The best freestyle kayakers in the United States were in Missoula last week for the US National Team Team Trials. Click on the picture below to see more.

See the results here

Mom and Dad came to visit. One day we took a walk. Dad was not feeling well so he did not go.

Sweet rainbow that was outside our front door earlier this week.

Saturday was the annual Garden City Brewfest in downtown Missoula. The weather was on a 30 minute cycle of sun and rain that seems to be quite popular this time of year. When we got there the band Secret Powers was covering the entire Beatles’ album Abbey Road. I had forgotten how much I enjoy that record.

For Hilary’s birthday our destination was Symes Hot Springs in Hot Springs, Montana, population 531. We had originally planned to go biking in Yellowstone but poor weather forced us to reschedule at the last minute. We decided to try something new.

We originally booked a room in the actual hotel itself, but were called the following day and told a mistake had been made, our room was double booked, and we were moved to what they said was a cabin outside the hotel.

Hot Springs Montana is not a town that is awash in capital. And Symes seems to be its economic centerpiece. The reasons why our visit to Symes ended up being akin to a weekend spent in a trailer park are too lengthy to discuss here. I will say that there is a low probability we will ever return.

Our last day we were fortunate enough to be escorted by the Parkers.

I can’t think of anything I would rather have done on my 30th birthday.

Stephanie, the weekend was dedicated to you. Sorry you had to stay and rescue Seattle.

A brief visit to Jackson Hot Springs in Jackson, Montana.

When the weather is good the 4 hour drive from Missoula to Yellowstone is one of my favorite stretches of road. Here are some pictures from the drive. We just got back from a weekend trip to the northern part of Yellowstone.

The hike back down from Upper Holland Lake.