Rainy Season Unleashed With Fury

Above, the monsoon season brought out interesting and plentiful wildflowers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Until this year's monsoon season (June through September) kicked in, we were pretty parched in the Southwest.

Once it did kick in, it seemed as if we'd be needing to build arks.

Spectrum News posted an article on this year's monsoon, which turned out to be the best one in years.

They begin it with:

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — After two bone-dry years that sank the U.S. Southwest deeper into drought, this summer's rainy season unleashed with fury.

Monsoon storms have brought spectacular lightning shows, bounties of wildflowers and mushrooms, and record rainfall to the region's deserts. They've also brought destruction, flooding streets and homes, and leading to some swift water rescues and more than a dozen deaths.

It's a remarkable reversal from 2019 and 2020, when the annual period known simply as “the monsoon” left the region parched. The seasonal weather pattern that runs from mid-June through September brings high hopes for rain, but the moisture isn't guaranteed.

“That traumatized a lot of us here in the Southwest, really worried if the monsoon was broken,” said Mike Crimmins, a climatologist at the University of Arizona. “And then here 2021 monsoon comes along, and it’s almost like we’re trying to make up for the last two seasons.”

Will this year's monsoon season mean that we'll be having heavier snows this autumn and winter? We shall see.

To read the full article and see a photo gallery, go here.

Drivin' Among The Wildflowers

Above, some of the wildflowers along the road in the valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

Today, I took a little drive in Six Mile Canyon in Cibola National Forest.

There were a number of people also driving in the canyon and I actually saw a someone camping in a tent trailer that was pulled by a late model red Jeep.

I went to the grassy valley that is roughly in the center of Six Mile Canyon and noticed quite a number of white wildflowers.

So I stopped and took a few pictures.

Above, on a road that bisects the grassy valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, on the valley road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, great view in Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, great place for a Saturday drive. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Towing and Wildflowers

Above, black-eyed Susan wildflowers near the Barking Spider Road sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning, while waiting for the tow truck to arrive to take the Mustang to the car repair shop, I walked down to Barking Spider Road and spotted a growth of black-eyed Susans near the sign.

They are a common wildflower in the Southwest. I saw a lot of them while driving along Interstate 40 in Arizona last month.

A few minutes after taking the above photo, the tow truck arrived and soon the car and I were on our way into Gallup.

Above, the Mustang being loaded onto the flatbed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

About an hour or so later, the shop called me and they think they found the culprit on why the car wouldn't start. They think it is an actuator inside the steering column near the ignition that I preventing the key to go all the way inside. They have to tear it down to find out for certain.

Provided they are able to get a part quickly, this should be an easy fix.

Fingers are crossed!