Hiking that canyon today. Hope I don't end up a meal for a mountain lion!
Photos later.
Edit:
Well I drove out to the Palm Springs area for my day hike down Big Morongo Canyon in the Big Morongo Canyon Nature Preserve; by the way, a world class birdwatching site.
On the way, I stopped at a Mcdonalds and had a sausage burrito, their fruit and maple oatmeal and a coffee. Later, I had one of the white chocolate macadamia Clifbars as well.
Two miles or so down the canyon, I took a break in the shade under the "hangman tree." There was a very nice shade under it and a cooling breeze was up. Thank the Lord because it had to be at least 95 in the shade. Lots of strong glaring sun in the canyon, good thing that I bought a new desert hat with 50+ spf protection.
About a mile and a half uphill, I had to break another break in the shade under another cottonwood tree that I call Junior.
My wind and endurance were good but I can feel it in my shins and to a lesser extent in my ankles and my right knee. This was my first real hike since I began my weight loss journey and it was nice not to be humping the 45 pounds that I have lost since 4/15/15.
Needless to say, there will be no exercycle for me tonight.
2nd edit: Speaking of mountain lions, I either saw a small one or a large bobcat as I was about to get off the trail near the portapotties, it was less than 20-25 yards from me and looking away from me. Before I could get my camera ready it quickly walked around the corner and must have slipped into the reeds- I tried to look for it but it was gone.
3rd edit:
After a huge dinner I had to hit the exercycle after all. I was so ravenous that I forgot to photograph it. A plate of nopales, rice and a small bit of pork. Then a HUGE bowl of a soup with big chicken with the skin, carrots and cabbage. The nopales were eaten first as they are proven to slow down sugar spiking.
I did not eat all the rice, only about 95% of it.
30 minutes on the bike burning 208 calories.
5 miles of hiking in 90+ heat, 2 1/2 miles down then uphill. 184 meter elevation loss then gain.
