We were lucky as the clouds parted and we had a beautiful day for a hike. We took Osprey down to Payette Trail as planned but left a shuttle car at the lower trailhead. This took out the hill back up Osprey but made the hike considerably longer. In the morning we went past our usual lunch spot to the second mini-peninsula where the views are spectacular. Not of the water, because there wasn't much, but of the depths of the empty lake.
We retuned to Hal's Point for lunch, with a suitable chocolate dessert, then made our way back to the shuttle car on the longer route, enjoying the colors. It was a very social group of 15 and there was lots of conversation along the way as we motored along.
Most of us stopped at Boomtown for refreshments on the way back. A great day was had by all, judging by the smiles.