Tuesday September 25: One of the best things about camping here in the Bitterroot Valley is that I get to see my sisters, Lillian and Nancy. Both sisters have come out a couple of times and we have visited with our brother Rollie who is also camped here. I had planned to meet Nancy for another visit and hike, but that is being cut out by our leaving early. However, I do get to see Lillian one more time before Clifford and I leave Montana for the season.
Lillian and I meet for lunch at a nice place in the nearby small town of Florence and sit outside in the sunshine in the enclosed patio, protected from the breeze. So nice to have the time to visit with no rush to be somewhere else.
After lunch, she comes back to our campground and we hike up the Bass Creek Trail to the quiet spot on the creek where I hiked earlier this week with friends. We both take photo of the waterfall that is usually hidden and then continue on up the trail, taking photos of each other. What a fun day!
Bass Creek Trail
Lillian Taking a Photo
Hidden Waterfall
Hidden waterfall on Bass Creek
Lillian
Bass Creek Trail
Bass Creek
Clifford
went on a cross-country hike by himself today. It is good that we
are both getting out and hiking some. He also made progress on the CI
Legacy Project. After dinner, while I did the dishes, he played the
dulcimer, which is always nice to hear. Most days I play the viola,
but not today. Sister visits are more important!
Monday
September 24: The low last night was in the mid-30’s and the high
today is only 59 degrees with a cumulus cloud cover. In looking at
the map and the forecast for cooler weather in Montana with rain and
possibly early snow, we decide that we will have to leave Bass Creek
earlier than planned and begin the journey south. I am not so happy
about this, as it means a change of plans as far as seeing family
goes, but I do understand the wisdom of the decision.
In the afternoon, Clifford and I drive to one of the other main drainages in the Bitterroot Range, Kootenai Creek, just a few miles further south in the Bitterroot Valley. It is a lovely hike with lots of autumn color and the creek seems especially lively as it tumbles around boulders and over rocks that form the creek bed. We left camp a little late for getting sunlight on the foliage, but at least we are here and have the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful scenic trail before we leave this area.
Clifford and I are camped at Bass Creek in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana. We sure do like this campground with its mix of wooded creekside campsites and open ponderosa forest campsites.
Autumn colors at our campsite in the Ponderosa forest at Charles Waters Campground at Bass Creek Recreation Area
My brother Rollie is camped here, also, but leaves on Thursday. I make breakfast for the three of us and then we say our good-byes for now. It’s been fun playing music with him, sharing meals and playing cribbage almost every evening. We will see him again this winter in Arizona.
Brother Rollie and Ninja
I’m having issues with my brand new cell phone. People can call me, but I can’t call out. I spend a long time on Clifford’s cell talking to Verizon trying to figure things out. Eventually it is somewhat resolved. I also send a few texts to family and friends from the new cell. I take a few photos, but have other things going on, so don’t really have the time to devote to it right now.
Bass Creek with the new cell phone
On
Saturday we make a trip to Missoula for errands before driving out
Petty Creek to see my daughter Ang, grandson Oden, and Ang’s
friend, Rama. It is good to see them and have dinner together. We
don’t stay long after dinner, as they were up late last night and
we would like to get back to Bass Creek before dark.
My favorite display at Book Exchange in Missoula
Wildlife on the road to Ang’s place
Ang’s greenhouse flourishing
Sunday
morning I make coffee and a campfire, planning to sit out to write in
the journal – and then it starts to rain. I hang a tarp over the
clothes line for a shelter and sit out for awhile with the fresh air
and the rain.
Campfire and shelter from the rain
In the afternoon, long-time friends, Ken and Shelley Anne, come out to the campground to have lunch with us. After we eat, Ken, Shelley Anne, and I hike up the Bass Creek trail to a spot where the lively creek is calm. This year it is also very low and we are able to step down to a spot where we can see a waterfall that is normally out of view. It is so wonderful to spend time in this setting with these dear people.
Bass Creek Trail
Bass Creek along Bass Creek Trail
Dear Friends
Yours Truly
During these days, I have also been editing for Ang and have prepared the first draft of a query that will be sent to literary agents for her epic fantasy novel Princes and Priests.
