Heading home from Ely.

Sorry we forgot to post this last week but on Sunday, we packed up the bread box to head back home. We had such a nice time with Gramma and Grampa, but we do like to get back home after being away.

We stopped in Brule to stretch our legs at
the After Hours Trails and look who was there!

It's Trish Evans, with Jasper and Juniper!

Juniper can tell I love little girls.

We had so much fun meeting the Evans gang (minus Bob).
Maybe they will come visit the Copper Country now that
they've moved back to Trish's home town.

Then Lunch break at the Ashland pocket park.

Arly spied this bar and chain someone left behind in the Gazebo.

Then we swung over to hike the trail
to Wildcat Falls, near Watersmeet.

This 1 1/2 mile lollypop trail was rather nice.

It was rough and rugged, but marked.

The falls of course weren't much, with our
exceptionally dry summer.

They were great for taking a dip though!

Trail mutts like drinking from streams with waterfalls.

We spied this cedar with north-facing moss.

What a nice way to end a long weekend.

At home, I was ready to come in and take a nap.

Ely trip post II

We're having such a fun time at Gramma and Grampa's up in Ely!

Oh ya, Grampa scratches us both at once.

Nothing like live leathery foot to bite!

She decided I could use some grooming. I didn't mind.

Then they enjoyed touching my soft, luxurious, curly coat.

After birthday supper Grampa got a special surprise!

Grampa! I like cake too ya know. Gee whiz we didn't get any.

Later, guess who came over for a visit?

Its Holley!  Who lives next door.

And we went to go see Danny. They are the best neighbors!

Holley stopped by the next day too.

Then we got out for a hike! We went to the
USFS Fall Lake campground and rec area to 
hike the Stub Lake trail.

Sure is looking like fall up here.

The first part of the trail had been recently maintained.

When we got to the board walk, it started raining.

Now out to the creek that feeds the little lake.

Then at the end, we gaze at the creek and swamp.
We had a nice little romp here today.

Ely trip!

With Grampa's birthday on September 3rd and Labor Day on the 6th, the 2-leggeds took a few days off so we could go up to Ely and help celebrate!

I'm wondering about what could be going on
but SOMETHING must be happening.

While older dogs just rub their snout in the coarse dry grass.

And west across the bottom of the lake we go.

We stopped to eat a picnic lunch at a favorite NFS
campground along US2. Wanoka, for anyone who's wondering.

We made it!

Breakfast on Friday.

Grampa! I like Cheerios too ya know. And milk.
But not bananas, you can finish those.

Ya we're ready to celebrate Grampa's big day.

First off, we can hunt the squirrel together!
Grampa likes to cheat and use the pellet gun.

We'll all keep an eye out.

Old dogs don't mind staying close by.

While younger ones appreciate getting out!

We went for a romp at Hidden Valley again,
to check the progress on the new mountain bike trails.

They have spruce bud worm here too.

Things continue to shape up.

Oh hey! We got to meet one of the trail crew.

He let me jump up in the cab!

Oh ya, you must be the friendliest trail builder around.

Lotsa rocks, such a surprise....