A little hike

Yesterday, late afternoon, I took my first hike since arriving in Alpine. We went up a trail near the condo where we have gone before and which we know can have spectacular wild flowers. We call it the "Bananas" trail, because just opposite the entrance to the road where you turn off  the highway to get to the trail, there is a camping provisions store which for some reason has a banana on the store sign. Maybe the store is called "Bananas." (Just looked it up - it is indeed called "Bananas Camping Store"). I've never been in it. It also sells guns and now has a big sign out front advertising it as a "vape parlor." Not our kind of people.

It was a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, pleasantly cool and sunny, a perfect day for a hike. I borrowed two ski poles from Paul just to give myself added stability, and I used them going up the trail but carried them coming back so that I could move more quickly and naturally. I didn't really need them, but was glad to have them. The "trail" was actually a pretty smooth gravel road, so there was little danger of losing balance.

Max came with us - somewhat reluctantly at first, because he always seems to prefer just staying at home. But he ended up having a good time. He brought his camera, and also found a big stick beside the trail which he enjoyed swinging and whacking things with. There was also a stream he waded in (shoes on). All quite satisfactory. There were wildflowers, though it is a bit early. A week from now it will be more spectacular. I paced off the return trip,  as I often do on a hike, and it was about 1.1 miles, so it was c. a 2 1/4 mile round trip. Just right for me for the first time out. Knees and feet (both of which can present problems) were ok. My visit to the podiatrist before leaving Vermont  was helpful, I'm sure.

Here are some photos:

On the "Bananas" trail - Ellen and Max up ahead

Max photographing wildflowers

Larkspur

Mule's Ear - this is in abundance on this trail

Sticky geranium

Haven't identified this one yet, despite a consult after the hike with a Wyoming wildflower site

Yesterday evening, after supper, we watched another film in our "Alfred Hitchcock Festival." This one was Suspicion, from 1943. In black and white. Starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine. The basic plot is that a woman marries a very handsome and engaging man who turns out to have a gambling addiction, is hopelessly in debt, and totally irresponsible in handling money. She has a growing suspicion, based on various discoveries and clues, that he is going to kill her to get some money from insurance to pay off debts. Cary Grant is perfectly cast, it is tightly paced, well-acted and creates a growing and heightened suspense which leads to a dramatic and unexpected climax. I'd give it a strong thumbs up.