Two Days of Canoeing

Since Dave was off most of this week, we got to go on a few Expotitions. Tuesday we loaded the canoe on the truck and headed off to canoe at a place called Reservoir Lake. Dave had seen it when he first started working for the Beaverhead/DeerLodge Forest Service and said how beautiful it was and I was really excited to check it out.

Our truck all ready to go

Reservoir Lake--I love the lily pads!

Once we got there, we were extremely dismayed to learn that the campground and boat launch were closed due to spraying for pine beetles. I was happy to learn that they were spraying, but so sad because we couldn't canoe there! Well, I suppose we could have launched the canoe elsewhere and gone ahead, but I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of us being exposed to the spray. So we drove a little further into the forest and roasted our hot dogs anyway.

Jed eating squash

We discovered that Jed loves pork and beans. LOVES them. Mmmmmm.

Our sweet happy sitter. After we got done with our hot dog roast, we decided to keep going on the road that winds through the forest and see where we came out.

One of the many little valleys we saw on our jaunt

Great Gray owl--what a beauty!

What you see in the distance that looks like water is actually tons of camas flowers in bloom. When Meriwether Lewis first saw them, he wrote that the members of the Corps of Discovery thought they were ponds. So gorgeous!

Camas flower, up close and personal (I think this might be the best picture I have ever taken).

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So our canoeing trip on Tuesday was foiled. We had a beautiful, relaxing drive and came away with a renewed determination to get our canoe in the water! Accordingly, Thursday we set out to a different lake (since they were spraying at Reservoir lake until today). This time we went north to a lake called Browne's Lake, where we went with my family when they were visiting.

Dave and Jed, modeling his life jacket. What a stud!

Definitely a sailor--Jed all comfy in the bottom of the canoe.

Jed loved the motion of the canoe in the water but wasn't a huge fan of his life jacket. It doesn't allow him to sit up or lay down comfortably, so he cried. A lot. It was a good thing we were the only ones on the lake, or we might have been accused of child abuse. I grabbed Jed and held him for a while so he could have a break.

Beautiful Browne's Lake

We finally got out when it started to rain. We had a great time paddling around and watching the fish raise. Jed even stopped crying and started enjoying himself, until his head got wedged between the bottom of the canoe and my seat. Poor guy! Anyway, we learned what not to do next time we go!

After we got done canoeing, we roasted more hot dogs and hung out for a while.

Jed loved chewing on a stick he found. Tasty.

Yummy moss...

On the way out, we stopped to look at the flowers and saw some really beautiful ones.

Syringa, which is the state flower of Idaho and smells heavenly!

I can't remember the exact name of this one (Brother Baird would kill me!) but it is incredibly rare in Montana and Idaho. It's something like Prickley Evening Star... Ooh! Anyway, this flower is so cool because it only blooms at night. That's why the blossoms are all curled up (it reminds me of the flower in Mr. Wilson's yard in the Dennis the Menace movie).

Prickly pear blossoms

We were almost out of the canyon when we looked over and there was a cow moose with her calf! They just stood there and looked at us for a while, then moseyed off into the willows. I love to see them--they're so gawky!

Such a cute little guy! We had so much fun and I was really glad that we went, even if it is a hassle loading and unloading the canoe and Jed hates his life jacket. We always make great memories and we love spending time together as a family!