This is how we all felt after hiking yesterday in Devils Lake State Park.  Dan, Kak, Ranger and I left early for the drive up there.  We spent some time watching the young great blue herons in the rookery at the park, and then went to the main lake area for a hike.  Little did we know what we were getting into!

 This is Balanced Rock Trail, which climbs up the cliffs above the lake.  The rock steps were constructed by the CCC in the 1930's and they are smooth granite, very slippery in parts.

 The reward for all that huffing and puffing was a great view of the lake and surrounding area.

There were lot of dramatic rocks along the trail, and we passed many rock-climbers who were dangling out over the cliffs on their ropes. (Now there's an activity I have no desire to try!)  The middle section of the hike (East Bluff Trail) was smooth and gave many views of the lake, but then there was that harrowing trip DOWN the cliffside with Ranger in tow.  Actually he did well, listening to Dan's directions to go slowly and then WAIT for us all to catch up with him.  But he was one exhausted dog by the time we got down to the bottom, to enjoy a cold drink  and a picnic lunch.  He managed to recover enough to enjoy a swim in the cold  water.  Then I got to sit with a wet dog on my lap for the trip back to McFarland, but it was worth it to see him cavort in the lake.

Packing up this morning, Monday, to drive to Door County and four days at Peninsula State Park.