In mid July I took advantage of a cheap camping trip to Decorah and did some riding with my CR friends. I love the town of Decorah. Great trails, great town, and great campgrounds.
Now that's a fat tire.
Ken giving the Pugsley a whirl
The next weekend found the Kehrt family in Clear Lake for a week with my folks and my sister Sara's family. We rode a little of RAGBRAI but mostly just hung out together, played some golf, and had a few beers. We did manage to get out in the boat a few times. Ellen and our niece Emerson played in the baby pool a little and went to the beach. Emerson was nice enough to share her floatie with Mara and Ellen. We also visited Lime Creek Nature Center which has been on my radar for a while.
Emerson and Ellen playing in the pool.
Just like her mother would, Mara stayed clear of any chance that she could be splashed by her sister or cousin.
Mara and Ellen are perfectly at home on hiking trails. Here they are showing Grampa and Gramma the ropes.
To cap off the trip, we went for a ride on the storied Lady of the Lake. An old paddle wheel boat. Mara being the wuss she is, wanted to stay on the lower deck while the rest of us stayed upstairs on the top deck.
Ellen and Grampa and Gramma on the Lady of the Lake
We came home that Saturday, and everyone seemed happy to be there. We all had a nice visit, but it's always good to be home after being gone for a while. I'm sure Grampa and Gramma welcomed a quiet home that evening as well. When we did get home, Mara took comfort in her coloring books while Ellen and I filled up the ol' swimming pool. She got thirsty after playing hard and while I was adding more water to the pool at her request, she picked the hose up out of the water and took a drink ol' farmer style. I thought my Grampa Thompson would enjoy seeing that so I told her to do it again and I snapped a pic.
We came home that Saturday, and everyone seemed happy to be there. We all had a nice visit, but it's always good to be home after being gone for a while. I'm sure Grampa and Gramma welcomed a quiet home that evening as well. When we did get home, Mara took comfort in her coloring books while Ellen and I filled up the ol' swimming pool. She got thirsty after playing hard and while I was adding more water to the pool at her request, she picked the hose up out of the water and took a drink ol' farmer style. I thought my Grampa Thompson would enjoy seeing that so I told her to do it again and I snapped a pic.
Ellen drinking out of the Garden hose.
Mara keeping to the indoors while she recovers from a nasty ear infection.
After I put the spray nozzle back on the hose, Ellen got a hold of it. I couldn't get out of the way quick enough. She thought this game was pretty funny.
Get Daddy!!!!!
This weekend was fairly relaxing. I got out and rode a little, did a little volunteering for my bike club, and spent some time at home with Stacey and the girls. Mara and I hung out by the firepit for a while on Saturday night. She really seems to like this and it's one of my favorite ways to relax. She eats smores, I drink beer. Works out well for us.
Mara and I solving the world's problems.
Last and certainly least, good ol' Josey is seen below here getting about as excited as she gets outside of a ringing doorbell, a passing dog (only at Clear Lake though), a rabbit, or Grandma Ritter. She just doesn't let much bother her these days. Not even Stacey resting a stuffed cat on her head while she naps.
Fat Beagle.
The next post I hope to get some more pics of Stacey in here. It's not that I don't want more pics of her nor do I not want you to see more pics of her, she just seems to be usually on the taking side of the camera.
Until then raise your pint glasses up and keep your tires on the ground.
