CAMP AND KAYAK AT PAINTED ROCKS

We headed up the West Fork and camped at the State campground at the head of Painted Rocks Lake.  Connie and I got a good kayak in and had lunch at the headwaters of the Lake.  Ike and Brenda showed up in the afternoon.  We took the jeep and headed over to hill into Idaho to a natural hot springs and spent an hour or so.  Forgot my camera so no pictures of that experience.  Warm natural springs are always a good thing for the mind and body!  Sat around the campfire in the evening and told a few stories.  Woke up this morning to rain - can you believe it?  It was hot and dry with forest fires and now it is cool and rainy.  Sure slowed the fire down behind us though.  I did get a great solo kayak trip in this morning between the rain showers.  Lake was like glass and lots of birds were out.

A deer Connie and I floated by on the lake shore.

An eagle watches us paddle by.

We were the only campers in this campground.  Had a lakeside camp and enjoyed a good campfire.

The view from the inlet of the lake this morning between rain showers.

An American Avocet.

Ike trying out some dry flies this morning. 

FIRE AT NIGHT

This morning the fire of course is still burning. And we can really smell the smoke.  I took a few pics last night just before going to bed.  We are heading to the West Fork today to do some kayaking and exploring up there.  Hopefully it will be cooler and not smell like smoke!

FIRE TO THE EAST OF US

This afternoon we had a fire start to the east of us about 7.5 miles.  It is called the Dominic Point fire I think and they have not yet said what started it.  They have a few retardant planes and helicopters working on it.  I thought we were in the "let it burn" time of fighting fires.  Where this fire is, it sure could stand to be burned and get rid of all the down trees.  We have heard that the Willow Mountain Lookout was burned.  I just went outside and can see the fire on this side of the lookout now so that may well have happened. Some pictures below.

When we first started watching the fire.

Dominic Point with the fire behind it.

A retardant plane dropping it's load.

The view with a wide angle lens from our cabin porch.

Pouring out more smoke and ash when we went in for supper.

MOVING COWS TO SUMMER PASTURE

We went over to the ranch to help them move the last bunch of cows up to the Centennial Valley where they will spend the summer.  Takes three days to get them to the lower cow camp where they will spend just a week then be moved on up to the upper cow camp and stay there until mid October.  Weather was pretty hot for that country as it was in the high 80's. I did not get to go the last day as I came down with the flu, but Connie stepped up to the plate and worked double hard!

Connie riding flank in the early morning light.

Almost there.

Heath roping a stray calf to be taken back to the pasture it jumped out of.

Having a cup of coffee after putting them in the field.  But it was a short break as they had to head back to get a cow that was stuck in the mud in the field from the night before.

Here is the stuck cow.

Had to pull her out with a pickup and chain.

Then get her loaded into a trailer for the ride up to the other cows and her baby.

Macy, Kiley, Calen, Taryn, and Josie the dog.

JUNIOR RODEO

Connie and I went and watched Hailey and Jackson compete in the Junior rodeo down at the fairgrounds yesterday.  They did pretty good, and we all had a good time.  There was quite a rain shower that came through just about the end of it.  A little lightning and thunder in the valley.  Cooled things off a little as we are having some pretty warm weather right now.

Hailey headed down towards the goat in the goat tying event.

Tying up the goat.

Teresa was the main gate person for all of the rodeo.  

Jackson headed towards the goat.

Throwing the goat down.

Braid and mane flying in the barrel race.

Jackson coming out of the box in the ribbon roping.

Just about to throw the loop that will catch the calf.

And on the senior side of the rodeo, Duston is heading for Cate in her competition.

KAYAKING WEST FORK LAKE

Connie and I got out of the heat today and went up to West Fork Lake and kayaked over to Blue Joint Creek from Slate Creek.  Water was just like glass.  No one was up there and we had the lake pretty well to ourselves.  Next time we will leave a little bit earlier and spend more time up there.  We did not leave until noon as we had a number of things to do before we left. 

Nice water!

Looking in the opposite direction.

The head of Blue Joint Creek.

This frog was pretty concealed and was catching a few insects that got to close.

Lots of butterflies on the beach.

Our lunch spot.

WARM AND SUNNY WITH HORSES

We had a busy day today.  Connie and Audie went for a horseback ride this morning while I was in the Honor Guard for a funeral.  After lunch, Hailey, Jackson, Morgan, and Hayden came over and rode in the arena.  There is a Junior rodeo this weekend that Hailey and Jackson will be in so they thought they had better get their horses in shape and do a little practicing.  We have had so much rain this spring, that they have not been riding much.   But it is warm (80's) and sunny now.  Anyway, they brought a few horses over and spent a little time down in arena.  It was fun having them over for the day.  We don't get to see Morgan and Hayden very much as Morgan teaches down at Mountain Home Air Force Base, ID where her husband Nate is stationed.  Hayden is two and really likes to ride horses.

Below are some pictures I took today.

I was headed out first thing this morning to catch Comet to trim his hooves when I came across the old mare Stormy and her three buckskin kids (Rip, Jack, and Baylee) all sleeping together in the morning sunshine. 

On my walk this morning I came across this lady bug hanging out on a stem of grass.

The pollen is getting pretty thick from the wild grasses.

Connie next to big Jack.  He is just over16 hands tall (or 64 plus inches) at the withers.  That is as tall as Connie.  You should see her get on him!!!  But she can still get her foot high enough to put it into the stirrup.  Not bad for a lady of her age!

Hailey and Jackson having a good time loping around the dusty arena.  Just the other day it was muddy!!!

Jackson and his horse jumping some barrels.

Hailey seems to be having a good time running the barrels.

Morgan and Hayden getting their "Queen of the Rodeo" wave down.

Of course there is always roping to do when kids get together with ropes and a roping dummy - even Uncle Frank got involved.

And roping dummies were made to ride also!!