JOURNEY TO THE BLACK HILLS - DAY 1 KALISPELL TO SHELBY, MONTANA

Well, at last, we are on the road again. Kinsey has been running around like a chicken with its head chopped off getting ready for this trip to The Heart of Everything That Is aka The Black Hills (Paha Sapa). To read why we wanted to visit the Black Hills click here.

Taking 2 East we headed for the Great Plains. At Marias Pass it was 30 degrees. By the time we hit Browning it was snowing. Did not expect that. Was hoping to see the incredible site of the Rockies thrusting up off the plains but they were completely shrouded in clouds.

We were glad we weren't going to St. Mary this spring. It had to be snowing a bunch up that way. We were also glad because in Browning where you turn to go north on 89 MDOT signs announced there was construction going on up that way and the delays would be such that they advised using an alternative route. Trouble is, if you are driving a motor home there is no other route. If you live in snow country it is a source of never ending frustration that just when you are able to get out and about they start tearing up the roads.

The green rolling hills of the plains are just beautiful. We passed a wind farm where not a single blade was idle. They were those really huge windmills. The blades move slowly and nearly made me seasick watching them as they crisscrossed one another in big lazy loops. Saw lots and lots of horses but no foals. We pulled over in Cut Bank for a stretch and I nearly dove through the window after a ground squirrel.

There was no shoulder so Kinsey just shot out the window as she drove.

Kinsey didn't want to beat herself to death on the road the first day so we stopped in Shelby, Montana. Stayed at the Shelby RV park. It's new and next door to a Comfort Inn and casino. We don't care much for casinos. I'm too young to gamble and Kinsey isn't a gambler. It's right near a veterans memorial and under a huge flag that flies 24/7. Montanans are a very patriotic bunch.

Veterans Memorial in Shelby Montana

Old Glory flying 24/7

We walked into town which is mostly several blocks of a main street. It reminded Kinsey of towns she grew up around in California in the fifties. The town was dead as a door nail (how is a nail dead?). Many towns in Montana are pretty much closed down on Sundays. Driving through rural Montana is like taking a trip in a time machine. We like it!

Main Street in Shelby, Montana

Koty came along to watch over us. Many years ago when Kinsey was shooting on the California Coast and Lakota Sunrise aka Koty was still with her, a friend gave her this stuffed toy husky and Kinsey has carried in Clementine ever since.

Koty watching over us

Ciao for now.
#MollyMontana

©Kinsey Barnard

Hebgen Lake - The Lake that Tilted

Kinsey spent quite a bit of time at the Gallatin Ranger Station in West Yellowstone getting the scoop on good places to go hiking. So much time in fact, much of the day had been frittered away.  That Kinsey, she's quite a talker. And, you know, I'm stuck out in the car the whole blinking time watching cars go by.

Dickey Lake

On our way down to the Flathead we stopped in at Dickey Lake. Dickey is one of Kinsey's favorites because of the color of the water.  It is very gorgeous. They say the color comes from glacial waters. If I didn't know I was in Montana I'd think I was in the tropics.

Dickey Lake

The wind was kicking up a bit. When it's totally calm it's even more beautiful as the light refracts off the water. This is a great kayaking lake too. The water is crystal clear.

Crystal clear water at Dickey Lake

The shoreline goes from primitive to developed. Since the Canadian dollar has gained so much strength against the US dollar Canadians have invaded the place building great big homes on the shore. Oh, well, nothing lasts forever.

Canadian invader

We spied this interesting outfit on the south end of the lake. The south end is a known nesting spot for loons so this guy is either doing research or something very illegal. You can't see it, cuz the photos so small, but there's a golden lab on board.

Squatter on Dickey Lake

I wish Kinsey would figure out some way to take me along with her when she kayaks. Her kayak is to small for the both of us and she can't get a bigger one because she couldn't handle it alone. Maybe she could figure out something to tow? It would have to be fairly stable cuz I'm still no fan of swimming.

If any of my readers has an idea about how I can go kayaking too please let me know and I'll pass it along to Kinsey. I would be forever in your debt.

Ciao for now!
Molly Montana

©Kinsey Barnard

The Woodswomen Kinsey Barnard Is slashing and Burning

It's that time of year again when Kinsey goes into the woods and works like a madwoman, slashing and burning. She takes managing her forest very seriously. Some people may just let their land go au natural but not Kinsey. She is a firm believer that one needs to lend Nature a hand if they want Nature to return the favor. She also believes "To be worn out is to be renewed." ~ Lao Tzu

Open burning starts in March and by May it is permit season. This year it was so wet during open burn it was all Kinsey could do to start a fire. One day she just flat threw in the towel. First time that's happened in 12 years.

Don't like to get too close to those fires

Kinsey is out there for four to five hours at a whack. It's all hot fires and chainsaws. I'm not really crazy about the chainsaw especially since Kinsey one time forgot to holler "Timber!" when she cut down a tree and it nearly beaned me. It was a small tree but I was a puppy so it looked plenty big to me. I'm very slowly getting over it.

Now, I'm all for looking after the health of the forest but what is a little girl supposed to do for entertainment? I mean golly gee whiz. But, I came up with a great idea ..... frisbee! I love to play frisbee!

Please. Please. Please. Toss me the frisbee.

Kinsey is constantly mumbling about how nice it would be if I could put all my pent up energy into something productive like helping with the slashing and burning. But, that is not what Nature intended for me. Now, if she'd get me something to heard I could shine.

I have to hand it to Kinsey hard as she works she still takes time to toss me the frisbee and finds time to try and take a picture or two of me. I hate having my picture taken but I have to admit I am a lovely creature.

Sitting on a blow down tree trunk

After she's done I must also admit things do look so much nicer with the added benefit that the fire fuels have been reduced.

Cleaned up area

So, as you can see not much has been going on as far as I'm concerned. I'm looking forward to June. There won't be anymore marathon days of burning. Maybe we can get out and have some fun. I'm hoping to get to take my first road trip one day soon.

Be sure and check out Kinsey's new blog The Liberated Photographer.

©Kinsey Barnard

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION

It has been some time since I posted to the blog. What with the holidays and I just didn't have anything I wanted to share I decided to take a little hiatus. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We certainly did here at Dancing Deer. It was white an wonderful.

Koty continues to struggle with old age and Cushing's. He's lost so much hair I marvel at how he still loves to be out in the very cold. He wears a neck gator, a friend knit for him, all the time as his neck is completely bald. He's slowed down but his quality of life is tip top. I am now able to let him roam free on the ranch. He loves to trot down to the pond to get his water and I love to watch him. In these last days of his life we are bonding in new and beautiful ways. It fills my heart to breaking.

The winter has been mild so far. The temperatures have been mostly in the 20's,  great for hiking. Everyday Koty still pesters me to no end to go for a hike and so we do. Winter is a magical time in the woods. And I truly treasure the time we spend in them.

Koty down at the pond and roaming free

Timmie has finally given in to the cold and spends the bulk of his time indoors. He's not so tiny anymore either. He's packing on the poundage at a prodigious rate as most of us do who live in this climate.

A friend sent me this video and I just had to pass it on. If it doesn't bring tears to your eyes you've already passed on. It is especially meaningful to me because it reminds me of what a fortunate person I am to live where I do and see what I see. This is my life. And sometimes I take it for granted because it is my life. Watch and enjoy!!! ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION
video. A masterpiece.

©Kinsey Barnard