

The staff didn't want anyone to get hurt.

Let's explore inside.  Perhaps there is something for me?  Oh man, a 24 ounce (only size) date milkshake.  All for me right?  Right?

This is the life. 

My roommates decided to take me to see a temporary art exhibit called Desert X.  Desert X only happens in February, March and April in the Palm Springs area.  First up: A tiny home to represent the urban sprawl that was Southern California experienced after WWII.

A few miles away a maze made out of reed mats to simulate the challenges immigrants face navigating in a new country.  
Reed mats were used in honor of the native peoples who lived in this area before it was "settled"

Next up is one titled "What lies behind these walls" to simulate the different layers of peoples lives and cultures.

Remember the wind at the date farm?  It followed us for two days.  This art installation was on top of a hill and so windy. My right paw is catching the wind nicely.

Time for lunch.  What's on the menu?

Vegan, yes vegan, Cuban Sandwich and a nice big salad. 

Now that I have more energy in my body time to explore Pioneer Town.

In 1946, Pioneertown was founded by a group of Hollywood investors with dreams of creating a living movie set — an 1870's frontier town with facades for filming and interiors open to the public.  

People still live in Pioneertown and periodically they still film.  I think they did a truck commercial and a Cindy Lauper video.  

One more stop.   Oh, this looks promising.  It's not Sunday but the Mexican place has an all you can eat buffet in the morning.  

My roommates mentioned we were only here for drinks.   This margarita looks like a refreshing drink for a little fox.