Sunshine, finally!

Somehow, this natural disaster has completely consumed us. I don't know where the days go, aside from plotting how to get to town and how to deal with the things that normally require town visits. The prognosis for our main route to town got even worse today, as a state engineer deemed it too dangerous even for emergency traffic. That engineer also rescinded all guesses about how long it would take to rebuild the road.

This morning started the same as every day in recent memory. As Shyla and I headed out on our morning ride, we were in the midst of clouds so thick that they left water all over the plants, me, and Shyla.

At the start of our ride, we couldn't see more than 10 yards away through the clouds. I was feeling sorry for people who needed to be rescued via helicopter because the choppers were all grounded. The emergency agency had put out this notice to mountain residents:

"A major air rescue for the foothills devastated by 100-year floodwaters is planned for Monday, with residents asked to use white sheets, reflective mirrors, flares and signal fires to alert helicopter pilots to their locations." 

Knowing that stranded people were hoping to be rescued today, the clouds were making me sad. But, very gradually, the clouds started to burn off the mountains, and a tiny bit of sun shined through.

It took hours for the fog and clouds to clear from the plains, where the helicopters land and takeoff, but eventually the air was clear. I could hear the now familiar thwacking of helicopters flying this afternoon.

During our ride, Shyla's amazing nose found a very old vertebra, from an elk or a cow, and she was proud of it! I've trained her to bring me things like this in exchange for a jackpot of treats. That way, I can prevent her from gnawing on it and possibly hurting herself. When I first met her, she used to play "keep away" with yucky treasures.

And, during our ride I spotted mushroom species that I have *never* seen before in our neck of the woods. This species must wait underground for the once in a hundred years when it's wet enough for it to survive above ground.

After a wet ride, I left Shyla home to snooze with her brother while I went out to tour the flood damage in our area. Yes, the new Duo is sleeping on the bed that many of you gave K as a gift when she was going through chemotherapy. These two adore it, and it warms my heart to see them on it.

Today was the first day that I dared venture far from home during my solo ride. Because we don't live in a narrow or steep canyon, I didn't see anything too dramatic, although many trails and forest roads are now rivers of water flowing downhill. There's been an incredible amount of erosion but it looks like we can cope with it with a bit of work.

I loved seeing the autumn flowers that are going crazy with all the moisture!

By the end of my ride, the sun was out, and the flowers and I were turning our faces to feel its warm rays!

Perhaps things will start to dry out now. I hope so, and I hope that the stranded people were rescued today. These floods have certainly reminded me that life can change completely in a single day.