Gissberg Twin Lakes

 Over the course of the past few months we have adopted a new favorite spot to take a walk.  Gissberg Twin Lakes is just a 20 minute drive from our home and offers a perfect place to stretch our legs and enjoy what feels like an outing in the country.  Unlike most of the natural lakes in our county, the twin lakes are man made from two large gravel pits that were dug in the mid 60's in order to provide rocks for the building of the I-5 freeway system.  Now, with a swimming and picnic area as well as a walking trail, they are a beautiful and very popular addition to the county park system.  These photos are a compilation of a number of walks taken over the spring and summer.

From Spring to Summer we have watched the cattails growing up,

and the baby ducklings turn into adults.

One day we spied this turtle sunning himself on a log.  Even though we know they are native to the area, it was the first time we have ever seen one in the wild in all the forty plus years we have lived here.  It was a delightful and unexpected surprise.

 Fishing is very popular along the shoreline. 

This gentleman reminded me a bit of my dad who loved few things more than spending a leisurely day with his fishing pole. Of course, he loved to catch something, but it never mattered when he didn't.  It think it was his place for solitude and meditation.

 

 

Perhaps Henry Thoreau had it right,

"Many a man goes fishing without ever knowing

that it is not fish that they are after." 

 

 

I think there will be more walks here before the summer is over and then on into the autumn to come.  All blessings to you who stop by.

Adieu!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moments by the Water

 How quickly the time flows past.  What I thought would be a few days break from social media turned into almost three months!  Life has been quiet but not idle.  The spring rains continue to fall interspersed with a few days of warm sunshine here and there.  The lake is so beautiful this time of year. You can see the mountains, still covered with snow, rising up on the horizon, and reflections dance vividly on the surface of the water.

The ducks are courting along the shoreline.  It won't be long before we will find ourselves stopping our cars to allow for duck families crossing the road to the water. (Make Way for Ducklings!)

 

Each season by the lake is so unique and special.  I never get tired of watching it or take for granted the beauty of this place. I pray I never will.  Every blessing to you and yours.

Adieu!

Lake Havasus

We recently spent two weeks enjoying the sunshine and warm temperatures at Lake Havasu, Arizona, another large reservoir along the Colorado River.  One afternoon we took a boat trip along the shoreline.

The rocky desert shores and stark mountain formations looked so different from the softer landscape of the Northwest. It was hard to believe that, even with all the available water, there are still no trees growing along the shoreline, only the occasional planted palm tree. 

Window Rock

Yet, it wasn't unusual to see small shrubs and wildflowers clinging tenaciously to the coarse sandy soil and rocky outcrops.

In most places the water looks blue, but as we entered an inlet called Copper Canyon the water took on a green cast. Our guide told us that it's caused by the copper in the rocks that leaches into the lake.

A favorite spot inside the canyon is a formation called, Chimney Rock, a popular spot for college students who like to climb up to the top and then jump into the water.  I haven't yet decided it they are brave or just foolhardy!

In addition to the beautiful rock formations there are over two dozen miniature lighthouses along the shore, each one an exact replica of a famous American Lighthouse and built to 1/3 scale.  East Coast lighthouses are place on the east shore, West Coast lights on the western shores and Great Lakes around the island at London Bridge.  But don't let their small size fool you.  They are actually coast guard registered, working lighthouse which help boaters navigate the lake at night.  

Of course, I can't leave Lake Havasus behind without talking about the famous London Bridge which once spanned the Thames River in London, England before making it's way to this little desert city in Arizona.  A short history of the bridge and how it came to Lake Havasus City can be found here

Walking along the waterways and under the bridge was always enjoyable. 

We really enjoyed our stay in Lake Havasus and I hope you enjoyed our little tour of the lake.