SCOUTING LOCATIONS-SUNSETS- MONTANA TEA

I got a call from Montana Woodworks saying my stool was ready. I have, for sometime wanted to try and get some shots of the Koocanusa from the west bank. I figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone. It never ceases to amaze me that after seven years I still find trails I have not been down before. This day I found a new one that was just the ticket. Below is a photo of the bridge that spans the lake to the West Kootenai.

REXFORD BRIDGE

The day was not good for photography. It was very hazy. Most likely due to a fire somewhere. Although, as fire seasons go this year was a very light one. The important thing is I found a promising place to return to when conditions are more favorable.

LAKE KOOCANUSA

KOOCANUSA THROUGH THE PONDEROSA

You can see that the leaves have already begun to change. It never ceases to amaze me how fast the sun moves north and south here in north Montana. We've already lost well over an hour of sunlight. I don't know why it is but I always seem to get the best shots of Lakota in the Fall.

LAKOTA

Fall always seems to bring with it the best sunsets of the year and they have started already. Pleas note there has been no color enhancement of these photographs. This is the true color.

SEPTEMBER SUNSET


SUNSET OUT MY WINDOW

This summer I have invented a new drink. Normally, I don't mix alcohol with mixers. I drink it either neat or with water. But, I found something to which I am well and truly addicted. The great thing about it is it's fantastic without the alcohol! Now please keep in mind I live in the woods and what's new to me may be old hat to you. It's Lipton White Tea Peach Papaya. I mix it with gin and it's the most refreshing drink I think I've ever had. I dubbed it Montana Tea. Seriously, if you haven't tried it you must. It's diet so no wasted calories and as I mentioned straight is delicious too which is actually how I discovered it.

©Kinsey Barnard Photography

Many Glacier Will Have to Wait

Well, howdy. Did I get a big disappointment this week. Mom packed up Clementine, hooked up Shadow and I thought we were headed for Many Glacier. The plan was to go to Kalispell, get Clementine some routine maintenance and then head on over to St. Mary's.

The work on Clem was scheduled to take about four hours so we took off for the Great Northern Historical Trail.


The "trail" is a tarmac walkway but very nice and lots of things to see. It heads west from Kalispell and takes you into a very pretty rural area.


There is an amazing array of birds to be found on this walk. We saw beautiful meadow larks, blue birds and mountain swallows. Pictured above a mountain swallow sitting on a post. View full version.



We also spied this little robin who had built her nest on an old trestle beam. View full version.



Then there were these painted turtles doing, well, what ever they were doing. There really were a lot of critters to see on this, really, not very primitive trail. View full version.


Before log we started to see nasty looking clouds forming and a few people we met started talking about winter weather over on the east side. Mom called the park and sure enough they were expecting snow. Well, that was the end of our trip. Mom wasn't about to drive all that way to sit in Clem for a week. We high-tailed it home in the rain. Mom could be heard grumbling for two days as she hauled everything back out of Clem. Full version.


So, we've been amusing ourselves around here and took another walk along the Tobacco River where we came across this old car which looks like it has seen better days but mom thought it was kind of photogenic. Okay, so mom's a little daffy. :) Full version.


Mom was very delighted when we came across this blue-winged teal pair. Full version.

Anyway, I guess it's never a good idea to get too married to plans cuz they sure have a way of changing. Darn! But, mom says we will give it a go again when the weather improves. So, I wait impatiently.

©Kinsey Barnard Photography