Glacier Park, Montana

June 21, we went to Great Falls, Montana to get prescriptions refilled. Thanks to Walgreens computerized system, we had no problems. We moved on to Glacier National Park and were amazed by more magnificent scenery. One day sight seeing and wildlife; we saw a grizzly bear loping along the roadside and heavy brush about a mile from where we were camping. The camp hosts live there and had been seeing a grizzly and a mother and cub black bear at their pond on several occasions. Can see snow capped mountains from camp. We lost $26 at an Indian gambling casino. So much for gambling. At the Glacier National Park interpretive center the Blackfeet Indian Nation was having its tribal conference, and we saw several of their chiefs in full headdresses and beaded vests before they entered the conference meeting. Suzy rode for 4 hours on horseback from Many Glaciers Park on a nice black horse named Hoback. About half way through the ride in heavy brush and forest, we looked up and watched a black bear waddling down the trail. He looked over his shoulder at us, hurried a little faster then headed up the mountain ahead of us. At the top of the ride we stopped for a break and got great photo shots of the mountains and area. Later as the ride returned home, I spotted a young male moose grazing among the trees, so we stopped for a quick photo shoot. Heavy winds; temp. 40's & 50's

Lake Fort Peck, Montana

Arrived at Lake Fort Peck, Montana, June 18, at the end of a 27 mile long rough, twisting, gravel road. Lake is located in a semi arid, rugged, desert/canyon country, amazing terrain. We enjoyed bird watching, spotted numerous wildlife, deer, an antelope who went swimming in the lake, osprey flying and nesting and photographed porcupine. Found a few ticks also. Fished for two days with minimal success. Saw several trophy fish caught including a 12 lb. walleye, but not out of our boat. Moving on to Glacier National Park for a change of scenery.

June 18, 2009 Medora Riding Stables

Suzy rode today for 3 hours through the Badlands of North Dakota. Our guide Mat just finished college as an elementary teacher. We have come across so many in the field of education. Mouse, my horse, was a good boy; the ride was uneventful but the scenery was really great. We had lunch at an overlook of Medora. Ken is always welcome at these stables, but really confuses them when he asks if he can help scoop poop. He's keeping up his skills.

June , 2009 Devil's Lake, ND

Fished Devil's Lake with guide Mark Bry and had a great time. We caught lots of fish and then headed to Medora, ND.

June17,2009 Medora, ND

Arrived in Medora and visited the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, really some impressive pictures, equipment and Indian information as well. In the evening we enjoyed a pitchfork fondue which consists of cooking steaks on impaled on pitchforks and plunged into vats of hot boiling peanut oil and served with all the sides, baked potato, garlic bread, beans and listened to a live band as we are. We met some really nice ladies from Grand Rapids and shared tales and another couple who winter in Texas down in the valley, "snowbirds". The view was incredible. After dinner we attended the Medora Musical which mostly honors Teddy Roosevelt and the development of the community of Medora. It is mostly historical community with terrific little shops and restaurants, but not school and not even a barber shop. The Medora motto is, "everyone in Medora is headed somewhere else". The usual population is about 100 and most of them are gone off and on during the winter.

June 12, horses in Minnesota

I did get some riding time with a short trail ride. We saw also some training of pulling horses and the actual use of a team plowing a cornfield. Ken is keeping in practice scooping poop. You should see the expressions when he asks if he can have a turn. Mr. Squirrel got his picture taken at the corral with my guide.

June 12, 2009 In pursuit of Minnesota rock bass and other species.

Misty and cold and windy the first few days, but fished Rush Lake anyway and Ken caught his required rock bass, and I caught one as well. Guides here laugh at his request because to them the rock bass is a nuisance fish. After I got four walleye in the boat, I finally showed Ken the trick and let him catch one, only one. He caught several more rock bass and blue gill and we had a good day. The next day we launched the zodiac in a small beautiful lake with bullrushes and lillypads. In 2 hours we caught over 40 crappie and some blue gill, releasing them all. It was terrific fun in our small boat and with the beautiful lake surroundings. The largest bluegill weighed 1 lb. 3 oz. It was huge for a bluegill. On Thursday we went with a different guide; Ken caught one northern pike at the first lake and the guide moved us to a different lake where we caught very large small mouth bass who fought like crazy. We finally got to fish with leeches as bait. I caught the largest small mouth at 18 1/2 inches long, about 5 lbs. I saw numerous loons and love to hear them calling in the distance.

Now we are headed for North Dakota to Devil's Lake, the next stop on our journey. We are skipping the Red River fishing. We've both had sore throats and Ken is really under the weather, thought nothing serious, so we are moving on.