Around the Butte.

The only disappointment today was that there were no busloads of Japanese tourists with their selfie sticks which would have provided some diversity in the photos.  So you're going to get a lot of rocks. Not sorry.

Today we went to Bell Rock and then hiked around it and its much bigger brother Courthouse Butte.  98 percent of the tourists do not do this hike, it's four miles, and the trail leads away from the main attraction, and that's a good thing.

My knee continues to improve and though this hike did not put much pressure on it, it was up and down enough to be considered a bit more of a test.

Wildflowers, they are starting, a few here and there - so spring is coming and I am happy to be part of the early warning system.

I started off using the telephoto lens - the get textures, and my continuing favorite; trees growing in seemingly impossible places.

 The textures are amazing....

Later I changed to a wider lens, just because the scenery demanded more be included in the frame.