H2o Is On Tap

Perfecting the belly flop is humbling.

White on Rice.

Homo-sapiens appear so evolved but at the end of the day it is often pure instinct driving us onward. The persistence of the drought in the Southwest and frankly the brown grass and dead trees spanning for miles near our home, has me yearning for water and mountain meadows with knee high GREEN grass. Eric and Gavin, similarly evolved, although slightly less than their savvy female housemate, wife and Mother, are also urged North toward the same end: water, green trees, flowers in bloom and Swedish family gathered around the small circumference of Pigeon Lake in Alberta Canada. Yes, we continue to evolve, but their is nothing like a primal URGE to get you moving toward water, lots and lots of water.

Ness Working Her Guns.

Believe he will be a circus tightrope walker.

Eric and Gavin departed today for two  weeks of Canadian adventures, first in the City of Edmonton and then onto Vasa Camp with literally dozens of welcoming relatives. Gavin, will eat, craft, sing and live Sweden for one week, learning about the culture defining the maternal side of Eric's family. We felt fortunate to be able to send him again this year in an annual attempt to keep him grounded in his roots and lineage. 
Similarly, I am returning to my roots, as I embark on a ten-day tour of Oregon to backpack, mountain bike, visit our most precious neighbors and a few of Portland's breweries. I have not been home in many years' and it is far overdue. My Brother, Phil, and likely one of his sons' are accompanying me into the Eagle Cap Wilderness, which abounds with mountain goats, elk and you guessed it WATER....lakes...(there are more than 50!) Expect pictures from both of these excellent adventures and enjoy the ones taking below of our first taste of lake water at Bottomless Lakes. Suffice to say, we highly recommend it and will definitely return. (See tips below.)

Hiking the bluffs above Lea Lake. Pretty.

Eric hogging the tube.

Bottomless Lakes is a spring fed lake supplied by our aquifer, which is filled by the Sacramento mountain range. Clean, filled with fish and turtles, Lea Lake is exclusively for swimming, paddle boats and boards, (available to rent). Tent site and trailer hookups go fast so get there before Friday. Perfect for kids of all ages. The State Park was very clean as were the showers, bathrooms etc. If you want to fish you must visit one of the other 11 lakes down the road. All this just 25 minutes outside of Roswell. Tips: Bring your own shade so you can have more privacy off the beach, bring tubes or floats of some type, make reservations online early or plan to arrive on Thursday and take advantage of one of the 15 sites that are not first come first serve. We used our new disc and Camp Chef Stove all weekend due to fire restrictions.