Again, not much hiking, but...

Despite indications from the weather radar when we headed out for a hike, the sky ended up mostly spitting, raining, and everything in between. We did have a nice drive and we did venture out of the car a few times into the blustery, damp weather. We also found a spot by the "river" to take pictures of a small herd of black-tailed deer and hike around a bit.

By the time we drove from Ellen's house to the lot from which we planned to hike, it was raining pretty firmly, so we stopped and talked with a ranger car window to truck window. Since it was raining, we wanted some info to motivate us to hike in the rain or, lacking that, someplace interesting out of the rain.  Well, he allowed as how there wasn't much blooming yet, just a few buttercups.

OK, a *very* few buttercups. I think I only saw three all day. And the museum had recently closed for "a facelift," so that was out.  We ended up mostly driving around the park looking at snow and trees and litter and...

... and shoes on a wire.  I'm thinking these are looking pretty fresh and all masculine sizes.

So, even tho' it was rather a gloomy day, it was an enjoyable afternoon with a friend sort of out in nature.