South West

I've come to appreciate the reason most people don't camp in southern Arizona or New Mexico in June. Mornings are gorgeous but, it is a desert, after all. Tonight I'm trying out my experimental bug screen across open sunroof so that I don't bake, sleeping in the van. A fully screened bivy sac outside might be more comfortable. Too bad mine's at home. Oh well, at least this campground near Carlsbad Caverns has showers. I waited at dusk for the infamous swarm of bats to exit the cave but perhaps in this heat it's less dramatic. Tomorrow I'll explore the main cavern and visitor center then head for higher ground in search of cooler temps.

Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona

Great to see my awesome former student, Elizabeth

Even these abandoned cheetohs are hot.

During the hour and a half that I waited for the bats, I did some karate exercises, played a few songs on the ukulele and had a glass of wine. Nice evening, all in all, even without the bat swarm.