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Tag Archives: Methow photography

A Fine Day for a Foot Race and a Parade

Today there were at least two noteworthy events in the Methow; well I’m quite sure there were more – I only got to these two!

MVSTA had its 32nd annual Sunflower Relay – a marathon lenth race that can be run by iron men and women OR teams of two to seven runners. I helped with bibs and at one of the aid stations. It was a fine morning to run from Mazama to Twisp through the forest and over the balsamroot covered hills! All the participants seemed happy and full of energy.

Later I stopped in Winthrop and took in the 49ers Days Parade. This parade features more horses than any other parade in Washington State. I think the numbers were a little down this year however there were MORE Roller Girls and I think maybe more bikes than usual.

It was a beautiful day to enjoy the Methow whatever activity a person was doing!

 

 The runners go through lots of dixie cups full of water and power aid.

 

This team dressed the part for the Sunflower Relay!

 

The Candy Man is a fixture in this parade. I’ve heard that his coat weighs over 30 pounds!

 

Here’s Julie leading a gang of young Methow bikers.

 

And the Methow Roller Girls gave demos of the sport of Roller Derby!

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Open

Today Highway 20 across the North Cascades opened for the summer season. It’s been closed since last November. In recent weeks people have been riding bikes up it, enjoying the traffic-free sunny days as they grind up the mountain. At noon, all that changed. The sound of Harley’s filled the air and RV’s trudged through town. It’s good for business but it does change the way of life in Winthrop and Mazama. For the first time ever, I decided to drive up on opening day to see the big cut snowbanks and enjoy the mountain air. But first, Luna and I went for a bike ride at Big Valley, where just weeks ago, we were skiing!

Ok, maybe it was nearly two months ago but it doesn’t seem like that long since we were skiing here.

 

Luna enjoyed the clear cold water of the Methow

 

The river is running a little high, much higher than in the winter

 

Not too high for swimming

 

This bike rider was enjoying the long hill climb as his wife drove the route, photographing him.

 

Liberty Bell from that same spot

And she made my picture too.

 

 

 

On the Road Again

Luna and I are on the road to visit friends in Montana. Today was a gorgeous day to be on the road with enormous fluffy clouds and blue skies for background. Many raptors everywhere we went. Bald Eagles, kestrels, ospreys and more.  I could have spent the whole day birding and making images!

First stop – the Carlton Store

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The Columbia River at Pateros

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See that marmot teasing Luna?

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Chief Joseph dam

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Douglas County

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Grand Coulee dam

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Great clouds

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Cool blind for bird watching at Reardan Ponds

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Welcome to Idaho

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Lots of water in Idaho. That is a road. It is next to the very cool rails to trails project – the trail of the Coeur d Alenes

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Looks like a person could still ne skiing at Lookout Pass

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The Clark Fork, a tributary of the Columbia

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Wildflowers on our Hillside

I managed to get in one wildflower walk last week after the big rain. Everything was sweet smelling and lush with new growth. Lots of birds and insects to amuse the ears and eyes and pollinate the flowers too. This is the time of year when change happens constantly as the hillsides become more green with new grass, the flowers add color and the light changes all day long. Spring is a time of renewal for all of the senses.

 

Balsamroot

 

Waterleaf

 

Lupine – waiting for sunshine and warmth before it shows us its lavendar petals

 

Shooting Star

 

More Balsamroot

 

Serviceberry bushes have covered the hillsides with their white flowers like frosting on a cake!

 

A honey bee on a waterleaf. Another portrait of this bee may be seen at my other blog.

 

Leaves of a Bitterroot grow and disappear before the delicate flowers appear.

 

Never too much Balsamroot

Ken’s New Bees

I know, I keep flipping between vacation posts and life here at home but, you know what? Life’s Everyday Photos just never quit. There’s always something interesting happening. Look around you.

Ken’s new bees arrived early, while we were in Florida so our friends Don and Mary who had volunteered to mentor Ken in his first year of beekeeping, took them in til we returned. Last Friday Ken and Don brought them up here and yesterday they opened up the hives to see how they were doing.

 

The crew – all dressed up with someplace to go, bees buzzing around them

 

Lifting the first frame from the first hive. Look – no gloves.

 

A good sign – the bees have been busy.

 

An extra dab of comb from the feeder area

 

He likes this.

 

Examining a drone. They have no stinger.

 

The second hive

 

Is that the queen?

 

We need a better look.

 

So far, so good.

 

He wanted a new facebook image

 

Buttoning things up