Our days are jam-packed with interesting and fun things to do. I am looking forward to a few more days here before we begin the southward journey to southern Utah.
The week of September 12 through September 18: We move from our great spot at Seeley Lake, returning to Bass Creek in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana.
Cougar and Clifford back at Bass Creek
Living in a forest
We make a couple of trips to Missoula for errands and shopping, including picking up the new cell phone that I ordered. I am hoping that photos taken with the Moto Z2Play will make it easier to share photos via the net and cell service, since that is the primary way of sharing nowadays. I will be comparing photos taken with the cell and photos take with the little Canon. I see that many really outstanding photos are now being taken with cell phones, even by professional photographers. I have been reluctant to make a cell phone my primary means of taking photos, but it is certainly easier to carry a cell phone on a hike, which was a determining factor in putting my money toward a new cell phone (which I needed anyway) rather than a new camera.
Walkabout to try out the new cell phone camera
Hillside behind our campground
Morning light on wildfowers
Another
highlight of the week is a “sleepover” with my daughter Ang, with
steaks cooked over a big bonfire, and then spending the night in
Terry, our old camper that we gave to Ang when we got Cougar in
August. Morning coffee, time spent in the greenhouse, and working on
editing issues fill the next day before I return to our campground at
Bass Creek.
Sleepover with a bonfire
This
particular week culminates in another sibling/spouses gathering, this
time at brother Rollie’s campsite, also at Bass Creek, with
everyone bringing food for a potluck and a big campfire. Rollie and
I play a few bluegrass tunes, but mostly it is fun to be part of the
conversation and laughter as we listen to tales and almost tall-tales
of our growing up years. I sure do love this group of humans and am
so glad we had time together again before we go our separate ways.
Rollie will be leaving Montana in a couple of days; Clifford and I
will be leaving before the end of the month.
Monday September 10: I walk to the lake in the early morning, appreciating the peacefulness with the first light of day on the water. There are a couple of benches that provide places to sit or one can stroll along the beach or take the path through the woods along the lakeside. Over the course of our time here, I have done all of these. Back at camp, I make a campfire so I can continue to be outdoors.
Today Clifford and I
go for a drive to other campgrounds along the stretch of lakes in the
Seeley-Swan Valley. The campground at Lake Alva has numerous empty
spots, but no view of the lake that we can find. Lake Inez has some
camping spots along a road above the lake, but it is not a campground
and spots would soon fill, so we wouldn’t try to come here with the
camper.
Lake Inez
Autumn colors near Lake Alva
Back at Seeley Lake,
which we still like the best, at the suggestion of a friend, I do an
energy clearing ceremony, wading out in to the lake and letting bits
of bark and cones float away, representing a releasing of tension and
negative energy.
Back at Seeley Lake
In the later
afternoon, I finish reading the novel I had started before going to
Wallace. After dinner is the usual bedtime routine and it is always
surprising to me how long it takes to take care of all the loose ends
before getting into bed.
Tuesday September 11: I got up kind of late this morning, but walk down to the lake before breakfast anyway. I make my way toward the bridge and get several shots of the lily pads that line the bank there.
Lily pads along the lake shore
Back at the campsite, I visit our neighbor, Ana, an artist who is outside painting. She is an interesting woman and we have enjoyed our visits.
Today I take out the ¾ cello that I brought back with me from Wallace where it had been stored. At one time, I had hoped to play cello regularly as we camped, but cellos are too big to play indoors in an RV and often the weather is not suitable for playing outdoors. This one, even though not full-size, still takes up a lot of room. Being a rather inexpensive instrument, one I was willing to take camping, also means that it does not have great sound. I haven’t enjoyed playing it as much as I hoped I would, which is why it ended up being stored in Wallace. But now it is with me and we’ll see what happens next. I sort the rest of the stuff in my car, stuff that we brought back from the basement of my daughter’s house where we lived for about four years. Some of it is packed to go to a second-hand store in Stevensville, some will go back to Monticello with us, and sadly, some things just go in the dumpster.
Our last day at Seeley Lake
We pick up outside
stuff – chairs, tables, and such, as we will be leaving tomorrow.
