5/14/15

Pack Goats First Multi-night Campout











Not exactly wilderness survival, but it was a ten-day sleepover at a secluded place away from home. We packed everyone up and moved to a high-vista ridge we have nearby in the Black Hills. We could see the sun rise over Chicago and set over Portland (well, kinda like that). Unlimited views in every direction, including Bear Butte/Sturgis to the north and the night-sky lights of Rapid City to the south.


On three different days, we saw violent thunderstorms coming from 20 miles away, which provided lots of sky-fireworks and lots of time to prepare. On one night, we had 80-90mph winds and torrential rains at 2am. I joined the startled goats in a small protective enclosure until it passed.
One morning we delayed going to work long enough for me to go up and take some aerial photo's of an adjacent campground run by a nice couple who let us take a hot shower each day. So I snapped one of the ridge where we were camping, too.
For the first time ever, we got our fill of rock hunting. She also found lots of petrified wood and pure white crystaline rocks. The goats, however, had a special interest in those strange new rocks, which you can see here.
Interesting, that we, and the four goats, and Sherlock loved it there and agreed we all want to return. To stay and live. But that's another story, of solar proportions. Stay tuned.

5/10/15

SNOHOMISH COUNTRY TROUT FISHING TRIP

The family enjoyed a delightfully productive long weekend on a trout fishing expedition.  All five families stayed in a private log lodge within walking distance of some great rainbows and browns.  Weather was perfect with a surreal fog-shrouded stream at daybreak and near-full moon glistening on the trickling rapids at nightfall.  Of course, though, fishing was not quite as favorable as implied by the photo below, from a nearby hatchery. 

We all enjoyed our traditional Saturday night feast of deep-fried and grill-baked trout, and too many side dishes and deserts to admit.   Sunday morning we all took our matriarch, Grandma Donna, to the main lodge for Mother's Day dinner.

Trout fishing was stellar; but we can't wait until salmon season returns so we can fish right from our back yard in "Snohomish Country".

However, things were not all a slam dunk.  We did have some competition for the trout as shown at left (wink).