Hall Ranch

Last time Jo and I were at Hall Ranch our hike was cut short because I had to get to work, so we decided to head back to get a bit farther on the trail.  The day was absolutely perfect, and we were both ready to go.

So off we went.

I did try to go find the squashed squirrel we had brought to Hall Ranch the last time we were here...

...but, no luck.

Oh well.  It would have been a morbid sight.  Here's Jo, doing what he does best and looking at things that most people walk right by.  He's good that way.

There were a ton of flowers out on the trail, and Jo and I spent a lot of time getting good pics of them.  Here they are:

 

There are always deer around Hall Ranch, and this day was no exception.  This young buck was just hangin' out in the shade, looking all handsome and buckish.

And here's another young buck just hanging out.

We found several of these bee-looking ants along the trail.  I want to find out what they are.

And then we found this bad boy along the side of the trail.  That's right, a rattler.  I'm pretty sure it's a praire rattlesnake.  It was huge and aggressive and went after Jo and I with fangs that were spitting venom and a tail that was as loud as thunder.

Well, not really.  But it was really cool nonetheless.

Very, very awesome, that rattler was.  We stayed with it until it got tired of us and slithered off through the grass, then we continued on our way.

These nettles had a tiny world contained in their spiny leaves.  Ants and little black bugs, all working away doing who knows what.

And Jo spotted this crab-looking spider on this little daisy.  It's kinda hard to see, but six of its legs were one size and the two front legs were much longer, just like a crab.

We stopped for lunch at the top of a hill, where we had an awesome view of Lyons.

And then it was time to head back.  Here are some thistles that are getting ready to bloom.

And some random seed pods.  Just cuz.

It really was an amazingly perfect day.  What I will remember most about the hike are the green, green hills and the crickets, which were going to town with their chirping.  Lovely.

Jo had a very Gladiator moment as we walked back.  I don't blame him, though.  That grass was so darn touchable.  Later on it will become brown and brittle, but right now it's so soft and green.