Today I hiked in the foothills of Santa Barbara. There was a thick, ocean fog on the mountains, which never burned off.
I found myself walking on a narrow trail walled by brush, cactus and many different types of wild flowers. The best word for this type of trail is cindero, which means little road in Spanish, the word we use often on the ranch in Texas. It seems also to be the most fitting word in this landscape.
The trees that border this trail are covered in a mint-colored moss that's chipping off the surface.
This flower bloom takes me by surprise. It grows at the top of a tall stalk that shoots out from a cluster of... blades. It looks extra impressive next to the power lines.
When bounding back down the mountain, I nearly took out this lizard, who was very happy to see me. I hope we can become good friends, maybe go get a beer together or something.
