Blogospheric Disturbances

As technology changes, so must we. I have enjoyed my time here at Blogger, and I really wish I could keep my blog going on this site because it is the only home it has ever known and I am used to its operation and quirks. But, alas, it does not play well with iStuff, and iStuff is the wave of our personal future.

Fear not, though, faithful readers! Just because this blog will no longer be updated here, that doesn't mean this blog will be going away. Everything that is here now will continue to be here should you ever wish to look back on it.

The continuation of the journey will now be told at the new blog

https://joodiek.wordpress.com/

with a new name that pays homage to this original name but better reflects the direction our lives and travels are taking.

Please come with me -- we have much yet to go, do, see!

Riding a Baby Yak

Have you ever ridden an adorable baby yak? Me, neither, and since I don't currently know where to find one, I settled for taking my new baby 'yak out for her first voyage today at Lake Wilderness.

My baby is an inflatable, backpackable 'yak. Everything you need to get going fits into the pack and then on your back and then on the kayak. 

Nifty-swifty! 

This momma brought her babies over while I was setting up. I have a sneaking suspicion that she's used to being fed.

If you use a regular camera's timer feature, is it still a selfie?

I started out in the shallower end of the lake, but the sun was shining into the water making everything underneath visible. I was fine with the vegetation (mostly) but when I started to see submerged trees, I barely stifled a screech, and paddled the opposite direction. Stuff under (dark) water gives me the heebie-jeebies. 

More traditional selfie over un-see-throughable water. 

Though the sun was shining, this photo is dark, but you can see that I could see Rainier for half my paddle around the lake.

While I won't be winning any races, the baby 'yak was a little champ. It seems like something you'd tip right off of, but she was surprisingly stable and didn't really even rock side-to-side much. In order to fall in the lake, I would've had to throw myself overboard. Fat chance with all that creepy stuff under water!

McDonald Mountain

Another weekend arrived, again presenting the challenge of finding a trail that could give us some distance without encountering pesky late-season snow. Who knew we had that opportunity almost literally in our backyard? McDonald Mountain is only about 15 minutes away, and we'd never known there was an actual hiking trail so close that offered good distance, too.

TBGuide shirking his duty.

The web description had us thinking the whole trek would be on forest service roads, but the trail began with some smallish roller-coaster bumps that were very trail-like. The web also described this as a lot of uphill work, and that was certainly the case.

Words of encouragement along the way.

The day was overcast, but not too chilly, and we were certain that the clouds would burn off by the time we reached the top.

Some pretty flowers to brighten the gray.

As promised, the trail became old service roads after about a mile.

The remains of an old rock quarry. Obvisously, they forgot a few.

At 4.8 miles, we reached the clearing where the radio tower stands. I didn't take a picture of it because it's your average unappealing metal radio tower.

Not only did the clouds not burn off as predicted, but it was about 20 degrees colder on top than where we started, which put it at about 40. Brrr!

Some vistas were not terrible.

TBG experimented with his new camera.

While it wasn't the most scenic or weather-perfect hike, we were finally able to up our mileage. 

And the sun was out by the time we got home.