Palomar Hike

On the 4th of July, we went for a hike on Palomar Mountain.  I think it was five or six miles, but I can't really remember.  It was not short, and we debated whether Dolly would hold up and whether it was too hot.  We decided to go for it. 

We were swarmed by little bugs for about the first half, which was incredibly annoying.  It was also really hot.  There was much complaining.  There was more greenery than probably any other hike we've done around here, though.  That was nice.

There was a section with tall plants on either side that we thought might be poison oak or something.  (I have no idea what poison oak and poison ivy look like, but Jim got me freaked out.)  Our arms started feeling really weird - kind of itchy and in pain - right after we went through it.  After a while the sensation went away, and we were fine.  Thank goodness.

Dolly started getting unhappy in the backpack.  We stopped to let her out, and we pretty much decided to turn back rather than complete the loop.  Then Dolly headed up the trail and led us on, so we had no choice but to persevere.

The bugs bugged out shortly thereafter, and the hike got a lot more enjoyable. 

When Dolly started getting antsy again, Jim kept her entertained by singing music from the opera Carmen.  She clapped and tried to sing along, and it was really adorable.

I tried to take a picture of some red leaves.  The camera was on a funky setting, so the photo turned out much more artsy than I intended:

The hike began and ended at this little pond:

Dolly shenaniquined for the first time in a long time at the trailhead: