Boat on the River

A few weeks about for out company's summer activity we took a rafting trip on the Cabarton reach of the North Fork of the Payette River.

Here we are getting ready to go.

The girls decided not to go, so it was just the three of us.

It's probably a good thing, because after several weeks of 100+ weather, the day we hit the river it turned cold and rainy.  It wasn't nearly as fun as it could have been.  But it was still pretty fun.

This is what the river looked like.  It was beautiful, much greener and more scenic than the main fork that is more commonly run.

We saw a couple of bald eagles.

Here's where we stopped for lunch.  It started raining just about the time we started to eat, and rained for about an hour.

The crew of our raft (minus the guide, who took the photo).

Except for a bit of whining about the cold and the rain, a good time was had by all!

High Priest of Rhythmic Noise

Nothing to do with family here, just a little self-indulgence.

This year Cheap Trick played at the Western Idaho Fair.

It's usually a challenge to get concert photos, since most venues don't allow cameras. The Fair, however, doesn't bother to try to restrict electronics (and with the advent of decent cameras in phones, practically speaking most venues don't really keep cameras out, either.  But it's still tough to try to slip an SLR into most real concert venues).

I was able to get right up close, maybe 10-12 feet from the stage.

I stayed there for a while until my ears started to hurt.  (I haven't been to a concert for a year or two, and forgot to bring earplugs.)

Rick Nielson changed guitargs between every song, I think.  This is one of the more unusual ones he used -- a shiny metal Gibson hollow-body.

He used this Gibson Les Paul for about a third of the songs, I think.

Lead singer Robin Zander with a very cool Hamer 12-string hollow-body electric.  He also traded some, using at least four different guitars.

Here Rick Nielson notices me pointing the camera at him...

... and mugs for the shot. :)

Tom Petersson played an 8-string Hamer bass.

Rick with Gibson Flying-V.

And to finish off the night, a crazy Hamer 5-neck.

Swingin'

Sunday we got to participate in a little birthday celebration for Regan.



She had an interesting (and yummy) "cake" made of brownies, Kit-Kats, and Hershey Drops.



Getting ready to attack the nine candles!



And there they go!



We also played around in their yard. Daniel helped pick a gigantic zuccini.



And Daniel and Jeff wandered around the manly fields talking about manly things.




Regan and Haydn were in a picture-taking mood and shot hundreds of photos, including these two of their dad.




Mostly we played on their new giant swings.



That's a big load for one swing!



A good time was had by all.