The temperature exceeds 100 degrees F under the ramada outside the China Ranch store

I sit here and eat half of the date-nut loaf that I just bought. It's so good that I want to eat it all, but I'm already full, so I discipline myself to stop eating and save half of it for tomorrow's breakfast.

I'm also having a great time with my new 1.5-litre bottle of cold water, my first cold water today.

Though the heat is a bit oppressive (it feels somewhat humid down here in the canyon), it's liberating to be in such nice surroundings.