Stampede Parade

The Pipe band didn't perform this year so we were right at the beginning of the parade.  Their was light rain, but not too bad.

Crazy Ant Trail

Last week a Scout Island Naturalist trip out to a new bike trail built by the Soda Creek Band was cancelled due to Thundershowers, so our intrepid Wednesday walkers group thought we'd check it out on our own.

The trail goes down from the old (closed) Soda Creek Emporium past the village and down to the Fraser River near X'atsull Heritage Village.   We set up a shuttle so we wouldn't have to hike back uphill.

While setting up the shuttle we stopped at a fabulous viewpoint overlooking the heritage village.  See the reconstructed potholes in the right forefront of the photo?

It turned out to be a very easy 40 minute downhill walk with great views to the river, nice wildflowers, and we saw quite a few birds so it would have made a great naturalist hike.  We detoured around the bike stunts!  We probably should have walked back uphill to get a bit more exercise.  It's been a rainy June so, of course, the mosquitos were out in force!

We were rewarded with this view

The intrepid walkers check out the view

Elusive Bobolink Bagged!

Photo courtesy of Kris Andrews

Ever since Leo retired in 2012 we've been going out to Missioner Road to look for bobolinks.  Every June local birders report that the're nesting along the San Jose River near the Mission Ranch, but we've never found them.

Williams Lake is at the north end of their range and this is the only place they can be found near town.

Then last year Leo spotted one while out running.  Finally a few weeks ago I heard a characteristic blackbird-like call, and sure enough it was a male bobolink.

Birder Kris Andrews was also out so we pointed her to its location and she got this great shot.

Bike Trip to the Fraser River

We rode our bikes down the Creek Valley to the Fraser River.  First time on the tandem in 2 years!  It was fun except for the mosquitos. Note pants tucked in socks.

Recent Performances

Cariboo Gold at the Senior's village and at Pops in the Park (videos on Facebook)

Williams Lake Community Band Spring Concert in the Park (video on Facebook)

Busy June

We've been busy all June (especially Leo), selling hotdogs and icecream to raise money for ALS.

Sunflower Splendour

In late May we drove out to the Junction Sheep Reserve to see the blooming balsamroot.  I might say this every year, but it did seem like this was the most spectacular bloom yet!

Leo and Mark went for a run and Leah and I walked.

Dos Amigos

In a few places the larkspur were starting to bloom:

On the lake again

Margaret Ann and Lady joined us for another paddle on Williams Lake a week after our inaugural ride.  We haven't gotten any more efficient at putting our Klepper together, but we did have more padding so the seats were more comfortable.