Snow in July

A handsome but testy badger from the Historic Quarry Trail at Fossil Lake National Monument in Wyoming, and a peek at the still snowy (!) peaks of the mountains around Laramie. On July 4th, we managed to escape parades, fireworks, and children by driving through stunningly lonesome cattle ranches, a full moon casting its yellow light over the snow. After days of driving in 92 degree weather, we put our hands to the windows and felt cold glass. There was still snow by the side of the road, and fat, black and white magpies bouncing around in it.

Idahoan Curiosities

The world's biggest quail, just on the outskirts of Glenns Ferry, Idaho.

From the Road

Scenes from gorgeous Yachats, OR - official location of my Badger's special 30th birthday trip. A fresh water river meets the Pacific, a view from the top of Cape Perpetua, and yours truly getting blown around at the Devil's Churn. (No devils sighted, but lots of churning water!)

Meanwhile I'm blogging from a hotel in Burns, OR, at the beginning of a long journey across the country. We're Southward bound, but I must say the true pleasure of a trip like this is driving out of the verdant green of the Willamette Valley, past the Blue and McKenzie rivers, out into the desert of Western Oregon. Sagebrush land. We could smell it immediately, bringing back memories of Montana. Plus, the big, black pooch gets pretty darn excited in this kind of terrain. Excellent rabbit chasing and all.