This morning’s sunrise paddle session was short: it was breezy and cold! I was really glad to have kept my favorite sweater in my dry bag, because I couldn’t have gone out on the water without it. Even so, it was chilly, and I was scared of falling into that cold water.

Checking in from this sunrise paddle session. It was a beautiful, absolutely calm morning on the lake today.

I’ve been on the lake on a borrowed stand-up paddleboard several times this long vacation week, and loved it. This morning was perfect weather, compared with my first trip a few days ago when it was so windy. I’m a believer; ordered my own board today!

For lots of reasons we look forward to our first big monsoon storm of the year, and it arrived yesterday – a heavy hours-long rain that made this spray of daisies and other annual wildflowers even more brilliant.

I hear it’s Micro.blog happy hour. Or, if it wasn’t, well it is now. This is Chateau Americana, a Trappist style pale ale from one of my town’s many fine microbreweries, Wanderlust Brewing Co.

Enjoying my coffee while finishing up some ink sampling. I love these oranges. I think the Noodler’s Habanero might be my favorite, but that Fuyu-gaki is lovely and vibrant.

Morning supply / evening supply

Pine trees and sunrise 🌄

Hammock, morning bird sounds, coffee. This is a nice way to start today.

I had a nice ride on the bike first thing this morning. It was a cold start – 38ºF! – and beautiful early morning to be in the woods: Elk, a couple of rabbits, and lots of birds were out there starting their days, too. I hadn’t been up the steep Woody Mountain climb for a while! It’s still there; still steep.