And no fires here at the moment, but still a great deal of smoke in the air from all of the weekend excitement all over the northern part of the state. It's going to be a long, flaming summer if it's already this bad in June.

Random progress notes:

On the over-long kayak trip a week ago, one of the highlights was the flock of turkey vultures (12-15) ( Read more... )

The weather forecasts all say sunny today, but it's overcast from the smoke of many fires around the north state. I'm grateful that so far none of them are closer than 90 miles away, but you know it's bad when the smoke is evident this far away. Fingers crossed for the winds to die down at last and give the fire fighters a breather ( Read more... )

Although better than yesterday, where we apparently went over 100 degrees here at 3000 feet. Grrr. However, many good things in the last week, so a little wilty heat shouldn't slow me down, right?

I had an amusing time at the BPAL Will-Call last Saturday (using a visit to the Aged P as justification for an unnecessary drive into the LA basin).  ( Read more... )

I have a new rule. I will kayak or I will camp, but never again both together.This a result  of  the weekend trip, kayaking some 20 miles down the Carson River from just south of Lake Tahoe down to the Carson plain in Nevada. It was cold and gray and the water was low. And icy. Oh, and did I mention there was wind? There was wind. Chilly wind.

( Read more... )

The holiday weekend involved far too many people ( Read more... )