KAYAKING AT SALMON LAKE

Connie and I headed up to the Clearwater area and kayaked at Salmon Lake today.  We have been up there before, but not for many years.  The weather was great and the water was also.  We got there early and had the lake to ourselves for quite awhile.  Then the normal people got out of bed and showed up.  But it was really a good day. 

Lots of water lilies on the lake.

And maybe a beaver house!

Our dog Zeph sure likes the water.

Turtle on a rock.

Lunch beach.

DOMINIC PEAKS WILDFLOWERS

Thought I had better run up Willow Creek and check out the wildflowers up at higher elevation before they all dry up with this heat we are having.  Lots of them this year.

A good year for wildflowers.

Such a good dog.

This is a mudslide that closed willow creek for a few days.

Some of the flowers have already went to seed just waiting for a little wind to spread them around.

The Bitterroot Valley from up Willow Creek.

Lots of Bear Grass again this year.

The old burn area is really full of flowers but no new growth of trees!

BULL-A-RAMA

Went to the Bull-a-rama in Darby the other night.  Went with Ike and Brenda and Fred and Bonnie Sue.  If you like bull riding, you will like the bull-a-ramas.  That is all they do.  It is similar to the Professional Bull Rider Association or PBR.  They just ride bulls.  Quite exiting.  Our grandnephew Jackson was what they call the pickup man although in bull riding, they don't pick up the riders off the bulls as they do in the bareback riding and saddle bronc riding in regular rodeos.  But they do get to rope these big bulls and drag them out of the arena.  And Jackson is good at that!

Just a little air between this rider and the bulls.  You can see the "clowns" or bull fighters heading in to help this guy get away from the bull. 

Jackson dragging out a bull.

This ride is not going so well.

This is one of the bull fighters who is the clown in this case.

Look Mom - no hands!!!

Gives a whole new meaning to the term face plant!

A sequence of Jackson getting a bull out of the arena.

KAYAKING COMO LAKE AFTER A THUNDERSTORM

I headed up to Como Lake Monday for a little kayaking.  Was delayed a little because of a thunderstorm moving through the area.  The lake was almost deserted - only one other boat was at the ramp!  Usually there are at least a couple or so around when I am getting ready.  I guess the storm had everyone spooked.  I did paddle for awhile and got into a pretty good rain shower and then some more thunder started so finally quit.  But it is always good to be on the water.

An immature bald eagle watched me paddle by.

Then the blue sky started to take over after the rain.

A yellow spider on a blanket flower.  I don't see many of these.

He/she was a little camera shy.

FIREWORKS ON THE 4TH

Our company got to see the best fireworks in most of America.  Our little county has some great ones let me tell you.  The main show is not the one at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds, but the one at the High School Parking lot just down the street.  The parking lot one starts out early and goes late.  Both are very good and we have been going for quite a number of years.

And there always has to be the one who hams it up!

Waiting for the show to begin.

And the parking lot folks start lighting them up.

Taiden and Khari with some sparklers.

And then the show starts.