I walked at Spirit Lake with my friend Dan.

Spotted some new flowers along the way and some interesting fungi.

We started the day with a walk down river to the silos.

After breaking camp, I drove to the Visitor Center – mostly because it was on the other side of the river and you got to drive across the dam. Unfortunately you can’t take pictures on the dam.

Juvenile fish are diverted to a separate facility where they are counted and some are examined and, if necessary, treated. They are released down river after being transported by truck or barge. More information about the fish ladder is available here.

I drove to the Snake River to join friends camping at Boyer Park.

We walked up river toward Lower Granite Dam.

Later we walked to the beach and Woofy went for a swim. The day ended with Woofy zonked out at the campfire.

The day started with a walk in town with the Frontrunners. We bypassed the park because of Hoopfest, took the new walkway under the Monroe Bridge, walked down into Peaceful Valley, and then returned along the Centennial Trail.

With over 6000 teams and 450 courts on 45 city blocks, Hoopfest is the world’s largest 3on3 outdoor basketball tournament. Over the weekend, teams of all ages and abilities compete for awards and bragging rights.

This morning I joined a Meetup group to hike Mt Rathdrum Trail. It was a beautiful day on the trail.

Story Trail also starts here and is geared towards kids.

Flora

This evening I joined members of a Meetup group for a hike in the Post Falls Community Forest.

Mock orange was in abundance here, plus a few other flowers.

The maintenance on the Centennial Trail was completed while I was in San Diego and it reopened ahead of schedule. It was nice to get back on it.

This morning I hiked Noah’s Ark trail at sunrise. The trail was deserted and the weather was perfect. Some stretches are pretty narrow and others are gravelly, but I completed the hike without incident.

After the hike, I stopped by the Parowan Cafe.

Two of my cousins and I drove up to Brian Head and rode the ski lift.

Then we drove to Brian Head Peak.

We also made a couple stops at Cedar Breaks.

I stopped at Parowan Gap to see the petroglyphs and watch the sunset (summer solstice).

Sunrise at Bright Angel Point

Vista Encantata

Roosevelt Point

Walhalla Overlook

Angels Window

View from top of Angels Window

Cape Royal Trail

Hike to Cape Final

Point Imperial

Kaibab Plateau

Monday afternoon I decided to add a stay at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to the end of trip to Utah for my aunt’s 90th birthday. Yesterday the plan changed, so this morning I drove to the Grand Canyon.

On arrival I was greeted by bison on Kaibab Plateau.

The first thing I did was walk the Bright Angel Trail.

After settling in to my room, I spent more time on the trail returning once again to catch the sunset.

This morning I met a Meetup group to hike Oak Canyon – one of the trails in Mission Trails Park. It’s late in the season for wildflowers, but we saw two mule deer (I couldn’t get a picture) and a horned lizard (aka hornytoad).

Today I walked around Mission Bay and along a section of the boardwalk in Mission Beach. The Least Terns are still nesting on West Ski Island.

The marine layer hadn’t burned off over the ocean but there were lots of people celebrating Father’s Day.

Trick bike riders were out showing their moves.

Belmont Park was hosting a car show.

The parking lot at Sea World is home to a family of Osprey.

I went back to La Jolla this morning to view the last eight murals on walking tour. (Part 1)

Murals of La Jolla is a private organization that commissions artists to create art for display on public buildings in La Jolla. Some pieces are painted on the buildings, but the majority are printed on 16’ wide sheets of vinyl and installed in frames on the sites.

Information about the pieces is available here.

The Death of Petronius is installed at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in what is now the Ocean View Dining Room.

I also had time for a little sightseeing.

Today my Meetup group walked at the River Park between the San Diego River and SDSU’s new arena. This was the site of Qualcomm/Jack Murphy Stadium.

Most of us stayed after the hike for a sack lunch and a chat.

Today I met a Meetup group at the Visitor Center to hike the trails at the park. We walked by the memorial, then took the Bayside trail.

We popped into the lighthouse, then stopped for sack lunches at the Kelp Forest and Whale Overlook.

Then we took the newly opened Ocean Side Trail down to the tide pools.

Lots of the usual (Lemonade Berry, Buckwheat, Datura, Sage, California Broom and Wild Cucumber) plus a few unique plants.

I joined a Meetup group for an evening hike at the Torrey Pines State Park Extension.

Mostly buckwheat, Datura and other typical flowers tonight, plus a few wild cucumber.

This morning I hiked the Torrey Pines Marsh Trail. My plan for a Meetup hike was altered by a dead battery – I left the lights on. This hike has been on my bucket list, so I didn’t mind crossing it off.

Plus, you turn around at Torrey Pines State Beach, so what’s not to like?

Coming back on the same trail can give you a new perspective.

It’s getting close to rattlesnake season, so I kept my eyes peeled and caught sight of some lizards basking in the sun and was surprised to spot some crabs.

I saw some of the usual plants but a few new ones as well.

I did make to Balboa Park this evening for a walk with a Meetup group.

Today I joined a Meetup group to hike to Potato Chip Rock, going up a new route for me.

And coming down the fire across road.

Lots of flowers today, especially Chaparral Yucca.

Today after lunch I hiked from the Nature Center to Balboa Ave and back.

Lots of wildflowers and wildlife (especially fence lizards and hawks) today.