What a hike!

We decided to go on a short hike, we wanted to see. . .you guessed it, more waterfalls, lol. We hiked up, up, up! (On the trek back down we saw a couple of Pikas in this area, I'll be sharing them in a couple of days.)

I was amazed at how much smaller the other mountains looked, as I went up a peak.  It felt like I was in the clouds, refreshing!

I swear our path was cut by goats, lol.

While Dennis kept climbing a narrowing path toward the upper falls I stayed right here by the lower part and enjoyed the view.

the Bridge sooc #27

The Going to the Sun Road has spots you can pull over, shed the car and walk some paths. There was barely light left but off we went.

I just love waterfalls! Shortly after passing under the road we came upon this one.

A little further down the path we came up this bridge - scary! I'm not fond of bridges.

And another waterfall! We had it all to ourselves, having passed many people leaving the area before darkness, lol. We were trying to cram as much as we could in before night because the forecast was continual rain for the next day.

I did pause on the bridge for a shot, only shaking a little.

Murrieta365

Columbian Ground Squirrel

My what big eyes you have. :0)

Unfortunately, this is as close as I got to the Columbian Ground Squirrel while in Glacier National Park.

Buh Bye! Was nice meeting you!

Obviously he wasn't too traumatized by my stalking - he went right to eating.  But I decided to let him dine in peace.  We stumbled upon him after pausing at the waterfall, heading back to the car.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

We finally made it to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore on our way back from Maine.  We've been talking about going for years, just never taken the time to stop when we get near.  This time we did stop at the headquarters to get our passport stamp, then went to Mt Baldy.

Immediately upon starting up the path we found a lizard.

Haden helped him pose for the camera.  He does have a way with creatures.  The little guy reminds me of a wiggling, growling dog.

I just thought the shadows on the uneven sand was cool.

Dennis hand to dip his toes in the cool water, hope a wave doesn't slap the camera.

A lighthouse in the distance.  If the day had been clearer we would have been able to see Chicago, but alas, it was not to be.

So cool and refreshing on a hot day!

Seagulls scavenge anywhere, even in the trashcans.

Walking a path

I get delighted to have an opportunity to walk a path, any path. It can be one I've never walked or one I've walked many times. There's always something new to see. A bee on a flower.

A huge dandelion.

Is it still called a dandelion when it's the size of a softball?

Spiderwort is a favorite of mine.

I love the chaotic way it grows! No surprise there!

{These were all taken with the point and shoot - some days I just don't feel like carrying the big gun for several miles.}

What a Man!

I’m sure you have heard of the Old Man of the Mountain but did you know that New Hampshire also has an Old Man of the Valley?

We decided to take the short walk and check it out.

No, I don’t think this is the result of the crumbling of Mountain Man as my son tried to convince me teasingly.

But he is pretty cool. And you can get right up by him.

In fact, I even gave him a little kiss, which Haden snapped proof of for me.

New Vermont friends

We scared up a red squirrel while geocaching in Vermont.

And there were several Bobolinks around, but they never do cooperate with me very well.

We saw more butterflies than fossils at the Goodsell Ridge Fossil Preserve.

Goodsell Ridge contains the most complete fossil record of the world’s oldest reef dating back over 480 million years ago. On Goodsell Ridge, between stands of cedars and clusters of purple clematis and snowy aster, the ancient bedrock juts out from the soil, displaying in swirls and fossils organisms of extraordinary antiquity. ~Lake Champlain Land Trust

Haden found a wasp busy building a nest on a rock.

I thought these fish were pretty cool, but I don’t know what they are. They seemed to be fighting.  We found them at Chazy Reef at Isle LaMotte, along with the turtles of a few days ago.

Hope you are having a great weekend!  And Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!