Sun Valley, ID, USA

We have been so busy doing almost nothing at all that I have been amiss in not blogging recently. we have been here at our country seat in Sun Valley for just about two weeks now, enjoying the mountain air and revisiting our local haunts.
We drove east from Portland to Boise to visit with some old friends of ours, Mike and Ruthie. That evening was their  famed sushi competition which was been an annual institution for many years. A very lively and interesting evening ensued with some outstandingly innovative efforts submitted.
Next day we set off to Sun Valley to arrive in unseasonable 85 degree weather. We have been walking and visiting all the bars and restaurants in town. Many of the old ones and some new ones. Micro-brews have migrated to Idaho and we attended the first Micro-brew fest in Ketchum last week. That went from noon to 6.00 pm and a good time was had by with outstanding beer from all over the west coast and Idaho.
I've been back to the sporting clay ranges  in Sun Valley and Hailey and it's good to note that I can still hit some of the targets.
The weather has been strange. From 85 degrees the first week we were here down to 35 degrees and snow on the next. It's rainy today but as the end of June passes we are promised the usual perfect Sun Valley weather. Not much fishing yet as the Wood river is just starting to clear but I may get a few days in before we leave.
We celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary last week, may there be many more. I also spent a few days refinishing our outside wooden deck which had been sorely neglected. It was quite a lot of work to sand down the entire deck to bare wood and then reseal it but the effort was worth it, as it came up very well.
We have had a crew change for our voyage to South Africa. Roger is unable to make the trip and I was fortunate to find Ray, who will replace him through our friends Dave and Marian from Kilkea II.
I look forward to meeting him in Singapore in August for what should be an interesting and challenging cruise. I'm looking forward to going offshore again soon.
Oh, and did I mention the soccer! We had hoped that England had made a better showing but at least we can still root for the amazing USA team. Much time spent in Lefty's Bar and Grill watching the games
Here are some photos.

Lilac in bloom Sun Valley

Sun Valley

my effort in the sushi competition. Not a winner, I'm afraid

us and Donna and Ruthie

Happy hour at the Ram Bar, Sun Valley Inn

Snow in June in Sun Valley

the first annual Sun Valley Brewfest, Ketchum. Not much got done that evening

sanding the deck

the sushi competition