The morning after...

Polson, MT
July 17,2013


The morning after a trail ride is always a clean-up Pearl day. So after our walk, coffee, and a little computer time, we were off to the...

I am not a big fan of washing any vehicle although I have done my fair share in summers past when I wasn't working...a job that is (nice thing about teaching). I have even been known to wax a few!

Pearl

These days however, since we do the washing mostly at a car wash, I always manage to take along my camera. A walk about town looking for photo opps is a lot more fun!

 This morning the sound of chimes was an invitation to stroll the alley behind the car wash...so off I went!








The lady hanging out the clothes in the picture below brought back lots of memories of small town living from my much younger days. It was a morning ritual on those warm summer days to line dry the laundry. We knew everyone on our street and as youngsters, we were all within hollering distance. Moms knew the kids, kids knew the moms and it was often  more times than not, a fresh glass of lemonade was offered.




My job was to hold the clothespin bag for my grandma until I got tall enough to do the hanging...

There was an old car parked along the alley...the spider web caught my eye. The sun caught it just right! I don't believe that car has been moved in aloooong time!

The United States acquired vast lands, including present-day Montana, through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
Thank goodness for that...Montana sure is pretty!





Roses have never been my favorite flower, but they sure do smell good. The climate here must be perfect for growing them because you see them everywhere.

 The aggregate fruit of the rose is a berry like-structure called a rose hip. The "seeds" are embedded in the hip in fine but stiff hairs. In some species of roses, the hip is very rich in vitamin C and are eaten by fruit-eating birds such as thrushes and finches.







That was pretty much our morning... and what a great one it was!

 We continue to enjoy our aerial show from time to time. I ran in to get the camera when this bi-plane took off...he has been know to do a trick or two...not today.

 And this amphibian aircraft was spotted the other day. It also lands in Flathead Lake from time to time so we are told.










I had to post this billboard sign we have passed several times...for all my puppy loving friends.


Have a great rest of the week...

Until next time...

 

P.S. The annual Flathead Cherry Festival is this week-end on Main Street in Polson...you're invited!

 



































 

Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge and A Drive Through the Salish Mountains

Polson, MT
July 15-16, 2013

This morning, Joe and I went exploring...destination Ninepipe.

 Ninepipe NWR was established in 1921 and is located in the Flathead Indian Reservation. Its about 23 miles south of Polson.




The wetland contains over 800 glacial potholes and a 1,770-acre reservoir.

Ninepipe is a nesting habitat for numerous birds such as Canadian Geese, Great Blue Heron, and several species of ducks. 





There are also nesting platforms for Ospreys at one end of the lake.


nesting platform

 

The refuge is not permanently staffed and is managed from the headquarters of the National Bison Range.

 The wide valley sits at the base of the Mission Mountains.

Fishing is allowed from the shore...ice fishing is also permitted. The refuge is closed to hunting.



Portions of the refuge are closed in the spring to minimize human disturbance to nesting birds.


 




Photography and wildlife viewing are encouraged. There are short, accessible trails along the shore.



click on the picture for a better look!

We spotted this pair of trumpeter swans across the lake. A WOW! moment for sure.

 Trumpeter Swans are regarded as the largest of all native North American wildfowl. The babies...called cygnets...are hatched gray. We saw several babies in this little family.

A huge thanks to Judy from Travels with Emma for introducing us to the Wildlife Refuge Areas through her wonderful posts and pictures.

 We rode down Old Crow Lane before heading home...such a pretty countryside.

 Oh no...not another barn! I just cant help myself!

 Beautiful fields of gold hay...probabally alfalfa...










and green fields of sweet potatoes already in bloom.
                                                          

Yesterday, we took an off-road trail that took us up and into the Salish Mountains on the western side of Flathead Lake.

We headed out Hwy 93 north and made a left turn at Elmo on to west 28 and then a left turn onto the gravel road in the picture. From there, your guess is as good as mine as to where we were.

 We never really felt like we were lost...thank goodness for the compass. Once on the trail, we knew south and east were the directions we needed to go.

 I'm not sure these guys appreciated us disturbing their space...that's some look we got!

Many of the peaks in the Salish Mountains are rounded tree covered summits. The range covers about 4,125 square miles of lush green forests and peaks.

 Occasionally, we found the summits to be open grassy slopes with great views of the surrounding valleys.

The Salish Mountains are named for the Native Americans who called the area home centuries before white men settled here.






We did have to stop to watch a doe and her fawn...


This is my first half decent picture of a fawn. I was way excited...another WOW! for me.

 We are not sure what was going on here...lots of small sleeping tents, a large cooking tent, and several people sitting around.

There were lots of pretty wildflowers, but we didn't make too many stops.









We did find later that there are lots of logging roads all through the range.

 Some of the roads/trails are maintained and others are not. Many trails were established back in the 1920s to maintain fire lookouts.

 We had a great time...I could go on trails like that everyday!

 We finally returned to pasture lands and more grumpy faces...

 We never saw a posted sign to "Keep Out" and the only way out was through this gate...we politely closed it back!

 Hope you are enjoying your week...

Until next time...