AHHH Vacation!

Oh, to be independently wealthy and on permanent vacation... I would probably do what I've done the past few weeks but just more of. I took a long weekend and flew to Seattle for a fabulous time with my kids. This time I stayed with Brandon and Alix and although I arrived in the dark, I could tell I was entering a sanctuary. Pretend you're going down the steps through the tunnel of bushes and trees

and it just keeps getting better. Through the house (which is really cute) and out to the deck and this is what you see looking north

Looking south, here's Alix and her buddy J.L. Seagull which she isn't feeding. Really. Well, just one round cracker that went down his throat and looked like he'd swallowed a frisbee. And maybe just one more because the first one kinda got stuck...

Then there's Andy, Brandon and I after a hard evening of fishing right below the deck

I really could get used to this lifestyle! Thanks, kids, for a great time!

Less than a week later, I was off for Montana. My first stop was at Greek Creek Campground on the Gallatin River. This was a trip down the memory river as my family used to camp here when I was a kid. I just sat by the river and drank in the clear, pine crisp air. It feels good to be home.

I got to spend time with good friends and get some much needed (for both body and soul) hiking. First on the Boulder,

And then to Lost Lake south of Red Lodge.

Funny how these three places feel more like home than the house in Billings that I've had for 18 years or the house in Mtn Home that I currently live in.

Vacation was way too short and then it was back to ID. I thought I'd get in one more hike after I got home before going back to work so I drove to a reservoir north of Mtn Home where the map showed a trail. Well, apparently it's all private land and has been so since the '50s. Let's not rush things here--I guess 4o years isn't enough time to update a map. So, after hiking to a pretty alpine lake in Montana,

I end my vacation at a lake where people drive down to the shore and bait fish.

And what's wrong with this picture??

Isn't a forest supposed to have ... well... trees?? Welcome to southern Idaho.