March 25th

Stopped at the stock tank in the first photo in the morning because I didn't have enough water left after Kentucky Camp to make it to Twin Tanks comfortably.  A layer of algal scum sat on the surface but the water underneath was cool and clean and I was glad to have it. 
The trail ran through hills and in and out of washes, which meant a lot of ups and downs and arounds.  However, none were too strenuous.  The ground was all hard clay and rock, a tough combination on feet that were already sore.  At one point, I ran into my first rattler lying on the trail.  I tossed a few small rocks to get it moving off the path, but it just lay there with no movement at all.  It was so inanimate that I began to think it might be dead.  One more rock toss and I was dispelled of that notion, as it awoke with a loud hiss, rattles shaking at a fever pitch.  The unexpected motion startled me badly.  
During the two hours of walking before reaching Twin Tanks, there was no shade at all as beavertail and barrel cacti, ocotillo and desert grasses dominate the harsh terrain.  There were some moments of color when I came across random patches of desert bloom.  The yellow, pink, purple or orange flowers brightened up what would otherwise have been a fairly drab landscape.  Overcast skies were a relief from the blazing sun, but a constant wind had changed from morning cool to midday warm.  Twin Tanks had a small stand of cottonwood trees among which I took my afternoon break.  Nice to get out of the elements and relax for a bit.  The remaining water in the earthen tanks, though not the best, was filterable.  My plan was to rest there until four and then camp  that night near Highway 83, but it didn't work out as I had intended.
I headed out on time, walking quickly on the good tread winding through the contours of the hills and across the desert plain.  Before I knew it, Highway 83 was in sight.  The problem was I couldn't find Duck Tank.  It was supposed to be near a dirt road towards the northeast, but I wasn't sure which one.  After looking around a bit and not discovering a water source, I decided to press on because I felt real good---in the hiking zone.
I pushed on a little past dark, which was of no concern whatsoever because I was guided by the lights of the traffic on I-10.  Laying out my groundcloth on some accumulated sand at the far side of the passage running beneath the freeway, I set up camp for the night.  The sound of the approaching vehicles growing louder, passing overhead and then disappating into nothing lulled me into the deepest sleep of the entire hike.  Hypnotic!


Photo 1:  Cattle Tank
Photo 2:  Las Colinas
Photo 3:  A Splash of Color
Photo 4:  Arizona Diamondback
Photo 5:  Harsh Terrain
Photo 6:  Desert Flora

Distance Hiked:  28 Miles