Went for a ride with a few buddies to check out the Monarch fire burning a few mountain ranges over near Gardnerville Nevada.

We could see the smoke from our houses in Topaz Ranch Estates 25 miles away.

It turned out to be a spectacularly beautiful day to be out riding all over our backyard local mountains.

We reached the fire line about 25 miles away where there were ground crews, fire engines, water trucks and a helicopter and a plane dropping water on hot spots and a fire spotter plane flying overhead.

They were all doing a kick ass job attacking and putting out the fire, it was fascinating to see.