I blew the rest of my REI dividend on a Jetboil stove, after being super-impressed when I saw it in action on the Stehekin hike. I just tested it out. Holy crap, tepid to boiling in under a minute. It's taking my tea longer to cool down than it did to heat it up. Points for heat efficiency, fuel efficiency, automatic wind protection, and lots o' stability! AND built-in insulation, no-burn handle, no-burn lid, and efficient packing. Boo to the expense (but it's on sale at REI right now).

ETA: The water never did really cool down, heh. I poured my tea into another cup. I'm looking forward to actually cooking with this out on the trail.

Mom: Did you know it's Ski to Sea this weekend?

[FYI- This is a 93.5-mile multi-event relay race from the top of Mt Baker down to Bellingham Bay. A Ski to Sea Race team consists of 8 racers -2 in the canoe leg- for the seven race legs: cross country ski; downhill ski/snowboard; running; road bike; canoe; mountain bike; and kayak. A racer can only be on one team, and only complete one leg.]

Me: Yep, it's Memorial Day weekend. [Pause] Wait, you said it right!

Mom: What?

Me: Whenever you've ever mentioned it all these years, you've said "Sea to Ski." Every time! And I always sigh and say, "Mom, the race goes downhill, not uphill."

Mom: Well, it should go uphill. Now, that'd be a race.

I was feeling a little out of sorts yesterday and decided to head off to San Juan Island for the day. Grabbed the ferry, rented a bike, and rode for about 15 miles to American Camp and back. I would have gone further, but I had a flat. The emergency tire-foam-filler-stuff worked pretty well, but I didn't want to risk having it fail on me. Still, it was a fun ride. I hadn't ridden a bike for at least a year, so I was reminded of the existence of hills. Ugh.

Saw a cute lil hungry fox at the camp.

( Fox! )

Bonus pic from the Stehekin hike a few weekends ago. I think this was evening of the second day.

I might as well do a quick hiking log. I'm tired and won't do it justice, but that's ok.

Stehekin Riverside Trail (and don't be imagining that this is flat or something insane like that...)
Mileage: 17.2 with a ~35 lb pack + another 7 or so miles without. Around 24 total.

( Tired chitchat about an awesome hike. )

While arranging transport for this weekend:

Professional person on the other end of the line: Now, how many adults need passage?

Me: Just one.

Her: ... Alone? BUT NOW I'M GOING TO WORRY ABOUT YOU!

I am apparently walking into Mordor. :D

1. When I work out in the garden, I am accompanied by cats Wicked, PA (aka Punk Ass), Bamf, and Sancho. I feel like I'm being stalked by a feline gang.

2. I occasionally leave spare food out for nominal ferals Buttons and Puffer, and real feral Gray Cat. Today, the big tomcat Gray Cat wanted the crunchies, but dainty and petite Bamf was not gonna let him have the food in HER neighborhood. She ate it, then immediately puked it up in front of him. Wandered off, leaving a steaming pile of briefly-digested food. I think the message was clear. (I hosed the driveway off and put out a few more crunchies for the poor guy.)

3. I went online to see if I could order ear medication more cheaply than acquiring it at the vet, and found a multitude of reviews that claimed the med made pets go deaf. The instant horror is even worse in that I've been wondering about Tashi's hearing for quite some time. Gah. :( (Well, she either heard me breaking a cup in the kitchen, or was drawn in by the flurry of movement.)

Sand Point is once again cleaned up. ( There was a pretty good turnout... )

Did another hike yesterday, this time up to Heather Lake. It's in full spring break-up right now.

( A few pics )

Thanks for all the good wishes, everyone! It's been a long three days, but I think we're finally over the mysterious (and expensive) illness. As of tonight, I've finally got her eating again and her behavior is almost back to normal. She doesn't seem close to dying anymore, but I thought she was on her way out on Monday and Tuesday.

The exam and blood panel showed no fever or physical masses, and excellent numbers for liver, kidneys, thyroid, and white blood cells. So, it's a mystery. My guess then remains that she was in extra pain from her arthritis, quit eating, got dehydrated, and just started shutting down. I had them dose her up big time on subq fluids yesterday and again today. She comes back from that treatment hazy and blissful from the electrolyte hit.

So... on we go. Hopefully, it was just a temporary setback. I'm going to be increasing her arthritis medications regardless. But oof, not a pleasant few days emotionally or financially. Cats are expensive. Or vets are, in any case. (My vet changed clinics, so I had a new person who charged me far more than Emma ever did.) I'm going to start buying all her meds online to cut costs. SERIOUSLY cheaper to buy cat meds anywhere but from the vet, and it's kind of surprising to see what is available.

I'd write a full hiking log, but my heart's not really into it right now. Tashi has been sick all day, and I'm distracted by worry. I don't know if I pushed her exercise too much and she's simply sore, or if she's suddenly going downhill. She's 16.5 years old, and a purebred (average life span 12-15 years) with pretty bad arthritis so it could be either one. I gave her an early shot of Adequan and am hoping for the best. She's sound asleep on her heating pad right now. I'm planning on leaving her there for the night, instead of taking her in with me when I go to bed. Wow, not yet ready to have her exit my life. (Note: I'm not asking for advice, so don't go there unless you really think it'll be helpful. Thanks for understanding.)

Anyway, took a few shots of the snow-covered lake area. The only comment I should make is taking credit for keeping a quartet of nervous hiking newbies (young men) company up the last mile of snow to the lake, and preventing them for setting out across the lake to explore a snow cave underneath a series of ongoing avalanches. Me: "There is nothing about that, that is a good idea." These hapless little lambs were custom-made clientele for Search and Rescue. I didn't see them down the mountain, but I figured they knew the trail by then and could easily follow any of the other groups that showed up after us.

(Seriously, they were so green. Kid: Why are all the avalanches on the other side of the lake. Me: 1) Don't be disappointed about that. 2) There are no cliffs on this side of the lake, thank gods.

One or another of them repeated that particular whine no less than six times. They really, really wanted to be where the avalanches were. Or in the snow cave. Or out on the "frozen" lake in breakup season. Argh.)

( A few pics )