We met up with Beau in Manitou Springs on a beautiful morning.  After a cup of joe and a tart we were ready for adventure.

We deciced to hit the Red Rock Canyon Trails it's a 3.4 mile and with all the resent rains the  wild flowers were just beautiful even the cactus were in bloom.

We were glad we brought the sun screen.

Looks like rain up in the mountians

We were all so happy to be together after a 7 month break.

Heading down to the lake and check out those clouds.

Throw on another layer

Nice little mountain sprinkle. 

Looks like someone threw a few gold fish in the lake

Here it comes

What would Johnny Cash say!

Fun and games until the hail starts.

Safe and sound

Smile

Camp, Fish, Eat, Class and Repeat.

 Bus camp at Hickory Grove Park 

 Venison and Veggies

 Relax

 Jace landing a whopper

My ice breaker

 Veggies?

Presentation is everything

 Oh ya, we did go to class.

 Jell electrophoresis

 Catch of the day on a popper!

 Veggie medially 

 Time to turn in

 Last day breakfast of champs

ISU Campanella 

River Time

 There she blows!

 Slab

 Off the river and on tour

 Larry and Sue's

Another fishing stop 

So maybe I exaggerated when I told Ava about the fish. 

Kayaking the upper Iowa

Too thin to plow,  too  muddy to fish and too thick to drink.

But that wasn't the case at the Toppling Goliath Brewing Company in Decorah.

 We checked out nearly every trout stream in North East Iowa but the recent rains caused all to run high and muddy. 

Mart and I kayaked from Kendalville to Bluffton it was a beautiful stretch of river with lime stone bluffs that rise close to 300 feet above the river.  

 Grillaxing after an afternoon out on the water.

 Nice cord wood construction at a county park.

JUNE PROJECTS

 June is here and projects are in full swing.  Susie's sculpture is mounted along the lane.

 Family gathering in P-ville

 Fishing with Maxine at the trout stream on a hot day.

 I removed the 150+ year old flag pole to make room for the AC unit.

 Pad prep

 Central air unit installed...  Thanks to Wally for bustin his but with the instillation.

 Mud room prepped and everything must go.

 Including the sink!

 Fishing with Mart.

 Enjoying the beauty of the Driftless Valley

 Gorilla Art near a wing dam north of the cabin

 Enjoying the view at home

 Relaxing at the mill

f

Hangin with friends in hats.

FISHING WITH FRIENDS

 American White Pelican numbers have been increasing steadily at a rate over the past ten years due to the abundance of available food.

 Flying up the river with the wind in our hair

 We hit one stretch of shore line where the Northern's  were quite active.  Ron landed this one while I had a hog break my line.  

 I did manage to land a few bass

 Jace worked the fly rod out at Todd's pond while I checked out the bees.

Lilly, our 20 year old cat relaxes in the pole barn while Susie and I relax by the grill.