Went to Boulder

The other day Matt, Tara and I went on a hike with Tara' friend Art and his dog Mocha. It began about 5 min. from home in the valley, but we were into black bear country in an hour. We saw so much bear scat that we must have been walking right through the bear in the area's bathroom. In fact, we diverged from the trail and followed what must have been bear trails because the grasses were matted down, but not worn to the dirt and the scat followed the beaten down weeds so we kept stepping over it. Tara and I got off the "path" to water the vegetation and found a bunch of bones. They looked like they were part of a large animal's back bone and scapula.

We hiked to the top of a foothill and bushwacked our way down. Art is not a big believer in established trails so I don't know if I can duplicate our hike. I was pretty wrecked after the hike. Going down a steep hill on no trail beat up my knees and ankles. It was cured soon after lunch at a Mexican restaurant with the best salsa I have ever had. Yes, salsa cures sore joints- but only if there is plenty of cilantro.

Yesterday Tara, Matt, Joseph and I went to Boulder. It took just over a half an hour and was a beautiful drive. We ate lunch and window shopped on Pearl street, a pedestrian area full of shops and restaurants. I found the greatest shop called Two Hands Paperie. They sold hand made stationary, cards, paper, sealing wax and seals, books on paper cafts...heaven. It was the kind of store I would open, but mine would also have yarn and coffee.

We had a really nice day and after eating dessert twice and talking to a neighborhood cat, came home.