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Tag Archives: Winthrop

Back in the Boat Again

Last week there were several good weather days and twice I managed to get my kayak in the water. Last year I hardly used it due to persistent lower back pain from gardening. I am trying to really take care of my back this year with more yoga and being very aware of how I move when I am carrying heavy stuff and trying to get help when I can. So far, so good for the most part. Of course with kayaking there is the business of getting the boat on and off the car to take it to the lakes. That worried me. I was able to do it and paddle two days in a row and I am happy to report that I didn’t have any pain! What a relief. Here’s hoping it stays that way all summer. Here are some highlights from two lakes near Winthrop.

Patterson Lake is my favorite

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Interesting rock formations

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Non-native trees line one end next to hay fields

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Last year’s cottonwood leaf

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Folks keep adding to this lakeside sculpture

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You can tell from the line on the rocks that the lake is not yet full

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These trees died after the lake level was raised some years ago. Now the snags are good habitat for nesting swallows and other birds.

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Red-necked Grebe

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Pair of Wood Ducks

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Patterson Mountain reflected in Patterson Lake

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More reflections near the boat launch

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At Pearrygin Lake State Park, it’s still cold for swimming

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A pair of Mallards

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The hen decided to go her own way

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The drake had to fly to catch up with her

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4 Bufflehead ducks

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They didn’t like me or the motorboat approaching from the other side

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Pearrygin is a pretty warm lake with different vegetation types.

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The reeds make nice reflections

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This float had broken away from its moorings

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In addition to motorboats, I saw this stand up paddler and a rowing scull

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Killdeer on a mud flat

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The mouth of Pearrygin Creek. This creek ‘blew out’ two years ago, resulting in flooding in the state park and the loss of this boat launch. They say that the state will replace it.

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There are LOTS of Yellow-rumped Warblers out and about these days.

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And Osprey are commonly seen above any water that might have fish in it. There were lots of newly-planted trout for the next day’s fishing season opener.

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Spring Skiing

MVSTA is still grooming the ski trails and their website says they will keep going til at least next weekend. The snow is getting thin in places but the weather is great and the birds are singing and it’s a good time to be out. Yesterday I enjoyed a ski on the Community Trail between Winthrop and Mazama – some of it along the river. The American Dippers are singing their little hearts out! Also chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers and lots of others are busy claiming their territory. It’s hard to believe that in just a couple of months these woods will be full of the sounds of warblers, redstarts, veeries and vireos. That’s one way to mark changes of the seasons.

 

Approaching the Goat Creek crossing

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Goat Peak looms above the seasonaly low Methow River. In June it will be full, bank to bank.

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The clearest water you’ve ever seen. No place for fish to hide.

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The suspension bridge is always a favorite stopping place

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Old cottonwoods

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A side channel. I’ve seen a Northern Pygmy Owl here several times this winter. Not yesterday though.

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This cottonwood forest provides wonderful songbird habitat in the spring and summer.

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Doggie Dash 2013

The Doggie Dash is one event that I look forward to every year. What do I like about it? Winter – I love this season. Dogs – do I even need to remind you? Skiing – my favorite outdoor activity. And it’s a light-hearted event – folks don’t take it seriously. Well, most folks don’t. It’s tons of fun. One person remarked that her face hurt afterwards – from smiling and laughing!

 

Getting to know you

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Wyatt Ann wonders “why am I dressed up like this and why are we here? Jennifer doesn’t really like to ski so much.”

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It’s the iEverything team. iPoop and iPickup with their matching iPods and headphones. And all made out of duct tape.

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You can’t make me

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Batman and Robin await the costume parade before the big race

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Daisy waits patiently

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Heck

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Sweet girl

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“Excuse me? You are trying to rent me out to some poor skier without a dog? Are you kidding? Maybe you need to get a another job!”

(people who live in the Methow are known to work more than one job in order to stay here)

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Richard is trying to avert the dreaded costume malfunction while Trip works on his game face.

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Great Owl costume.

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Kristen spent most of the morning explaining her costume. She’s a fork in the road – should she ski or bike? Or maybe play with her dog? Again, a costume created from duct tape.

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Princess Leia and Yota in the costume parade

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Lynnette – where did you get those leggings?

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Frida and the Tufted Puffin

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Going upstream?

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The kids’ race is first!

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It’s a hard-fought contest between Batman and Robin and the Two Grooms!

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Batman lunges ahead

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And the rest of the wedding party follows

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And then it’s time for the adult racers with small dogs

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Heaven and Heck are filmed for the Methow Grist

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And now the big dog race. There are several heats.

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Molly tries to stay in the race without Lynnette

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Some racers are more competitive

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This dog is very competitive

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Stitch and Lelo are in it for fun!

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I was rooting for the doodle!

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This looks like a fast team

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And in the final heat, they have to go around two laps. This is the backstretch of the first lap.

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In the second lap, the poodle pulls ahead

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To win it at the finish

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There was a contest for the runner up position

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The race winner – a poodle from Leavenworth.

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And the costume winner, also from out of town. He was channeling the late Bing Crosby and stayed in character the whole morning. Here he is, holding his dog and the much-coveted traveling trophy – the Golden Poodle!

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This fun event is sponsored by the Methow Valley Nordic Club. All proceeds benefit dogs and cats in need.

 

 

Rusty Blue Truck

This rusty blue truck has seen better days. I imagine it could tell you some stories. Now it’s a tourist attraction.

 

 

Mid-Summer Images

It’s hard to believe that July is already more than half over. Before we know it, fall will be here and we will be thinking about skiing again! But for now, the weather is very summery. Hot days interupted by exciting thunder storms. The storms have produced quite a bit of rain and even hail. The rain’s been good for garden crops; the hail is probably hard on the fruit trees.

 

Grass seedheads are starting to dry and turn gold.

Serviceberries are very ripe. Our dogs enjoy a serviceberry snack on a walk.

 

Sockeye salmon season is in full swing on the Columbia. Here Ken is showing off a fillet from one of the beautiful fish he caught this week. This fish is sushi quality.

 

The tourist town of Winthrop is full of dogs and kids and others seeking respite from either the heat or the thunderstorms or looking for refreshment and shopping opportunities!

 

Lots of motorcycles in town too. The Rhythm and Blues Festival is this weekend.

 

Winthrop reflection

 

At home, raspberries need to be picked, again.

 

First canned food of the summer

 

And look! The first ripe tomato!