Stezka Českem:

Just a three-day backpacking trip on the Czech Trail, from Sedlo Pindula to Odrý.  

Nový Jičin's Square

 I think Nový Jičin has one of the prettiest squares in the area:

Waterfall in the Czech Republic

We had a few very warm days a couple of weeks ago, and here's where we spent one of them.  It made all the difference.

Satinský vodopady

Watching Snails

 This pretty little guy provided the entertainment for my hiking picnic the other day.  He wandered here, wandered there.  So...it wasn't very fast entertainment, but still.  

Spring flowers...turning to summer

 The Czech Republic is beautiful:

"Backpacking" Rusava to Svatý Hostýn, Czech Republic

From day two of my little overnight rural backpacking trip:

Sunrise at the campground:

More sunrise beauty, right before I saw the three deer I don't have pictures of:

Just a nice trail view, from near where I sat to dry my tent after the morning rain (red sky in morning and all that):

Not sure what flower:

Memorial to those who died in the mountains they loved (near Skalka):

More gorgeous views (with fleeting rain):

And more, from the viewpoint just down from Svatý Hostýn:

Elderflowers that some nice strangers told me how to pick and make into syrup (which I later did--delicious!):

At the pilgrimage site of Svatý Hostýn:

Beautiful stations of the cross:

Great day:  Rusava to  Svatý Hostýn and then down to the bus at Chvalčov.  11.1 km, 514 m gain.  

"Backpacking" Slušovice to Rusava, Czech Republic

 I went on a sort of rural overnight backpacking trip last weekend.  This is day one.  

The idyllic view from near Slušovice:

There was even a sheepdog carefully patrolling his flock and warning me not to get too close.

Green meadowed hills with clouds that seemed to pose just for me:

Wildlife:

Forest art gallery:

Castle (Ahh...Europe):  

Scary bottomless hole in the road:

Okay, so it had a bottom, but it was pretty creepy.  Thank goodness people marked it well.

A classic Czech spring (though this one's a more overgrown than usual).  I love how you'll often find cups hanging at these places so that anyone can take a civilized drink:

More wildlife in the spring.  Probably teenaged tadpoles.  But maybe fire salamander babies.

Feast of wild strawberries.  Okay...maybe FEAST isn't the right word for something so tiny.  But yummy.

What a great day.  Slušovice to Rusava via Lukov castle.  19.4 km, 571 m gain.  With a moderately heavy pack.    

Just a flower in the rain

 Seasons!!  Rain!!  Green things with flowers!!  What a lovely place the Czech Republic is.  

Vsetín, Czech Republic: park in spring

 

Book Review, When We Go Missing, by April Henry

This was a fast, exciting, enjoyable read with admirable but flawed characters, good plotting, and good characterization.  

A librarian friend once recommended April Henry for reluctant young adult readers, and I have to agree.  I've read a couple of her other books and they've all been good.  

   

Book Review, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman

This was a strange book.  

The writing was engaging, but I didn’t love spending time with the main character at first, and her personality seemed a little hard to pin down.  That, however, turned out to be the brilliance of the book.  Stick with it.  The reward is well worth it.  

4.5 stars

I would definitely read more by Gail Honeyman.  

The progression of spring

Since I posted last, here's a photo log of important spring developments:

April 17: Tulips and other flowers planted by the city on the side of the road

April 19:  The local arboretum

Where this:

Becomes this:

April 22:  

April 25: Canola fields that one week drew no attention at all and by the next week were startlingly yellow. 

And general gorgeousness, including many cotton-puff trees.

May 2:  Most of the cotton-puff trees have lost their blossoms, but now, on the hill in the back, you can see the striking contrast between the electric-green new growth of deciduous trees and the dark green of the evergreens.  One of my favorite things about spring here.

May 6:  But even the spruce gets in the new-grow-green action:

May 7:  In the castle park in Valmez

I love spring!