IT IS NOW MAY!!

I have been delinquent, or lazy, and have let this blog fall way behind. Catching up is always difficult, and sometimes impossible. So what I will do is post the most recent thing we are doing — at the moment actually. Then I may add a post or two with mainly photos of any interesting things I/we have done or seen.

OK, so this weekend is for Susan to learn more about Spey casting at this event “Speypalooza” sponsored by Trout Unlimited. She has dragged me along with the promise of a bike ride, weather permitting.

Arriving on Friday, the day before the event, we had good enough weather for that ride. Our first sighting was to reinforce that Spring is here — baby calf sighting.

Speypalooza being held in Rockport at Howard Miller Steelhead Park, we would do out “eagle” ride loop around the Skagit River. This is a loop we have done a few times with the Rainbows, and have stayed at the bunny cabins in Marblemount, so I had a lot of reminiscing moments throughout the ride.

Let us not pass by any kind of stand without Susan needing to investigate. Not much here at the unmanned “Flowers and More” stand A few bath salts and some homemade earrings. All of no interest to this shopper.

Soon we were rolling into the town of Marblemount where the memories came flooding in. The trail side church right next to the Trail Sign. We Rainbows have hiked the trail and examined the church in the past as well.

We did not drive up into the mountains and through the “Alps” but have been there often.

Years ago (too many to count) Susan and I did a bike tour across Washington state, traversing those American Alps, and stopped for a night at the funky Inn with rolling wooden floors! That Inn has been renovated and is still in business. Here we saw this geezer packed up for his mountain trek.

Moving on to cross the river on a one way bridge, we continued on the second half of today’s trip on the more inland part of the route.

This cabin looks almost idyllic except is has empty spaces where windows and doors should be – long ago apparently rotted out. But a sweet location.

Farm buildings at the foot of the mountains is epic.

This would bring us to the end of our cycling day. A bit of melancholy as well as wonderful rememberances of great times with great friends as we enjoyed our short tour around Marblemount and Rockport.