It was around 10:30 when we were finally out on the ride to the lake. So as not to have to climb the super steep hill we cross the highway a few times to ride up the more gentle incline. There is minimal traffic as well.

We rode into the south end of the park and along the trails to the main area. HOLY SHIT was the lake packed. Every [parking spot was filled and there was people ALL OVER.

We rode around the lake and on the north end I caught the garder snake as as it slithered across the path. It was about 2 feet long and pretty mellow.

The new docks are really nice for fishing and every one was filled to overflowing with people.

Back out the south end of the park to ride back to the house and nicely there is minimal uphill, it's mostly all downhill. Riding the west side back goes down the really steep hill we didn't ride up which almost always gets the top speed on the bike.

We were home for a little while when another storm cell came through and dumped rain for a bit before pushing off to the ne.

After the storm passed and the sun came out again I was walking past the raspberry plants and noticed a MASS of bumblebees.

They were all over the flowers and at least 20 of them were blipping between the flowers. Their fat asses would grab the small flower and the whole branch would dip under their weight. They all looked like the same type so might all be from the same nest.

It was mid afternoon and the rain had passed and the clouds were parting nicely. I grabbed my hand saw and went for the hike up the hill. I was dead when I got to the top, after the prior 7 days of activity my legs were torched.

But the point of the hike was to start clearing my launch site for my paraglider.

The flowers are all blooming nicely in the clearing.

So in order to launch I will have to have the trees cut down along the edge of the hill. The hand saw worked really well as I climbed along the edge cutting them as I went.

It took about 20 minutes to cut them down and my body was trashed. I had eaten when we got back from the ride but I could tell I was in a serious calorie deficiency and found myself stumbling around a bit as I hauled the trees.

The wind even was PERFECT and I did a number of visualizations of pulling my wing up, turning, and launching off the edge.

I removed a lot of the taller trees but still have a number that will have to come down. Then down the hill towards the highway are two tall dead topped deciduous that I will take down at some point. There are a bunch of branches in the tall pine trees behind me that I will have to trim out so the wing won't get snagged on them. The next day with possible winds is Thursday so I will be sure to be up there kiting.

This is what I will be flying. The 100 foot tall face that goes south for a mile from the farm. If the winds are right then that south end of the ridge could be super good lift. My true goal is one day to see our bald eagles begin to thermal up and I go launch and join them as we spin up over the farm.

Back down at the house I was destroyed and had no desire to much of anything. We ordered food and I was able to drive us up to pick it up. We ate on the deck in the nice evening sun.

Soaking was super good and very needed. The muscle relaxer did the job and I got better sleep last night.

Today I have my chiro appointment, the boys go back to school, I have to work in the gardens, work on my launch site, cut grass, then this afternoon/evening is our first meeting for the likely new Chewelah Flying club that I will go to up in Chewelah.

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