Watching Snails

 This pretty little guy provided the entertainment for my hiking picnic the other day.  He wandered here, wandered there.  So...it wasn't very fast entertainment, but still.  

Spring flowers...turning to summer

 The Czech Republic is beautiful:

"Backpacking" Rusava to Svatý Hostýn, Czech Republic

From day two of my little overnight rural backpacking trip:

Sunrise at the campground:

More sunrise beauty, right before I saw the three deer I don't have pictures of:

Just a nice trail view, from near where I sat to dry my tent after the morning rain (red sky in morning and all that):

Not sure what flower:

Memorial to those who died in the mountains they loved (near Skalka):

More gorgeous views (with fleeting rain):

And more, from the viewpoint just down from Svatý Hostýn:

Elderflowers that some nice strangers told me how to pick and make into syrup (which I later did--delicious!):

At the pilgrimage site of Svatý Hostýn:

Beautiful stations of the cross:

Great day:  Rusava to  Svatý Hostýn and then down to the bus at Chvalčov.  11.1 km, 514 m gain.  

"Backpacking" Slušovice to Rusava, Czech Republic

 I went on a sort of rural overnight backpacking trip last weekend.  This is day one.  

The idyllic view from near Slušovice:

There was even a sheepdog carefully patrolling his flock and warning me not to get too close.

Green meadowed hills with clouds that seemed to pose just for me:

Wildlife:

Forest art gallery:

Castle (Ahh...Europe):  

Scary bottomless hole in the road:

Okay, so it had a bottom, but it was pretty creepy.  Thank goodness people marked it well.

A classic Czech spring (though this one's a more overgrown than usual).  I love how you'll often find cups hanging at these places so that anyone can take a civilized drink:

More wildlife in the spring.  Probably teenaged tadpoles.  But maybe fire salamander babies.

Feast of wild strawberries.  Okay...maybe FEAST isn't the right word for something so tiny.  But yummy.

What a great day.  Slušovice to Rusava via Lukov castle.  19.4 km, 571 m gain.  With a moderately heavy pack.    

Just a flower in the rain

 Seasons!!  Rain!!  Green things with flowers!!  What a lovely place the Czech Republic is.  

Vsetín, Czech Republic: park in spring

 

Book Review, When We Go Missing, by April Henry

This was a fast, exciting, enjoyable read with admirable but flawed characters, good plotting, and good characterization.  

A librarian friend once recommended April Henry for reluctant young adult readers, and I have to agree.  I've read a couple of her other books and they've all been good.