I saw deer tracks, butterflies, a jackrabbit, and quail. The dunes showed evidence of recent rains, and wild bindweeds and prairie sunflowers were in bloom. It was particularly cloudy when I arrived, but by late afternoon, the sky had opened up.

Also, I had wanted to see the Texas & Pacific section house that’s preserved near the Windmill Picnic Area.

I walked across the dunes and made test images with my cameras.

I saw a rattlesnake crossing the road. I stopped, rolled down my window to take a picture. It looked back, gave me a little flick of its tail to let me know that I was too close, and then turned and continued across the warm Monahans asphalt.