Saturday began with weeding.

But it became too hot and I sunburned the top of my head

where I parted my hair!

I was grumbling about it.

The man turns to Roxy and says

"So do you want to go for a drive?"

They let me go along too.

Randy says

"I hope you've got quarters."

Quarters?

I laughed and made a joke.

"Why? Are you taking me to feed the fish?"

He gives me a weird look.

"Well its the only thing that I can think of that still costs only a quarter."

"Are we going to the dog wash?"

He shakes his head and changes the subject.

I give up.

The truck winds along a lazy path...

we are in no hurry.

We leave town and pass a cemetery.

Then we are out "in the country" proper.

Happy little country towns dot the stretch of road

we travel.

I liked the one in the photo up there.

A metal sculptor has a studio

and his work is pretty popular with his neighbors.

You can't tell by the photo

but there are wonderful things on those 

metal creations...

like a rhino roof topper!

Each little town has its version of a farmer's market.

Everyone is smiling.

The feeling is both homey and serene.

I eat it all up with my eyes.

Roxy tries to push her nose out the wing window.

She's drinking it in with her nose. 

Eventually we come to what looks like a driveway.

The man turns in and parks.

I think that I should have been paying attention.

Then I see.

 I can't help but laugh.

I really was only joking about  feeding the fish with my quarters.

The only place I've done that was up near where

I used to live.

We walk past the fry ponds with the littlest guys

swimming in a swarm

and individually flipping up out of the water...

to catch some bug.

A couple of ducks were enjoying the pond too...

and they began to follow us around.

I wished that I had something to feed them.

There were no fish food dispensers!

Crap!

We got back into the car.

As hatcheries go, this one was small.

I am used to the one at Bonneville Dam

where the great sturgeon, Herman lives.

Randy says I like Herman because he is older than me...

then reminds me that he, Randy, is not as old as me.

We drive awhile longer and again turn off the road.

I can see that it is another hatchery once we cross the weird

little bridge with the funny houses on it.

This one is bigger

and more suited to tourist visitors.

I was excited because it had a lot of the equipment 

that is required to tag and clip fish...

one of my favorite jobs that I have had in the past.

I got to show them to Randy and explain how they are used.

In the distance I saw it...

a big square box thing.

Next to a lovely pond that reminded me of the crock

pond at the zoo where I grew up.

Cool because it had a bridge in the middle.

I couldn't wait to put my quarter in...

and get a handful of fish pellets.

 

These big handsome trout liked me...

well they liked the pellets.

There were sturgeon too,

but none near as large as Herman.

Randy was very patient.

He had Roxy and they sort of stood back...

Roxy does not like the water or the fish!

But she loved the other visitors.

She made lots of friends.

I could have sat there for a very long time.

Watching fish is so relaxing and soothing.

I used to enjoy sitting after clipping and just unwinding.

On the way home we made a quick stop at a mom and pop

market.

Randy showed me where the "Monster Burgers" are made.

So named because Bill Bigsby used to come to eat there.

He lived near by.

Neither of us were hungry.

Monster burgers are very big, so we need a time

when we can split a fresh cooked one.

We will go back soon.

Which is very cool.

I can hardly wait to go back and spend time with the fish!

One of these days I want a Koi pond.

<*)))>< 

Then I can watch the fish whenever I want.