It has been great being here, but I am also looking forward to going
back to Bass Creek so as to see more of my family before we begin the
journey south.
September 7 through 9 is a jam-packed three days of family gathering at the historic Jamison Hotel in historic Wallace, Idaho. Although the kitchen is too old-fashioned to be easy to use, the space in general is spacious and gracious, the bar quite spectacular, the bedrooms quaintly charming, and the basement reputed to be haunted.
Quaintly charming bedrooms
Gracious sitting areas
My daughter
Heading it up
The impressive Jamison Hotel bar
I tend to like things harmonious and organized, so the hubbub is a bit unsettling for me, but it certainly is interesting and lively.
My grand-daughter
My grandson and my daughter
Another daughter
My son and a friend of the family
A grandson watching the parade
Grandsons watching the parade
Grandson and granddaughter watching
My daughter – a drummer in the parade
More granddaughters
A fierce grandson
A grandson and his dad, my son
A family friend and another granddaughter
Grandson and his uncle
A MacDonald Family squinting in the sun for the photographer
A sketch by another daughter, a gift to the owners of the Jamison
The Wallace Gathering was quite amazing and I know I will miss seeing who is up and having coffee at the Wallace Coffee House when I get there, who wants to go to breakfast somewhere, who wants to run to the store or go shop browsing, and who is just hanging out sharing stories. Awesome group!
The setting of the sun
On my way back to Seeley Lake, I stop to take photos of a beautiful sunset and reach camp after dark, happy to be back in my own space with Clifford and Cougar
Wednesday September 4: The night was chilly and autumn colors are becoming more pronounced. After a morning walk along the lake, it is warm enough to sit in the sunshine to write in the journal and send pics to my family.
Morning walk by the lake
My daughter Katie calls to see if I will come to the sibling and friends gathering in Wallace, Idaho. I had thought I would not go, but it is worked out for me to meet up with my daughter Ang and her friend Rama to ride partway with them. It will be good to see kids and grandkids that I might not otherwise get to see on our travels.
Autumn Colors
In the afternoon, I continue with editing Ang’s book Princes and Priests. Later, Clifford and I go to the laundromat in the town of Seeley Lake. After the baskets of clean clothes are loaded in the Suburban, we cross the highway to the gift shop for a really good ice cream cone. Back at camp, after dinner and cleanup, we both read/study until bedtime.
Wednesday September 5: Clifford is up earlier today, so I sit out in the morning sunshine to chat with him and then we tend to some CI email. For both of us, it is a day of our usual activities: Clifford works on the CI Legacy Project, plays his dulcimer, and listens to his ham radio; I edit, write blogs, play viola, and read. Dinner is simple and we are happy being here.
Sundown at Seeley Lake Campground
Thursday September 6: This morning I make a campfire instead of going down to the lake. Nice to sit here with my coffee and journal.
Campfire, coffee, and journal
After breakfast I pack a bag to take to Wallace. As I’m getting my car tidied up, I meet the neighbor across the road, an artist currently living in a tent as she does large colorful lively paintings out in the open. She is quite an interesting and friendly woman, with a great idea for a foundation to help other artists.
Stormy wind ruffles the water
I do my walkabout
this afternoon as a storm is moving in with a bit of a rainbow. By
time I get to a spot clear enough to get a shot of it, the rainbow
has faded, but it was still exciting to see.
The fading rainbow
Breakfast burritos for dinner and then I tidy up our cozy space before heading to bed.
Saturday September 1: Clifford didn’t feel well in the night, but fortunately he is okay this morning. I go down to the lake first thing this morning for photos. I love the ambiance of the mist rising off the lake.
Mist on Seeley Lake
Rising Mist
Chat with Rollie before he heads out to attend a bluegrass festival.
Rollie and his rig
I
drive into the town of Seeley Lake to look for local honey, browsing
through gift shops, and end up buying local raw honey at the market.
Stop for photos of water lilies on the way back to camp.
Lily pond on the shore of Seeley
Lily
In the evening I do some editing of Princes and Priests for my daughter Ang and then edit photos from my outings today.
