To the Mountains

 

The forests were freshly washed from an overnight rain. 

Wildflowers of purples, whites, blues, yellows and reds were putting on their early-summer color show along the roadsides. 

The alpine roads were not too bumpy. Most of the cars/rigs we saw had out-of-state license plates.

We enjoyed a nice short hike with the dogs on a road which no longer receives much motorized travel. 

We did see some rather fresh bear scat and a tree maybe 500 feet away from the scat had very recently had part of its bark removed. 

Happily, we missed the next rain storm which we could see coming our way from across the valley. Distant thunder was clapping by the time we walked back to the pickup.

That was our trip to the mountains in the Trestle Creek-Lightning Creek drainage east of Sandpoint yesterday. 

As we motored along through the Lightning Creek side toward Clark Fork, our conversation involved a few memories of the many times my friend Chris and I drove those road while working for the U.S. Forest Service Engineers. 

Our job involved traffic counters, putting them out on side roads and reading the traffic results twice weekly. 

Chris and I really got to know that area well. 

Parts of the drive are downright spectacular so one never tires of taking that trip. 

On our way back, a heavy downpour brought a smile to my face and probably to that of many farmers in the area. 

July-like weather has dried out the fields, so last nights rain, which left even bigger puddles, should have helped out the situation. 

Plus, I've gone two days without watering flowers or the garden.  Thank you, Mother Nature, for the welcomed time off from the hose.

There's a class reunion committee meeting today, so not much outdoor work and really no need, thanks to the rain. 

Happy Monday.