What a day

What a beautiful day it was today. A perfect New England memory...blue sky, 68 degrees and a gentle breeze.

The first signs of leaves turning on the maple trees were a suptle reminded that Fall is fast approaching and days like this will soon fade for this year.

I got up early and slipped into my motorcycle leathers, jumped on my beautiful Beemer and rode a loop around Cape Ann stopping for breakfast in Rockport. Just a nice leisurly ride, nothing frantic...giving thanks and smiling every inch of the way.

Pictures from Manchester

We're in New England

Well, we had planned on spending a little time in Canada on our way to Jan's parents house in upstate new York. Unfortunately we ran out of time, so we decided to just blast on through around Lake Ontario all 950 miles of it. We did it in two days and then spent three days visiting Jan's parents.

After our stay in Watertown New York we headed to Manchester Massachusetts where our wonderful clients, Stuart and Elizabeth Moore had offered their guest cottage for us to stay in for the next four weeks. It really is one of the most beautiful spots I have ever been to. Their property lies on the mouth of the harbor and is surrounded by water and rocks on three sides. It's one of those special places to take photographs.

After nearly six weeks and 7500 miles on the road we're ready to be in one place for a while.

We're already starting to make plans for the Airstream Diaries 2007!!!

Phew! Well we made it out of the Badlands and drove for 400 miles until we got to Minnesota. We found an "established" RV site on our map, but finding it proved somewhat difficult. After driving around in the darkness and rain we finally got there.

The next day we woke up and it was like going back in time. A very cool place right on the edge of a lake. Unfortunately Lily was running and thought she was jumping into grass...it was water covered in algae...Needless to say we were forced to delay our departure and give her a bath.

Next stop Upstate New York!!

Cowgirl

I think Lily is trying to tell us she likes the whole western thing!!!

Badlands

Once again the landscape changed. From lush fertile rolling hills to a bizarre dry painted desert of hills and rock formations that looked like they should be from a movie. Ethereal and weird, awe inspiring and unnerving at the same time...creepy but soothing somehow. As you can tell, pretty hard to capture with words. I guess that's why I'm a photographer and not a writer!

More Pics

I know we left Yellowstone behind last week, but I just had to post a few more pics. We'll get the one's of the Badlands up soon. That too is truly an AWESOME place.

Before I sign off today though, I have to say that both Jan and I just loved the West. Especially South Dakota. It was like the heart of America. The real America and for me the one that as a kid in England I grew up excited about.

The West still has that feeling about it that it's out there, on the frontier. The people who live out there seem to be from that genetic stock of adventurers and risk takers. People who make things happen, but still holding their history close. Maybe I'm romanticizing, but I thought it was just great. Great to see the beauty and the space. Great to still see real cowboys and ranches, herds of cattle and horses roaming the range... and space...lots and lots of space

Some More Pictures from Montana and Wyoming

I've had a request for more pictures. These were taken in Yellowstone and near the Tetons in Wyoming

Custer State Park

Well we decided to ride the Beemer through a small section of the Black Hills. A sweet route that ran through Custer State Park to the town of Custer. As we rode through the park we saw a herd of buffalo running. We stopped and took a few pictures and watched a bunch of Harley riders get really nervous.

Crazy Horse

So, we were at Mt Rushmore and, well once again our breath was taken away by the sheer scale and the human effort needed to produce such a huge piece of work. Each face is over a hundred feet tall carved out of pure granite.

However, about twenty miles away is another mountain sculpture that has been in progress for the last fifty years. A depiction of Crazy Horse, riding his horse and pointing to his lands. It was started by one man's effort. A single guy who worked on the mountain, chipping, blasting and moving rocks for nearly seven years.

Over time the project has grown to include a museum and shops. Private donations and tourism pays for the work.Dedicated to the American Indian, there are even plans for a university to be added to the now extensive grounds.

The mountain scultpture itself has a long way to go. They've just finished the head,which by the way is twice as big as the four presidential heads on Mt Rushmore! So far they've removed over two million tons of rock.

This was all done as a private project, with no government funding...truly mind blowing!

Mt Rushmore

For most of my life I've only seen these faces in history textbooks. WOW! I can hardly believe that I'm actually here seeing the real thing. It's magnificent!

Oh my gosh! Is that Lily mounting Rushmore?

Bad Hair Day!

In a feeble attempt at covering up a "bad hair day", Lily pulls out her Daniel Boone cap. After a wonderfully relaxing time with our friends at Perry's RV "Resort" we headed to S. Dakota, home to Wild Bill Hickock and friends.

Leaving Montana

Well, a couple of days ago we left our friends Jacquee and Cory (after a brilliant time staying in Red Lodge, where the local bank was robbed by Butch Cassidy and the Hole in The Wall gang) and headed out to Mt. Rushmoor and the Black Hills of South Dakota. However before we left, Jacquee and Cory's dog, Captain, wanted Lily to learn some fly fishing!!!

One thing we found really funny when we were in Yellowstone was that everytime a buffalo or elk came remotely close to the road a crowd of cars would stop and people would take hundreds of photographs. Well... when we had a ride through the park with Lily on the back in her special bag, everytime we stopped people would turn away from the wildlife and come and take pictures of Lily. She had become the Star of the show!

Some Pictures from Yellowstone

Lily just loved the buffalo






Here's some shots from Yellowstone
Jan with our friend Jacquee

Out of Yellowstone

I don't have time to post any pictures yet. We just left Yellowstone park. 2,000,000 acres of the most awe inspiring, jaw dropping, beauty beyond words. I have never seen so much breathtaking landscape in one place. The only downside is the amount of people you have to share it with. Having said that, the Park services are outstanding and they manage the crowds very well. There are numerous lodges for people to stay in with restaurants for hungry hikers, lots of RV parks with full amenities, or rough and ready campgrounds for the more hardcore.

Jan and I found out that the best time to see and experience Yellowstone was at dawn...which is also the best time to take pictures...I'll post some as soon as I get a chance to upload.

Yellowstone should be on everyone's "must see" list. It's nature at it's best. There are no words that even come close to convey the soul touching reality of it's splendour. I would say that you need a week to really enjoy it. Camp, RV or stay in a lodge and you'll be rewarded with a lifetime memory of one of the worlds greatest offerings. If you're not moved by Yellowstone...then you must me emotionally dead. Next time, and there will be a next time, I think we'll come the week after Labor Day. Kids are gone and the place is just more enjoyable with less crowds. The nights may be chilly, but that only serves to increase the drama as the cold air forms clouds as it hits the hot springs that perculate throughout the whole park.

I'll post some pictures soon!

Yellowstone

I forgot to mention that before we got to the Ranch we had just left our friends Cory and Jackie and had made our way to Jackson Hole via Yellowstone National Park. What a spectacular place. You could spend a week exploring and enjoying this slice of heaven. Herds of buffalo roam the planes and elk and cayotes can be seen from the roadside. Our favorate view so far was "Artists Point" the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Of course we did have to share it with hoards of other people, but that's OK. However, we were asked to leave by a ranger because dogs were not allowed to enjoy the view, even though Lily was on a lead. Still, Lily insisted on having her picture taken before she left! We'll be back

Spring Creek Ranch

Well my wonderful wife...the barter queen, has done it again. It turns out one of our brides to be is a PR exec for an upscale ranch and spa in Jackson Hole Wyoming. It also turns out the ranch is in need of new pictures. Soooo it looks like in exchange for photo services we get to stay for four days, food and booze and spa services included. Needless to say we've given up the Airstream for four days while we relax with a log home with a view!! Lily approves! There's about seventy horses on the ranch and they all come up to say hi when we get to the fence.