Ida vs. the Great Basin, a kind of vacation

Ida is one month old, so we decided to take a trip down south to the high desert and the alkaline lakes. And the hot springs, something that Ella (Ida's mother) desires and in which pregnant women cannot indulge. Ella isn't pregnant anymore. Here's a view of the landscape of Summer Lake from Winter Ridge:



Outside our rented ranchero house was this horse. Believe it or not, it was hollow, and birds lived in there! Ida was fascinated by it.



As she was by this strange assemblage of folk art, no doubt created by death hippies:





The Summer Lake hot springs has this whole pool of hot water, housed in one of the most ancient buildings in Lake County. Ida can be seen in her little carrier in the background, just sitting there watching the lights shining through the tin roof.



We had our own private "grotto" of hot springs. Ella really desired to get Ida into the hot water, but this is as close as she got:

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Ida was excited that we were accompanied by the intrepid trout-man Hugh Hochman (remember him from day one?) Sponsord by Nissan trucks, Ross reels and Scott fly rods, he helped us stalk the trout of the Ana River and also took us on a rugged vertical journey toward the source of the mysterious Sycan. Professor Hochman is not known for his tenderness toward children, but he did say several kind things to Ida.



And then we were traveling again, which sometimes calmed Ida and sometimes made her a little crabby.