Swim Holes

It's proven to be a more milder season with colder temperatures than previous years in the month of June. With more snow melt, the reservoirs are deeper. To our delight, Silver Creek has a couple of cool water falls going this year!

The water was so cold at Silver Creek we had to wear life jackets to go out in the middle. Willow played in the mud while the rest of us used various flotation devices.....

I was able to take Deb out on the paddle board which was a lot of fun!

Then we picked up another passenger, Nomi!

If you can't reach me at home ...... this is how I want to spend my summer. On the paddle board with views of mountains.

On another day we tried out Garrison Reservoir. The levels of the water were the best I've seen in years. We are so delighted! The water wasn't ice cold either which made it nice for actual swimming ;)

I took Deb around the lake on the paddle board. So relaxing. Then Ben took a turn. He'll be a pro in no time :)

Spending time on the water, now it's starting to feel like summer.

Osceola Ditch Trail Via Strawberry Creek

Ben was interested in seeing Strawberry Creek after the fire. I mentioned taking the Osceola Ditch Trail to get there. Bryan dropped us off and we began our 5.3 mile adventure. This hike was a first for me, at least taking it all the way to Strawberry Creek. I was excited. It was also high elevation which made it challenging for Ben and Deb, who live in Ohio. We would take it easy. Most of the trail didn't provide much shade, but we took advantage of the wooded, riparian sections to take a breather. Again the water coming off the mountain is greater in volume this year. I think we picked a wonderful year to do this hike.

We entered the burned forest stands of Strawberry Creek. A super bloom of balsam root flowers were spread out underneath the black limbs of the trees as far as our eyes could see. We were surrounded by my favorite color: yellow!

"Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay 
My, oh, my, what a wonderful day" 

Periods of clouds and occasional breeze was a relief in the leaf-less forest. Chard pine cones still clung to branches.

Wildflowers didn't disappoint on this trip:

As we exited the burned trees and made a stronger descent ~ we encountered more open spaces and snow!

 Again, yellow bouquets of flowers were present all the way to the parking lot where Bryan would be there to pick us up. It made me think of the meadow in the movie "Sound of Music." I hummed it in my head.