LOTS OF HUMMINGBIRDS

We seem to have a lot of hummingbirds around this year.  Sat out and watched them the other afternoon with my camera. 

MORE KAYAKING & HORSEBACK RIDING

Shelly, Sheryl, Riley, and Reese stopped by for a short visit.  They had been down at Bear Lake in Utah and were headed back to Battleground, WA.  Riley and Reese are Shelly's granddaughters and live in Salt Lake.  We spent some time at Como Lake paddling around and Reese and I did a couple of horseback rides.

Como was nice for kayaking again.  

Everyone got in on the kayaking.

Connie helping Reese get the bridle on big Jack.

And off we go.

SALT LAKE VISITORS

Connie's sister and brother-in-law came up from Salt Lake to visit us for a few days.  We headed to Lake Como the first full day they were here as it has been very hot in the Bitterroot.  The water was cool and calm so we all got to do some swimming and paddling in the kayaks.  Took them up to Skalkaho Falls as they have never seen that.  Also took in the fireworks in Hamilton as we did last year when they visited us.  The display was very good as it always is.  Thanks to all who contributed to making our little valley's night sky light up with lots of colors on Independence Day!

The water was cool in the July heat.

Everyone got in on the kayaking.  Zeph of course loved it.

Wendy and Van in front of the falls.

We also looked for sapphires in some dirt nephew Carl brought over for us.

And the fireworks - great as usual.

FIRST PADDLE IN NEW KAYAK

I picked up a new kayak last summer but never used it until the other day.  It is a single and only 12 feet long.  Not as stable as our tandem, but it is a lot faster.  Got to figure out a good way to carry my camera gear better though.  What I use in the tandem is a bit big for the cockpit in this kayak.  Seems to track well also.

Ready to launch.

Water was great for the first part of the trip then a little breeze came up and a few ripples showed themselves.

Not much snow in the high country for this time of year.

Loaded up and ready to head home.  A few guys came by as I was about to load it and they gave me a hand.  Nice of them.