VIP Tule Mountain Hike & the 2016 Highland Games!

Last Wednesday Steve & Tina led the big volunteer group to the Tule Mountain area. There were the remains of two old houses and what used to be a very big tank and lake! Everyone who had been to the lake last year asked me if the ducks were still there, but unfortunately the water levels were down drastically from last winter and there were no sign of ducks.

The lintel still in place of this homestead. These were the tallest, most intact walls I've seen on a stone house in the park.

Alas, the dregs of the lake.

Lake inhabitant posing for photographers. I believe it is a Big Bend leopard frog.

This last Saturday was the Highland Games! Here Joan Spalding and Claudia Arnberger with her stuffed dog Spot, demonstrate proper attire for the games. Although the cast of characters has changed from the last time I was here, the spirit of competition and frivolity is the same! Contestants paint their faces with fearsome looking war paint, wear kilts (underwear mandatory!) and compete in timed and distance games such as the "Ghost Rider", "Crotch Rock", "Tree Climb" "Tug of Love",

Daisy Welch instructs Jimmy Duke on the rules of "General Havoc".

Tug of Love contestants prepare to lose!

The winners discuss strategy.

War paint and sunscreen are applied.

Steve Blythe checks out the PVC bow and dowel arrows he and Daisy made following You Tube plans! What an awesome job they did organizing everything!!

And the winners are . . .!

Bill Gorney (left)  from Dispatch, had the most fierce growls and wackiest faces ever!

Katherine uttered something like, "I think this is some sort of mistake."

While Lydia yells, "This is the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!"

Hayden, our youngest (and only!) child competitor this year. Friend, Hazard, was there but didn't compete.

Below is a blast from the past (April 6, 2013) best overall warriors, Raymond Skiles and my good friend who wants to remain anonymous. Whoo hoo!