OF GEOCACHES, RAIN, AND DOGS

We awoke to a chilly (54) and unsettled-looking spring day. We took our time packing and loading the Dakota. Mike checked on our trees, all of which are evidently enjoying this spell of cool, wet weather. We left the farm about 9:30 and came back Hwy 95 so that we could stop at Winchester State Park and pick up a few geocaches. The first one was easy -- right at a parking area -- but from there we hiked a mile on a trail to an interesting spot where a huge granite boulder is located. The dogs so enjoyed the outing. If we walked two miles, Nellie must have run five. It began to rain as we hiked back to the pick-up. The last geocache was on the other side of the lake. By the time we parked it was raining in earnest, so Mike hiked the .3 miles to that site by himself while the rest of us waited. (He wore the rain poncho he traded out of a geocache.)

We took Duke to his house. He seemed pleased to be home, we thought. His master will arrive tonight. Coming on to our house, I was surprised to see my beans and zucchini are up and our gardens blooming. [Somehow this photo just doesn't do it justice.]

When we travel with Duke and Nellie, we don't have room for two kennels. As a rule, Duke rides in his kennel and Nellie rides along on a blanket or pillow, though she also prefers to be confined. When Mike opened the pick-up for them after our hike, Nellie hopped into the kennel and refused to get out, so Mike let her ride there and Duke rode on the blanket. Here's a photo taken this afternoon of one very tired Nellie.