"A Beautiful Morning"

Polson, MT
June 11 &12, 2013



5:52 am today

This morning Joe and I set out before 6:00 am to do our walk. It just has to be our favorite time of the day! What a way to wake up and greet the morning and each other!

 While we were walking I got this song stuck in my head and I have been singing it all day long. Does that ever happen to you?
 
Do you remember The Young Rascals and the song "A Beautiful Morning"? It came out early in 1968 and by June '68 was a certified Million Seller and made it to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

This morning was just one of those mornings...a cool mid-fifties, sun coming up, fresh air and a great to be alive kindda feeling. 





"It's a beautiful morning, ah
I think I'll go outside a while
And just smile
Just take in the fresh air, boy!
If the weather's fine, and you got the time
It's your chance to wake up and plan another brand new day
Either way
It's a beautiful mornin', ah
Each bird keeps singin' his own song..."

I was still in high school (barely) in 1968. I can remember most of The Young Rascals great hits. You sure don't hear songs like that on the radio these days! What a shame...

After coffee and some computer time, I took Sally for a walk. She is a wee bit over weight and I enjoy walking with her so we did a couple laps around the park here.

 

Sally is very patient with me...she politely lays down wherever I stop to take a picture.

There is a small airport across the street from us. We thought it would be very noisy, but it's not. In fact, we enjoy watching the planes land and take off. One plane ran off the runway landing yesterday...that was exciting!




















The flowers in the pictures today are wildflowers. They grow along the fence that is in front of the first road of motorhomes.

Speaking of the 1960's...I had one of those Beetles. It was blue, a straight shift, and so much  fun!

Sally is so sweet!

Yesterday, Joe and I rode around the other side of Flathead Lake. It's a huge lake!

In fact, Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi.

It is a remnant of the ancient Glacial Lake Missoula. It is bordered on its eastern shore by the Mission Mountains and on the west by the Salish Mountains.

The Flathead valley was formed by the glacial damming of the Flathead River and has a remarkably mild climate.





 We were quite surprised to find cherry orchards. The mild climate allows for cherry orchards on the east shore.


We passed one orchard after another and finally stopped to make a purchase. The Bing cherries and Rainier cherries are very sweet! And they are good for you too!

There are vineyards for wine production on the west shore...haven't visited those yet! As well as apples, pear and plum orchards.

There are 5 state parks along the shore of Flathead Lake and 1 state park that is an island and only assessable by boat.

We stopped at Finley Point SP on the east shore for a picnic. We do plan to see them all!

 It is a beautiful ride around the lake... about 90 miles all the way around.



There are some gorgeous properties along the way.

I waited and waited for a better picture of the doe and her fawn, but not meant to be this time. It you look real close you will see the fawn in the bottom left corner or click on the picture to enlarge it. 

I saw this bear when I was tromping through the cherry orchard taking pictures...sure caught me by surprise!

These flower baskets are hanging everywhere in Polson.

Until next time...

 

Take care and God Bless!

Home on the Range

Polson, MT
July 10, 2013

This morning, not quite as early as we meant to head out, Joe and I took US 93 south towards the National Bison Range. What another spectacular 80 miles (round trip) of country roads!








Our adventure took us through beautiful protected wetlands...

 lots of farmlands surrounded by the Mission Mountains...












old barns which I love to take pictures of...there is just something about old barns and fences! ...





and even an old wooden railway trellis!

 Our first stop was at the visitor center. There is a $5.00 fee per vehicle, but the senior National Park pass is accepted.

Joe trying to help...

 A bus was  broken down at the visitor center with about 10 children inside. Joe tried to help, but the starter was broken...





Since 1908, the National Bison Range has played an important role in the successful recovery of bison. Today, 350-500 bison call the refuge home.
The primary means of traveling through the range is by personal vehicle. The roads are gravel, well graded and maintained.

Red Sleep Mountain Drive is a 19 mile, one-way loop road that gains 2,000 feet. It took us right at 2 hours to make the loop.


The loop offers spectacular views of  Flathead River.



Our first wildlife viewing was  immature pronghorn antelope playing.

Most of the wildflowers are gone, but I did see a new one for me...I'm not sure what it is. While I was photographing the flower, this little bunny appeared at my feet.

 There are forest communities at the higher elevations. I so wanted to see a bear...didn't happen today.

 What a difference the higher elevations make...these cone flowers were so pretty.

 

 Is this a partridge of some kind? It is a large bird...mostly gray with the red marking above the eye.

The highest point on the range is 4,885 feet at High Point on Red Sleep Mountain. This is a view of Glacial Lake Missoula. About 18,000 years ago, this was all under water as was most of the range.



Pronghorn Antelope



                   



If you look very close or enlarge this photo with a click on the picture, you will see the calves. Calves are born mid-April through May and are a bright rust color for the first two months.                                            

 Bulls weigh in at about 2,000 pounds.









Mission Creek runs along Prairie Drive at the end of the loop. We saw lots of deer there.

 I caught a glimpse of the white spot in the tree...I was sure hoping for an eagle. My picture is not very good so I couldn't tell. Maybe?

There is a very nice, shady and cool picnic area with restrooms at the very end of the drive.

It was a wonderful way to spend the day! Hope your day was wonderful too.

Magpie

 We cant' believe we are already in our second week of our month long stay here.  We have been walking 2-3 miles around sunup every morning. Its so cool and fresh outside!

 

 We have been getting some things done inside and outside Belle...major cleanup and cleanout! Its amazing how little you really need when you live in a MH. How nice! We had way too much stuff!

 

Thanks for stopping by...

 

 

 

Y'all come back!