Thanks for asking about the sourdough starter I mentioned last week. I fed it twice a day for about 10 days and it finally doubled in size consistently. The first loaf came out a little dense but the flavor was nice tangy not too sharp. I used a mix of bread flour and whole wheat which gave it a heartier texture. My kitchen was cold so I had to keep it near the oven while baking other things just to maintain warmth. I think next time I will extend the bulk fermentation a bit longer and maybe try a cold proof overnight in the fridge to see if that deepens the flavor more. Let me know if you want some discard to start your own batch I can show you the feeding routine. It is not complicated at all once you get the rhythm down. The most important thing is patience and keeping it on a schedule even if you only do it once a day.

I looked into that hiking trail you recommended near the river bend. It took about two hours with the loop and the elevation gain was moderate nothing too steep. The path was well marked and there were a few spots with nice views of the water. I packed sandwiches and ate lunch on a flat rock near the halfway point. The weather held up nicely only a light breeze in the afternoon. I think next time I will bring binoculars because I saw some interesting birds I could not identify from a distance. The parking lot was not crowded when I arrived around eight in the morning but it was fuller when I came back down around eleven. If you want to go together sometime I am free most weekends just give me a couple days notice so I can plan around my other commitments.