Sunday, June 3/2012

It rained off and on all night and it continues to rain this morning.  The wind is also up a bit and is blowing the awnings around.  The sky looks heavy and it looks like this rain just might last the whole day.  My garden is smiling!!
While we were preparing to hunker down for the day, Dave came over and asked us if we wanted to take a trip to Bear Lake with him and Shirley.  It is Shirley's day off and they usually do something and today it is a trip to Bear Lake.
We agree to go, after all even a rainy day in the forest is better than sitting around in this bus.  with the beverages safely stored, we head out.
It is sprinkling but at least the bulk of the rain seems to have run its course.  We turn off the grid and access the trail to Bear.  It is nice to be back out on the trails and the forest smells awesome.  It seems that it is even more green and lush since we were out here last.
We finally arrive at Bear Lake and there are several pelicans floating around.  Also, the loons are swimming and all looks well at Bear Lake.  "They" (whoever they are) say that there is no fish in this lake but I would think that with pelican and loons here that the reality is just the opposite.  Also, Dave says he has seen otters here and they eat fish.  It would be interesting to see what one would catch if they took the time to actually fish this little lake.

First beverage break

Hogan - happy to be out and about

Awesome trail to Bear Lake

Bear Lake

Those tiny white things across the lake are pelican

We continued our travels to a spot where Dave has seen moose before.  It was a rather obscure trail but we eventually made it and found that the moose are indeed in the area.  They have eaten the tops of many of the trees and now they stand in a neatly trimmed row!!  What they are like nature's own hedge trimmers!!

Taking a rather obscure trail to one of Dave's moose hunting spots

All of these trees have been "trimmed" by moose.  They
eat the tops of them!!

Crossing a downed tree

Believe it or not.....there is a trail here!!

Once we are back on the main trail, we head out to the grid and then head into Vimy.  With all the recent rains, the lake is high and the creek is much deeper.  The water is rushing through the beaver damn and the sound is rather deafening.  No longer is this the quiet little stream of last week!!

crossing Vimy Creek

Vimy Lake

beaver damn

After the recent rains, the water is higher and much faster

The start of Vimmy Creek

Shirley, thinking about attempting to walk across!!  
Nothing good can come of this!!

We'll just stay back here where it's safe! and guard the beer

Hogan, ready to pounce on anything that might move!!

The Huard Lake trail is muddy and has tons of these little "potholes"

some bigger than others

bigger and deeper

Dave and Shirley

Heading home

The trail towards Huard Lake is muddy and littered with many water filled holes.  Many have a solid bottom and really provide no challenge for the trucks however, there were a couple that were long and deep.  Still no challenge for the trucks but interesting none the less.  We finally get to Vimy Tower Hill and the top of a long greasy hill.  We are headed down and the slickness of the mud should provide a bit more challenge.  As it turned out, it was a relative easy decent and we stopped by the bridge for a pic of the beaver lodge.  It has been there for several years now and I can't help but be a bit envious of the location of this lodge.  It is nestled in this wonderful little valley and is surrounded by water and forest.  Now what more could one ask for.  Peace and Beauty - Wow!!

Vimy Tower Road - heading down the greasy long hill

beaver lodge at the bottom of the hill

We eventually hook back up to the grid and head home, but not before Dave takes us on another obscure trail which eventually spits us out onto 8 mile trail.  I think we now have some forest pinstripping on the jeep!!  When we first accessed this trail, we let Hogan out and he ran for a good mile.  He certainly got his exercise for the day!!
With the final beverage stop over with, we headed back into Leoville and home.  Back at the bus, John started a campfire and we sat around it for an hour or so before it was time to start supper.  I had put some sweet and sour pork into the slow cooker earlier so it was more than ready.  All I had to do was quickly stir fry some vegetables and cook some rice.  It was delicious.
We watched some TV to end the day then it was time for me to get my beauty rest.
All in all, it was another great day spent with good friends and having fun making memories.