Blue Moon Rodeo

The Blue Moon in Columbia Falls has a rodeo every Thursday night.  Unfortunately I work 3-11 on Thursdays.   I found out the last one was going to be on a Saturday.  I was scheduled to work 12-8 but the Front Desk Manager agreed to switch with me so I could work 7-3 and make the rodeo. 

Turned out to be a beautiful night too!

 First the Flags were brought in

 We started out with some Bareback Bronc

Calf Roping

Junior Bull Riding

 Any volunteers to ride this guy?

 Saddle Bronc

Team Roping

Junior Barrel Racing

This young girl is battling a life-threatening illness 

and Peewee Barrel racing.

The ladies Barrel racing was exciting.  These two were neck to neck in all the competitions.  The 2nd one one this competition by 1/10 of a second.

Sometimes the crowd is just as interesting to watch

The girls sold raffle tickets.  

Gary bought some and I told him if they were raffling off a horse and we won, I was keeping it.

 The sun is setting earlier and earlier

and a half moon came out over the Blue Moon Rodeo

Whitefish Trails - Woodland Lake

Off for three days and the forecast is rain, rain, rain so Glacier is out the question as it will be much colder and under the clouds.   We take a chance and head over the the Whitefish Trails just west of Town to hike the Woodland Lake trails.

It is a pretty bumpy 4 mile dirt road to the trailhead

We plan on hiking past all four lakes

The first lake is Woodland.  We actually walked around the shoreline but I didn't  get pictures because the original plan was to backtrack to the Dollar Lake trail.  But we decided to add in a portion of the 1.2 mile overlook loop trail.

 Another glimpse of the Lake

 Everything is so green!

 Loved the moss growing on this old stump

and we reach the Loop

An overlook to what looks like Whitefish Lake

and the Mountains

 Almost to Dollar Lake!

and Tucson doesn't waste any time

 come on in the waters fine!

 Before you know it it's a dog party

 Everyone takes a break

 Then it's time to move on.

a Panoramic view of Beaver Lake

We've been passe

Here is Little Beaver Lake

 This is my idea of fishing

Looks like this mountain biker didn't make the turn

 We reach the north side of Little Beaver Lake

Which way do we go?

Guess we picked the right way!

As we get back to the trucks we hear rumbling and dark clouds are rolling in.

a few minutes down the road it starts to pour and there is some hail as well