The UN
Somehow I started calling Rose Nation. She goes through a nickname a month.This nickname has since been transferred to two of her favorite animals. Rocco the Ninja Raccoon is now Rocco Nation. And Safari the giraffe became Safaria, became Safari Nation.
When they get together, I call them the United Nations.
And they behave like the real thing: constant bickering, jabbering about nothing, and a lot of grabass under the table.
Lately, they ride in my top tube bag.
Science
We've been having some great science projects lately. This one is a classic: boil water in a paper or plastic cup.What's supposed to happen: Rose predicts cup will catch fire, is shocked and amazed when cup doesn't, and a teachable moment about heat dissipation ensues.
Reality: Rose predicted that the cup would "lose", she was very clear on this, it wouldn't burn, it would "fail" or "lose" were her words, and it would drip into the flame, and put out the candle. And that's exactly what happened.
Lesson: there is never a failed science experiment. The process itself is a learning one. Another lesson: Rose is super smart at predicting outcomes.
Johnson Loop Back Open
There has been a lot of traffic up Johnson pass area, and I don't know if it's seasonal because of hunting access, or if the land owner made some concessions in return for some fence work that is clearly government issue, but the whole loop is open. It means about two miles of classic Stillwater County DoubleTrack is back open. Lots of rides like this:
Stillwater Valley Rides
Been taking Rose around the valley a lot for homeschool PE, and Kip in the evening for late workouts. It's funny, after seven years here, I've learned more here this one summer than all others combined. |
| Tough to see with the camera phone, but that's a huge owl on the fence post in the swamp. |
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| A scene I've been lucky to capture dozens of this year: Stillwater sunset |
First Shaved Ride
Got rained out twice yesterday on a ride try. First at Benbow. Then at Fox Creek. So I went all the way into Billings via Red Lodge. Crazy.Finally got a ride on the Back 9, after meeting one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen, like mega super model beautiful, seriously top 3 ever, in the parking lot at Phipps Park. Great ride. I'm in good enough shape now that even on ST only rides, I have to account for Kip's fatigue. Yesterday was only 10 miles, but at 13 miles an hour, I left him behind twice.
Saw a really cool baby snake too. Lots of snakes this year. It's funny, Kip seems totally oblivious to them. He never even sniffs at them or anything. Same thing with Moose. It's like he's got an instinct about certain animals.
