Going to the Mailbox and a Sunny Porch

 

The Elk Lake mailbox recieves mail every other day. The mailman makes a long drive in his pickup, that doesn't resemble any mail car I've ever seen, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I had an important piece of mail that needed to go out, so Lerrina let me take an ATV and speed out there, out there meaning 5 miles out there.

 

 

What a gorgeous drive too! I had to make sure the mail got to the mailman and wasn't left overnight, so I waited for him to come. I've never waited by the mailbox before. It was always associated with years gone by, don't know why, but I have. So I waited, and the wind blew, and all was quiet except for the waves of wind flowing through this beautiful valley. A few folks drove by, four in ATVs and a pickup or two. It's always such a question of what to do: look at the people? wave? look busy on my phone? Relating with people while just sitting by the road is not without it's questions.

He finally came and I got my stuff sent out. On my way back I was looking around so much I almost ran into an ATV full of people. I looked just in time to see them sidehilling up the gravel bank on the side of the road. Wew! Missed! Thanks to them. Yes, pardon me, crazy woman driver here!

Oh so pretty! This morning as I got back from my jog (I won't tell you how long it was because "jog" can sound so athletic until the distance part is revealed) I just stood a minute looking out the window at the sunny porch. How I love to just look at it.

This Beautiful Valley

This is the Madison River. It attracts fly fisherman from all over the country. I talked to Rick at O & M as I was leaving for this valley one year, and he'd just been there--fishing of course. So many people have. I don't fish it, but I look at it. I think Anne of Green Gables said something about drinking a sight in. It's a try at describing the fun I have just looking at it.

Smearl One More Time

Smeral (sp) Ridge Hike

Hiking up Smeral Ridge...no idea how to spell that btw. STEEP country and you wouldn't believe the view!
Jordan, Kaya, Walters, Lucas, Andrew, Ryker, Will, Jake

Steep trail!
Jordan and Kaya

Snowshoe Peak with a cloud bank piling up behind it. We had this view and more most of the way up.



Andrew clambering across a rocky face. Incredible up there.

Heading back down, roughly toward the east and south of town.
Mr. Freese, Andrew, Will, Lucas, Walters

Bonnie all tired out. I think she covered twice the ground we did.

The triumphant bunch...they rated a good comment from their guide!
Lucas, Walters, Ryker, Kaya, Will, Jordan, Jake, Andrew
 

Shannon Lake

Heading up to Shannon Lake on the old Hwy 2 trail...beautiful day! Not too many ticks! and a cold lake to swim in! ...and THREE of the girls went. This is a record! So glad the boys went too!
Sarah, Lucas, Ashlyn, Alyssa, Andrew, Jake, me, Will, Matthew, and Ethan

Yes, it was cold. Yes, some of them are in jeans. No, they won't do it again! Lesson #1: hiking in wet jeans isn't fun.
Lucas mid-air, Will leaping, Jake ankle deep, Andrew waist deep, Matthew on the rock

River Road Hike

Jake and Andrew looking out over Black Eagle Rock on the River Road trail.

We saw one sheep and if I remember right, an eagle. Fun to see! Their teacher

had "fun" trying not to nag about the edge and possible outcomes of falling over it.

I think these boys may have the impression of her fingers imprinted around their ankles

as everythey moved, the safety grip was tightened!



There's an old house that the years have begun to melt into the earth that surrounds it.

It sits just within the trees up a little rise off the old road. The air was like a downy

 blanket sented faintly of lilacs that grew between the house and the road. Fun stuff!



These guys were either the first or some of the first to make it to the falls.
Way to be!



Another place further on down the road...Will and Jake close to it.

Will is shows how leaning this house is! One day it will come creaking, sliding, and tumbling down. I'm not sure what the history of this is, but would love to know.

The intrepid Sarah, always the first to venture out somewhere! Here is was out on the log. The last hike it was swimming! She was the first to jump into Shannon Lake! Way to go, girl!



Mirand and Sarah...the only girls in their math class...enjoying a rest at the top of Black Eagle Rock on the River Road trail. Sweet girls and they hiked a LONG way that day!