Sundown at Seeley Lake
Sunday September 2: It is a beautiful morning here with the mist on the lake again. After the mist lifts, I sit outside in the sunshine with my cup of coffee while I write in the journal.
Mist on the lake
Shore hidden from view
Today
is a day of calls: some business calls and some family/friends calls.
I play my viola and do more editing today, as well as start reading
another novel. Nice to have time to read, along with all the other
things that I like to do.
Monday September 3: I make coffee and then go sit by the lake to muse on things while I sip at my coffee.
Sitting by Seeley Lake to muse
Back at camp after breakfast, I send photos of the lake to all the family. The afternoon is more editing and reading and playing fiddle tunes on the viola. Life is good!
Friday
August 31: My brother Rollie and I are up early and make coffee in
his motor home here in Sun River, Montana, before we start packing up
for the return trip over the mountain and back to the campground at
Seeley Lake. My son Matt joins us for breakfast and we say our
good-byes. It was a good visit and I’m glad we had time for fishing
ventures yesterday, as well as sharing meals and chatting.
It is a windy drive back to Seeley Lake, not only across the prairie foothills on the east face of the Rockies, which is usually windy, but even into the mountains. It makes the journey back harder for the Rollie and the motor home.
East Face of the Rockies with mountains in the distance
Approaching the MIddle Fork of the Dearborn River Crossing
Rocky Mountains of Montana where prairie meets mountains
We arrive safely at the Seeley Lake Campground in time for me to make lunch for the three of us (Clifford had stayed to hold down the fort – Cougar).
Return to Seeley Lake Campground
We
make a campfire, and Rollie and I play some bluegrass tunes. Dinner
is a left-over baked trout, as good as the one we shared with family
at dinner last night in Sun River. It was a good trip, but I am glad
to be back to our campsite with Clifford and Cougar.
Thursday August 30: Today will be the fishing day on the Sun River, but to start the morning, my brother Rollie and I have coffee in his motor home, parked in the town of Sun River, Montana. About a mile from here is the farm where I raised my family, and this little town was where my kids went to school and where some friends from those days still live. This area was my home for twenty years, and my son Matt and his kids still live here. Sun River has become more and more run down in the twenty years plus years since then, partly due to laws that limit rebuilding after flood damage. It is sad to see.
Matt and his friend Lexie join Rollie and me for breakfast in the motor home and we make our plans for the fishing trip. Rocky Reef on the Sun River will be our destination. We decide to forego a picnic and will just return to the motor home for lunch when everyone gets hungry.
Sun River upstream from Rocky Reef
Rocky Reef is a rock formation that juts out into the river creating a deep pool at its base. Although the river is low this year, the pool remains deep. While the other three – Matt, Rollie, and Lexie – fish, I wander the banks and climb the rock formation to take photos.
Downstream looking toward Rocky Reef
The fishermen fishing at Rocky Reef
Sun River looking downstream from Rocky Reef
Sun River looking upstream from Rocky Reef
Rollie and Ninja catching fish
Rollie, Matt, and Pandora fishing
Rollie on the bank below Rocky Reef
Matt catches fish
Matt is an outstanding fisherman and he is the only one who catches fish. Three good-size trout will make a tasty dinner tonight.
Saying good-bye to the Sun River at Rocky Reef for now
After meeting Matt’s
boss (Matt works near here and his boss let him have the day off for
my visit), we head on back to the motor home for lunch. The
fishermen will try a different fishing hole this afternoon, and a
decision is made to just walk down to the river from here rather than
driving somewhere else.
Matt and his chainsaw angel
Pandora, Matt, Angel, Carol
Rollie, Matt, Angel, Carol
Back at the river,
fishing continues. Rollie has to catch his hat after it blows into
the river and I stack rocks to amuse myself before heading back to
the motor home.
Fishing for a run-away hat
In the early
evening, my grand-daughter Aurora and her friend Alex come join the
rest of us for baked trout dinner. As dinner is cooking, Rollie and
I play a few of our bluegrass tunes for them, and after dinner we
make tea and chat until late.
Grand-daughter Aurora; Son Matt, Aurora’s friend Alex, Carol, Brother Rollie
It was a good visit.
Tomorrow Rollie and I will head back to Seeley Lake.
