June 17, 2011
The Old Ranger
got an early start, had to get the car packed and drive up to Camp
El-O-Win in time to have the gate open for the propane delivery.
Then maybe there was a leak and you had better dig out some of the pipes
and finally hooray, there was no leak. Also raking, hauling,
walking around snow banks. Can you believe some of the snow was
actually pink with red algae growing in it?It was tiring the first day at camp. That was for sure.
In late
afternoon, the Old Ranger found a seat near the fire ring by the dining
hall. Finally it was time to sit in the sunshine and enjoy the
raging roar of Dinkey Creek. The creek was wide, nearly all the
rocks were covered by the water that churned and splashed up white
"rooster tails," dazzling with sunshine.On land, a lizard ran up and around some small rocks, pausing to do its push-ups, the way lizards do. The wine-red flowers of the Sierra Current bush made a canopy for the busy fellow. The air was filled with thousands of the ladybugs, catching sunbeams as they flew. Winged Carpenter ants, even bigger than the big black carpenter ants you are used to, were flying about and crashing into the old ranger's hat or landing on a shirt collar. Juncos and chickadees flitted among the tall pines and firs at the creek.
The mud left from the melting snow attracted flocks of blue winged butterflies. A ladybug with no spots on its red wings paused a moment on the old ranger's knee. Leaving the beautiful and sparkly creekside the old ranger decided it was time to walk up and close the gate for the day.