Lots o'news

 As I was coming through town this afternoon, here's what popped up.  It's tourist season!

Some bad news:  Ridgway Reservoir is being emptied out faster than it can fill up.  When the snow melt started, it was looking very nice and fuller, but now it's pretty sad.  I haven't heard how long this is going to last, but I'll report here if I find out anything.

Mike and I hiked up Veenstra's trail this morning, not expecting to go all the way to the overlook, but most of the snow has melted, and we did.  It was lightly snowing as we hiked up, which made it even lovelier, and we yelled for the bears since we saw a print as we were going up.   The wildflowers are starting to bloom in the upper meadow, and I'm hoping not to miss out on all of that prettiness this year.  You'll recall about this time last year was when I sprained my ankle and lost out on a few months of hiking. 

Buttercup

Spring pasqueflower

There are two big trees that have fallen across the trail, but they're easy to go over or around.  At some point, someone will need to go up and saw those apart.  In order to be chain saw certified for the Ouray Trail Group, Mike has taken a first aid class and will be taking a chain saw class this Saturday.   The chain saws are heavy, so someone with a high clearance vehicle and the ability to drive up will probably be tasked with cleaning it up.

The tree broke just below the natural bend

Aaron (24) has ordered some blue dye and bacteria for the pond, and Mike and I will take the canoe out and spread it around.  Also the fish he has ordered are due to arrive on the 20th.  We will be home then, but if anyone wants to watch this process, it is something to see.  Last year, they let them out just down from our house.

Yesterday, Chimene (2) sent me a panicked text with a photo:

She came across this bear on the Perimeter Trail not 200 yards from the road by the mobile home park.   It was within 50 yards of her but fortunately walked away when she called for Jasper, who was off leash.  FYI, Mike says that's a prime spot for bears because of the many dumpsters in the area.  

And lastly, while I was in Pittsburgh this past weekend, at the urging of my niece whose graduation activities we were attending, we went to Grandpa Joe's Candy Store, and I found this.  It explains a lot about me.