This is going to be a hodgepodge of a day.

Stayed up to almost 0100 last night (or actually, this am) looking for Perseid meteors (or, technically, meteorites). We had had hail and rain about sunset (our first good soaker in months), but the clouds cleared around midnight.

Heeler sisters were not sure what to make of hail. Both stuck their heads out from the porch and got beaned a few times. The masked one wisely backed out of the rain, rendering herself safe from all but ricochettes, but the little one went back to the door to complain to her Alpha. About someone throwing things at her.

Had to hold a hand out to catch enough stones for them to see and sniff.

Anyway, on the meteorites? None seen. Not one. Had a clear view of a third of the sky, too. Masked heeler could only stand it so long before she headed to the yard gate, ready to return to the warm soft bed.

As we passed through town early this morning, headed to our first route in area 61, we passed one of the wardens, just pulling out of a convenience store. She followed us all the way north to our exit, headed to her own route farther north. With us chatting on the radio all the way.

I've heard others do that. Annoying as heck if you're not in the mood for eavesdropping on a conversation a hundred miles away.

Shortly after we parted company, we heard the other warden finally come 10-8. First warden was quick to call him, and report that she and I had been in the field for an hour already.

A slight exageration, but fair enough given all the verbal jabs he has sent over the air when he was first out.

Have a couple rants to share. Those of you not on the D-land system have not seen this, but I have just about had it with that flashing banner advertising somebody's diary. Annoying as hell. About to go leave a nasty remark in their guestbook.

Or Andrew's.

Also getting tired of being unable to connect with the Dland database. Don't like to complain about D-land much, since it normally functions amazingly well, but this is two evenings in a row, and a pain when you have two teenaged boys eager for their turn on the internet.

And thirdly: as much as I have come to like Medi�val B�bes, I had the Summerisle Maypole chant going through my head so much today it wasn't really funny.

Guess I should try listening to something else for a while.

And for those of you second guessing me, yes, that last rant was simply included so I could show off my newly learned html code. So sue me.

Today's route took us to the south slopes of Green Mountain, and the sage and pine burn from 8-10 years ago. Antelope, cattle and feral horses are all taking advantage of the new green in the burned areas. Was surprised to find the high road to Low Pass ripped up and rehabbed, but therefore not surprised to see the low road to Low Pass had been upgraded.

BLM and hang gliders have been talking of doing just that for several years. It is a bloody super highway, now. With gravel bed and culverts and everything. Our route doesn't go that high, but you know we had to explore. They improved the road all the way to the Pass, and for a little bit beyond.

Had hopes of it being improved clear to the launching sites on top of Whiskey Peak, but it wasn't. Soon hit the steep, rugged grades that would stop our Explorer.

Well, actually they wouldn't, but the wife would never let me try to take it beyond those bad spots. That's her transportation, you know. But I would love to get her up to the top some day.

Wonderful view.

Found three antelope on top of the divide, well over 8500'. A fawn busy getting a late lunch from mom. Not really on the route, but I added them any way, just to prove they were there.

Had to coerce the wife into going to the youth group meeting this evening. Only to find just one other leader and his son there. Think most folks are burned out from the Fair concessions work. And he reported almost everyone else has canceled from the campout this weekend, so it is postponed. Which is fine by me, as I didn't really have the time, either.

So we got home in time for Buffy.

No classifications tomorrow. Get to sleep in in the morning (after checking for Perseids again tonight), and then draft my comments on the 100+ page document the feds were kind enough to send us this month.

At least they're saving a few trees this time. It's on disc.

'Course that is plastic, so it costs hydrocarbons and energy to produce. Perhaps paper is better...

Had barely started this entry when the wife came down.

"Want to see a really green fly?"

Natch. So we go out on the porch and she shows me this terribly irridescent housefly hanging on the screen door.

Must be less than 3 mm long, max. A teeny little thing. But she's right. The brightest green you've ever seen on a bug. With golden wings, no less.

How she spotted that, I do not know.