I’ve learned (unfortunately, the hard way) that however weary I might feel after a long day of driving on the highway, it’s usually a good idea to find a place to have a walk around outside. No matter how much I would prefer to throw myself onto the bed and not move until morning, things go much better if I make the effort to do a bit of exploring. And of course, if I’m lucky I have a few photos to show for my exertions. So most of my images today were shot within walking distance of our hotels in California and New Mexico — and apparently I missed some really amazing stuff in Holbrook, Arizona.

Evening clouds above Mojave, California

Staghorn cholla, Tucumcari, NM

Yucca pods

Silverleaf nightshade

Prickly pear