Waterfalls and Campfires

 Hullo! We are continuing our adventure... there sure is a lot of driving involved...

We came to this general store which has been around forever!

Maybe they have Starbucks hot chocolate??

They have pretty zinnias!

But... um... not Starbucks hot chocolate... sigh...

But that's ok... because a short distance away... we got out of the car to go on another little hike...

Ummm... Blueberry... what are you doing???

Ugh... getting a group photo can be sooo difficult!!!

I'm here!!! 

This is a massive old cottonwood!

The hike involved a bit of a steep pitch...

But luckily there is a rope or two to help one...

We found some mushrooms too... think this is a russula of some sort.

Ooooh... I can hear a waterfall!

There it is!!!

O.M.G. That is... gorgeous...

Framed perfectly with trees....

And the bluegreen water too...

Gorgeous!

We went down to the edge of the pool... because we can!

It was a bit misty down here...

But we are waterproof... mostly...

Now we just need to scramble back up (no tow rope...)

Whew... we made it up, no problem, drove a bit farther and stopped at the lake (not The Lake)...

And walked along the beach...

And had a campfire!

Out of driftwood... nice.

There was even a blanket and some snacks... impressive!

Mama and her sister are reminiscing a lot... and this trip seems to be a lot of stops that bring up a lot of memories...

It is pretty here.

And now Blueberry as been to the lake!! (and The Lake)....

It's got the cloudy turqouise glacial water sediments in it too...

Still not a Blueberry colour though!

Mouse Mail and Missing Bullion

 Hullo! We received some mail today!

Can you read it?? It's addressed to Sherlock Sandy, Dr. Cocoa Watson, and Inspector Navy Lestrade!!

It's addressed to meeeeee!!!

AND meeeee!!!!

Alright... let's examine the envelope for clues...

Um... Sandy... what's on your face???

What? These?? These are my new Sherlock Sandy glasses! Every distinguished investigator needs reading glasses... don't you agree??

Anyhow... let's see what we have...

Oooo, our latest prize in the Case of the Missing Bullion!

And a chatty letter from the mice on a string of post cards!

We know a certain dwagon who will love this card...

Right Dilly the 'Wagon?

And... there's a clue for another Missing Bullion!

Let's see...

A circular coin of silver and gold
Of a Victorian inventor, designs quite bold
To start with the father
Usurped by the son
And saw English travel by steam unfold.
Who is he?? Or more to the point
Who are they?! 

Hmmm....

Alright... what do you guys think??? 

Well, it's pretty obvious although I can just remember his first name. That name shows up in a trilogy by the famous mystery writer Edith Parageter (Ellis Peters). Mama says she read a lot of her books including the Cadfael series!

Oh I know the middle name!!! It's pretty easy... Kingdom! Although what his parents were thinking when they named him that... anyone's guess.

And I think I know his last name cause we have friends in Manitoba with that last name. Wonder if they are related way way back?

So... put it all together and we think it's Isambard Kingdom Brunel! And his father Marc Isambard Brunel... (and the Kingdom is from his mum's maiden name... OK then.)

 Let's find a pic of the coin... There we go... they were brilliant chaps those two!