Smith Lake

We explored the forests around Smith Lake and Snake Lake, a few miles west of Quincy, in search of sugar pine cones for gifts.  We  only found rotting ones that had spent the winter on the ground, but this year's crop of green ones still on the trees was impressive.  We'll have to go back when they start to fall in another couple of months.  So, we came home empty-handed except for photos and thirst.  It reached 109 degrees today in Quincy according to the NWS.  This bright red dragonfly was an exciting find.  Later I'll post a few Smith Lake Scenes.  Hot as it was, the lush vegetation and croaking frogs made the trip enjoyable for me.  That lake always makes me think of age of dinosaurs, or movies like The Creature from the Black Lagoon.