Family

I believe only 4 people are missing from this shot of immediate family.

Crazy I tell you.

Vanessa visits Grandpa

Route of the Hiawatha Bike Trail

I talked about this for years and I am sorry I put it off. Chris, Becky, Kady and I made it out and it was beautiful. Don't put it off, get out there and support the trail.

Go to Lookout Pass and buy your trail pass and shuttle pass.

they also offer rental bikes, helmets and lights.

Helmets and light are both required.

http://www.skilookout.com/hiawatha/

Enter here for your first 1.8 miles in the dark. The Taft tunnel is a quite a surprise. It is dark, wet and rather cold.
Care should be taken as it can be somewhat disorienting. I saw several people crash into the wall. So if this is you please get off your bike and walk until you get your bearings...

About half way thru, if you look for it you will find the Montana Idaho state line marker. I suppose the state line is way up above you somewhere.

A shot of the rock wall. Not sure anyone wants to ride into that in the dark.

The light at the end of the tunnel. I stopped about 100 feet short to get my eyes to adjust so I wasn't blinded when I rode out.

Just outside a beautiful waterfall.

Looking back where I came from. At the end of the day you have to ride back thru to get back to your car. I must say I really enjoyed this tunnel. All told there are 10 tunnels and 7 high trestles to wind your way thru as well as over.

One of the old train trestles in the distance. That is where we are going.

The highest one is 220' up .

And again.

Now we are on top of it.

It is quite a long way down as well as a little disorienting when you look over the edge.

Amazing structures.

Almost to the end.

Brother Chris after loading his bike. Waiting to board the shuttle back to the top.

I think riding this in the fall at the end of the season would be amazing.

Maybe I will have to do it again.

Hiawatha

Here I come...

Bright eyes

Little V

Temptation

Yes, I gave in. Quite refreshing actually.

At the hospital

You have to appreciate heritage

Let Me Introduce You To My Little Friend

She is brand new so don't mind the jelly they put in her eyes or the fact that her hands are blue. When they are new it takes a little bit for circulation to stabilize...

#1 arrived on 7/21/10 at 4:41 pm

Tipping the scales at a clean 7 lbs 11 ozs and 19" long

She is Beautiful and you will not be able to convince me otherwise.

waterbath

Shhhh. It's a secret!

Presents for my newbies...

Close up.

In Every Kingdom A Rain Comes Pouring Down (Camping with Kady)

Sneaky campers

Camp day one

This is what it looked like most of the time we were there. Weather wise? Not to bad. Wind, rain, sun, rain, etc. but mostly cool and wet. Went swimming. The water was very cold.

Tending the Campfire. most of the wood was to long. a little chainsaw would have been very handy.

Look Kady, I made Fire!

Dramatic clouds at dusk on the fourth. I found it odd that clouds usually have flat bottoms and this one had a big curve the exact shape of Barito which is beneath it.

Hiking around the Island

Footpath

It always amazes me the things plants will do to thrive.

This Coral Mushroom was about the size of my fist. I believe it is some sort of Ramaria...

Granite falls

Beautiful morning Light

Sun filtering thru the trees

The Story of my Life

Its time for new linoleum at the 8th place... carpet, countertops, light fixtures etc.

Hey, you ever notice that while you are working hard other people just seem to stand around?

Woods Walker

Look at all the Balsamorhiza.

I believe you can eat it.

Sometimes its nice to just go for a hike...

Raku II

I think this is a better photo of the color variation on my Raku pot...

At first I felt it was way too coppery so I dropped it back in the kiln for just a couple of seconds and got a more satisfying variation from the reduction and then the re oxidation.