Flagstaff, AZ | April 26, 2018 | Cycling
Loop Trail (FUTS), Wood Trail (Lake Mary Narrows), Dirt Space Before Osprey Lookout (Upper Lake Mary)
A tiny horned lizard started it all. This little cutie seemed unbothered as I walked my bike on the trail in front of it. It proceeded to catch several ants before looking at me semi-curiously as I slowly took out my camera and phone and hoped that it would not run away. I was lucky, it stayed for the photo opportunity and did not move even as I walked my bike past it a bit later.
The spiny lizard was next. I saw it dash across some pine needles in my field of vision and walked closer to get a better look. It was a bit more cautious than my horned friend but eventually found a rock that it felt comfortable on and from which it could keep an eye on me while I took pictures of it.
I was hoping that something would be blooming along the Loop Trail, but only the shoots of paintbrushes were cropping up in the area, so I circled back to the beginning of the trail to ride back to my parking spot off Lake Mary Road. Dandelions were the only thing in bloom off of EJW Powell Blvd.
I had planned to ride the Arizona Trail near Sandy's Canyon Trail next but changed my mind when I saw a mostly full parking lot before the trailhead. I decided to ride the Wood Trail instead, after which it only felt appropriate to explore along the shore of the lake, which is always full of exciting micro-surprises.
The wildlife along the lake seemed as interested in observing me as I was in observing them. The crows looked on as usual and the spiny lizard near the lake, though cautious at first, eventually sprawled out on a rock to stare at me while I crept closer and closer to take its photo.
As a fan of really tiny wildflowers, I was delighted to see the stork's bill growing near the parking lot (even though I see that it may be an invasive species). The sunset was magical and I had loads of fun.
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