Deep Creek

 I know its been a bit sense I have posted here. Thought I'd start trying to do better. Went walking at Deep Creek today. I really enjoy following the mostly dry creek bed down to where it runs into the Spokane River. It is challenging going, large rocks, places you have to slide down the rocks to get to another level and the occasional place where the water comes to the surface and is hard to get around. The raw beauty of the place is just breathtaking and worth the challenge. I saw a Pileated Woodpecker today. I've never seen one and the red on his head was a real eye catcher. Didn't get a super shot of him but you could see what he was. 

River otter in Riverfront Park

 I know it's been ages sense I've posted here. Been mostly posting on Instagram. I just thought I would share the super neat experience we had today seeing a river Otter playing on the Harold Balazs statue in the Riverfront Park today. I've run into a family of otters once before when walking along the Columbia Plateau trail but have never seen one downtown. They are little clowns and appear to love the attention of being photographed. 

Manito Park spring

 What a glorious space this Manito Park is! Every season is gorgeous and completely different and to be experienced! I went walking in Manito today to enjoy the spring flowers. A veritable feast for the senses! 

Tubbs Hill Coeur d'Alene

 Finally got a chance to get over to one of my favorite places to walk, Tubbs Hill in Coeur d'Alene yesterday. The trail along the southern shore is my favorite. The arrowleaf balsam root flowers were popping out all over the place and the forest is lush and green. Saw an Osprey high up in a tree and a nice couple pointed out some deer that were feasting on the hill. For all of you Eastern Washington folks that have never made the trip over to walk this gem of a trail make a point of doing it this year!

Indian Painted Rocks

 Because I was out the Indian Trails direction this morning I was able to walk the Indian Painted Rocks trail. This trail runs along the Little Spokane and is a wonderful place for bird and other critter sightings. It's still a little sleepy without many critters out and about yet. The chipmunks were awake though. You can make a long loop trail by continuing on to the Knothead Valley Trail at the top of the hill. This makes an almost 7 mile loop and brings you back down a little further north on Rutter Parkway. As you can see from the pictures there are a lot of trees laying down. The fire from a few years ago damaged a lot and they have fallen or been cut and left in place for natural habitat.