What did you do today?

[Taffy]

Today Curtis King & his girlfriend, Laurie, Debbi & Eldon Otta & I hiked Horse Heaven Hills along the Columbia River in Benton County, WA.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_Heaven_Hills

There are breathtaking views everywhere you look.  From a distance most people think it looks barren and desolate.  When you are hiking it you see the huge variety of flora and fauna.

Here's a photo of one of the desert asters we saw today.


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In the below photo Curtis, Laurie and his goats were hiking far in the distance from us.  The photo looks like just a landscape photo until you zoom in and can see the hunter orange of their gear and Curtis' shirt.


   

Here is a photo of my 1 1/2 year old LaMancha, Bourbon.  In the background on the other side of the Columbia River you can see two basalt pillars.  This formation is called Twin Sisters. Geologists say the rock formation is the result of erosion from a great flood near the end of the last Ice Age, about 12,000 to 15,000 years ago.  A Cayuse legend states that the natural monument was formed when Coyote, an animal spirit, fell in love with three sisters, then became jealous of them and turned two into stone. The third was turned into a cave, says the legend.

   

When we stopped for lunch the goats wandered off around a basalt outcropping behind us and out of view.  We heard gunshots in the distance from people target practicing and decided to call the goats.  They came running like a thundering herd, heading downhill right toward us!  At the last minute they put on the brakes and slid to a stop.  Pac-Man and Rudy discovered Debbi was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  We got some great pictures of her being mobbed for her sandwich before we made the goats behave.

   
   
   

We had an absolutely fantastic day hiking.  What a great way to end my hiking season for the year.  Now - knee surgery on Tuesday and rehab to get it back into shape for next year!