random pics that YOU have taken.......

[Racerbvd]

[Baz]

Saw this little one in my side yard and then later he/she was in my garage. I re-located him/her out to one of my garden areas where he/she will have plenty of shelter, food, and water.

[Skip Newsom]

Nice work Baz!

Two days of good weather and a need to for a mountain based therapy session coincided with a trip back up in the same old hills under 2 hours away.

My intent was to park at a combo boat launch/Crampground/trailhead pack up the yak and stay the night at a boat in only campsite a couple miles down Colonial arm on Lake Diablo. I didn't depart until about noon hoping to launch and paddle during the warmest part of the day- nope, too cold and windy for my old bones, I camped at the site closest to the boat launch.
Only one other hearty/lunatic soul was camped at the far end of the lakeside camp ground.
Even with an insulated sleeping pad (thanks REI dividend!) and a 15 degree rated down bag I was just borderline warm enough.
The thought did go through my head that maybe I'm getting too old for this...

That went away quickly as the sun popped over the ridge (pretty loud pop in fact) and I started needing to peel off layers. Below freezing over night attested by a skim of ice 6' along the shoreline and a very frosty Kayak

I launched and paddled up to my intended campsite and had lunch, the lake was like glass much of the time and the joy I get from being outside made a cold not terribly comfortable night fade away.











A few more memories etched into the bottom of my 15' Pygmy kayak, she's turning into a great $500 investment

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Skip Newsom

Nice work Baz!

Two days of good weather and a need to for a mountain based therapy session coincided with a trip back up in the same old hills under 2 hours away.

My intent was to park at a combo boat launch/Crampground/trailhead pack up the yak and stay the night at a boat in only campsite a couple miles down Colonial arm on Lake Diablo. I didn't depart until about noon hoping to launch and paddle during the warmest part of the day- nope, too cold and windy for my old bones, I camped at the site closest to the boat launch.
Only one other hearty/lunatic soul was camped at the far end of the lakeside camp ground.
Even with an insulated sleeping pad (thanks REI dividend!) and a 15 degree rated down bag I was just borderline warm enough.
The thought did go through my head that maybe I'm getting too old for this...

That went away quickly as the sun popped over the ridge (pretty loud pop in fact) and I started needing to peel off layers. Below freezing over night attested by a skim of ice 6' along the shoreline and a very frosty Kayak

I launched and paddled up to my intended campsite and had lunch, the lake was like glass much of the time and the joy I get from being outside made a cold not terribly comfortable night fade away.











A few more memories etched into the bottom of my 15' Pygmy kayak, she's turning into a great $500 investment

ENVY The wife and I love the PNW. I've been there a few times, she's been there once. We'd both like to go back.

Looking at your photos, it's easy to understand.

[Joe Bob]

That's a beauty! How much does it weigh, how old, pedigree?

The lake shots aren't bad either......%^)

[daepp]

Oh my gosh, Skip, those photographs are stunning!

[Skip Newsom]

I'm very very lucky to live so close to 3 magnificent mountain lakes- and lots of other cool stuff too.

JB, here's the story, some of it true.

She started out life somewhere in a peaceful African Mahogany tree farm, minding her own damn bidness until suddenly, whack, saw, stack, dry etc and she transformed into one of John Lockwood's pioneering computer cut stitch and glue kits.
a Goldeneye Standard to be precise.

A certain J. Papke seems to have built her, she was handed off two times and rested in a garage in the Redmond Wa area for years until the owner mentioned they were getting rid of it. My boss Frank (let's call him), contacted me.
I'm new to Kayaking, I've done lots of canoeing over the years starting with trips down various rivers here in the local drainages. and week long trips into one of the same lakes I still visit often.

Yakking always looked fun.
It is.

First 2 times in the boat were at the local YMCA, thought I'd made a big mistake as my sense of balance was hyperactive initially and I couldn't just sit still, I started creating waves just attempting to be one with the boat, sank a couple other kayaks in the pool.
The boat seemed to want me out.

It got better...

I did a complete refinish, hatch strap and seal replacement, fresh bungee cords all around and was accused of transporting a piece of furniture that belonged on a wall.
Here's way more specifics.

[Skip Newsom]

One thing I've noticed on early season trips in the North Cascades are the astounding number and variety of birds active, Bald Eagles, Osprey, Ravens, Woodpeckers, Wood ducks, Mallards, Canadian Geese, Owls and many others.

I had the longest owl event ever this last trip.
At about 1 am I woke to the sound of at least 2 Barred Owls doing almost constant vocalizations as they flew along my shore line headed East, and then they turned back West and worked the opposite shoreline.

Then there's the Canadian Honkers, coming and going all hours and making sure the whole lake knows... there were 2 pairs that came and went a couple times, I could hear them from over a mile away right up to the splash landings and continued low honks congratulating each other on another successful flight or what ever it is they carry on about.

Canada can have them back IMHO.

Pre sun popping


Just take a pebble and cast it to the...

[WPOZZZ]

I was at Puowaina aka Punchbowl aka The National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific, taking flowers for my aunt and uncle. After cleaning the gravestone, vase, placing the flowers and talking to them, it was time to go home. When I turned around, there was this beautiful sight!

[porsche tech]

[red-beard]

Boise - America and Freedom

[p911dad]

[s_morrison57]

Originally Posted by porsche tech

Looks like they should have moved the marker to the small mound behind it, if you really want the highest point that is. If the higher mound is man made then it shouldn't be there IMO

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by s_morrison57

Looks like they should have moved the marker to the small mound behind it, if you really want the highest point that is. If the higher mound is man made then it shouldn't be there IMO

They were probably running low on oxygen and had to stop there.

[kevin993]

To get where you're going, it helps to know where you are and where you've been.

[Racerbvd]

[porsche930dude]

The day I brought home each of my cars

[Jolly Amaranto]

At Galveston Island this morning.

[IS300]

[harvardma]