Heil Valley Ranch hike

I had a slow day at work today and the weather was cool and cloudy, so I though it would be perfect to go on a hike. I also was really excited to take my new camera out for a spin and learn how to use it. Murf, Nora and I went to Heil Valley Ranch, which is about 20 min from our house. I was worried that we might get rained out, but the weather was perfect for our hike. I also knew that Nora was tired and wouldn't last long, so I brought our Ergo carrier to haul her around in. She hiked more than she rode and had fun looking at all the things to see. When we were driving up, we saw 4-5 wild turkeys on a hillside. I pulled the car over and snapped a few pics of them. On our hike we had to cross a small stream and Grandpapa noticed some leeches that were suckered on to the rocks and reeds and were furiously flapping in the current. On our way out of Heil Valley Ranch, after our hike, a small animal caught my eye. At first I thought it was a fox, but then I realized it was some sort of a cat. Too big to be a housecat, too small to be a mountain lion. It was a bobcat! There is a small private ranch near the trailhead, and the bobcat was hunting in a little corral. He saw our car and tried to hide, but I was able to get a few pictures. They're not the best, but you can see him looking at us!

Turkeys!
Leeches!

and bobcats, OH MY!

Nora got cold so Grandpapa gave her his coat.






As Grandpapa and Nora were looking at this view, Nora said to him, "Those are the mountains where we aren't!"
Turkey tracks, which were near turkey poop!


Getting tired

Grandpapa cleaning the mud off of Nora's shoes

Worn out! After our hike we ran some errands in Boulder, and then when we were within 10 minutes of the house, Nora fell asleep in the car with Grandpapa kindly supporting her head. Poor thing stayed asleep as I pulled her out of the car. I had gotten her a boba tea earlier, and a few bobas had gone missing. We found them when we pulled her out of her carseat, they were stuck like glue to her shirt!