Wilcox Pass

Late one afternoon we decided to hike up to Wilcox Pass in some of our warmer boat people outfits. It was a steep ascent past the tree line and then into the snow. It was warm in the sun but quite cold and brisk in the wind at the pass. We had a great time and it was lovely, but those fancy windbreakers and backpacks were beginning to look like a pretty smart idea.

Canoes at Morraine Lake

The canoes really add something, don't they?

Outdoor Style

At the trail heads and observation points, we often join a crowd of stylishly dressed outdoors experts. We admire their great boots, trim parkas, walking sticks (sometimes two), special backpacks, and tailored rain gear. Looks like us boat people bring our own unique look.

Another Mountain and Lake

We've spent days wandering in mountains and lakes, taking picture after picture, and sure that family and friends back home will be thrilled with every one of them. This is Morraine Lake, one of our favorite stops.

Hiking the Lake

There is usually a short or long trail that takes you away from the crowds and off to some new vantage point. With a mob scene down on the observation deck, it was especially wonderful to wander off alone and leave the tour bus and its chattering patrons behind.

The Canadian Rockies

We drove through Montana, into Canada, and entered the spectacular Canadian Rockies, the land of beautiful lakes, dramatic waterfalls, awesome mountains, and loveliness all around. We have so many pictures that fatigue and tedium will attack anyone who looks at this blog. We will try to contain ourselves. This is one of our favorite places, Peyto Lake.

What's this?

Even the most enthusiastic long distance driver takes a break once in a while. This is a rare exception to the famous biblical passage: "The meek shall inherit the passenger seat."

Walmart Denizens

Some of you may not believe the ugly rumor that we have become Walmart campers, but this is proof. While running through familiar places to reach the wonderful and new, we have pulled in to participating Walmarts for our night's sleep. In Billings Montana an especially helpful security guard drove over to give us his favorite chicken  casserole recipe.

Little BigHorn Battlefield

A storm blew over us just as we arrived at the Little Bighorn. Lightning and high winds sent everyone inside, but it blew through rapidly and soon we were walking through the battlefield under dramatic skies. There are many military graveyards, but this is only one of two places in the world which has markers where the soldiers  fell in battle and died. Here are two markers along the prairie path. Soldiers from the "Indian Wars" to Vietnam are buried in the graveyard above the battlefield.

Devils Tower

Devil's Tower welcomed us back to Wyoming.

Badlands again

We had remembered the Badlands fondly from a distance. Once we returned, however, the brutal reality of the sun and oppressive heat stunned us into heartfelt respect.

Pipestone National Monument

After a morning at Jeffers, we spent the afternoon on the west shore of Minnesota in Pipestone National Monument. Trails through the prairie and woodlands took us to ancient and active quarries where Native Americans mine for the blood red pipestone. This soft rock is easily carved but mining it from the iron hard matrix is hot and miserable work. Quarries flood with water and have to be drained.  Only traditional tools are used to cut into the narrow veins of pipestone.

Petroglyphs in the fields

From the wonders of Iowa, we wended our way to Minnesota. After a visit with Thelma's brother, Don Mulder, we traveled across the state, watching the land change from the green farms of the mid west to the dry plains. At Jeffers we walked over rock outcroppings which were marked with Native American petroglyphs. Since we came with the sun high overhead, they were nearly invisible to the human eye. The site and its markings are sacred and Native peoples from across the country continue to come here to worship. The red rock is so full of iron that it attracts lightning and there images of lightning snakes and thunderbirds in many places on the rock.

Iowa Meadows

We left Atlanta on Monday, July 6 and pointed north. Our first stop was Iowa for a visit with Chiara, James, and the talented Baby Norah. After too many days of Atlanta summer, the wind blowing through the grassy prairies was a great relief.

Atlanta Favorites

It is great to be getting on the road, but we will miss our best niece and nephew in all of Atlanta. Katherine and Karl, have a great summer and see you soon.

Ready to go

Here's Bubba, packed and ready to go!
 On Monday the 9th of July, we'll be off to Alaska.
The road takes us across MN, through SD, into MT and up to Alberta. Once in Canada, we will take more time to see the sights.
Hope to get to Alaska around the beginning of August.
The trip back to Atlanta is not defined yet, but we will take as much time as we have and see as much as we can see.