airstreamdiaries

What a day

2006-09-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

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

2006-09-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

We're in New England

2006-09-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2006-09-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

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

2006-09-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

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

Badlands

2006-09-14T18:56:00.000-07:00

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

2006-09-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

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

2006-09-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

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

Custer State Park

2006-09-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

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

2006-09-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

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

2006-09-10T21:55:00.000-07:00

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!

2006-09-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

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

2006-09-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2006-09-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

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

2006-09-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

Lily just loved the buffalo

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

Out of Yellowstone

2006-09-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

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

2006-08-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

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

2006-08-31T17:38:00.000-07:00

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.

Pictures from Sundays Ride

2006-08-31T17:34:00.000-07:00

This was taken just over the top of the Beartooth Highway in Wyoming

Time to Ride

2006-08-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted anything for a couple of days...we relocated our trailer to Paradise Valley just south of Livingston Montana. Yes there's a reason it's called "Paradise" it's just gorgeous. There we met up with some friends, Jackie and Cori, from Naples who are out here for the summer.

However, today I had the best "single" motorcycle ride to date. I started off from Livingston and rode I-90 for about 80 miles and then took off Rt78 towards a town called Red Lodge (I think) I rode through unbeleivable countryside...for my Brit friends...it was like a mixture of the Yorkshire dales and Exmoor, throw in some Lake district..then enlrge the scale about five times and multiply that by 100...well, needless to say I found it to be stunning, but in a slightly bleak kind of way. The grassland is parched this time of the year, but it covers the valley floor and foothills like a carpet. The road was made for my beautiful Beemer, long sweeping turns on perfect roads, no potholes or frost heaves, no traffic whatsoever. I was as high as a kite!

When I got into Red Lodge I filled up the bike with gas and chatted with a couple of Harley guys who were riding in the area. They gave me a few pointers and then I set out over the Beartooth pass. It is a combination of switchbacks and straightaways that climb up over the mountains at about 11500 feet. I had to keep my wits about me because of the traffic and the gravel on the road, but I was rewarded when I came down over the other side of the mountain range in Wyoming. It was like something out of a movie...lush high mountain pastures and lakes dotted with pines forests, more sweeping roads and Yellowstone National Park in my sights.

Yellowstone is everything and more than what I expected. Simply beautifuly majestic, and staggeringly beautiful. Buffalo grazing in herds in the open planes, deer and cayotes within eyeshot of the road. I had to pinch myself to prove that I was actually there.

By this time I was about 250 miles into my 300 miles day, so I was ready for home. I ponted my trusty steed Northwards and cruised along the side of the river for about twenty miles. I felt like I was riding in a scene from "A River Runs Through It"

I got home knowing I had just had one of the best riding days of my life...the only thing that would have made it better would have been to have my riding buddies Bruce and Nils with me!

Sorry for the rough post, we just got back from dinner and I wanted to get something down before another day passes!!! Pictures to come.

Moved in with our clients

2006-08-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

Well, we arrived at our clients log cabin, it's just a small place, a little home from home...NOT! Talk about stunning. The outside is gorgeous but the inside is absolutely beautiful. Hey, we could have one for just $11,000,000. We have the little guest house all to ourselves, and we've already taken advantage of the two person jakoozi.
Yesterday the Yellowstone club was throwing an event for the members, they had fly fishing, horse back riding, games, paint ball and archery also they had organized for some bears to be available, just to add a little authenticity to the place! they were tame and you could get to within a few feet. It was very cool.
Tomorrow we're all going fly fishing, well, at least the family will be. Jan and I will be photographing them, but we'll probably be able to have a go if we want.

We're there!

2006-08-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

Well we finally made it to our destination. The Yellowstone club in Montana. The trip was huge, but worth it. The natural beauty is really beyond words, the scale is overwhelming almost too much to take in. As we drove through Wyoming I was blown away by the scale of the State. Mile after mile of wilderness for as far as the eyes can see. I've never seen anything like it, and when we got to the Grnd Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, well once more I was stuck for words. It's not possible to capture the scale of the beauty with a camera, but I'm going to give it a damn good try.

We've got a busy couple of days coming up, so I'm not sure what I'll be able to add to the blog, but I'll try.

We Made it to Yellowstone

2006-08-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

3300 miles later and we're in Yellowstone

Mason Texas

2006-08-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

Ok so, this may seem all pretty uneventful so far...that's because it is! We've been blasting along in the BAV trying to get to our destination, Montana, by the 19th so we can work with our Massachusetts clents and then take ten days or so just relaxing in the glorious scenery of Montana and Wyoming.

So far we've done a little over 2000 miles with 950 of them just being in Texas. Let me say just one thing ...Texas is BIG...VERY BIG!. Also we're not really seeing it at it's best. It's hot and dry and...err did I mention it's hot! From what we saw from the road Texas does is not "calling" us.

We stopped overnight to see some friends, Richard and Sally Taylor. Great hosts. They bought their own slice of paradise, a 850 acre ranch. They began work onit three years ago, trying to undo the damage settlers and ranchers have done over the last 120 years. They've cleared a lot of the land from invasive species such as the nasty Juniper bushes that have taken hold. Since their work began they've already seen changes to the ecosystem and wildlife. Pretty impressive stuff for such a short period of time! Hey, it's all I can do to get rid of the weeds on my little property!

One of the coolest thing we saw at Richard and Sally's was Tex a big ass texas Longhorn steer!! He's become the family pet and comes to visit regularly and expects to be fed. Of course he's never dissapointed!

Texas in our sights!

2006-08-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

Well Jan and Lily found some quality time together....mother and daughter doing just fine

Texas!

2006-08-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

Well, after a stop in Pensacola, so Lily could swim in the Gulf and dodge aligators, we also stopped by to see Jan's cousin Erin, and her husband. Then we headed out for Texas. We're at about 1100 miles into our trip so far, next stop is Mason Texas to see our friend Richard & Sally.

We're on the Road!!

2006-08-12T05:32:00.000-07:00

Finally, after all our hard work the moment has passed us by, where we actually closed the doors to the house in Naples and climbed aboard our BAV (big ass van), towed our old Airstream trailer and headed out on our summer "adventure"

The first leg of the trip is going to be pretty uneventful, just to get out of Florida via Rt 75 and Rt 10 is about ten hours. We only managed to get five hours under our belt yesterday and we plan a stop at Jan's cousins in Pensacola tonight. Then we head off towards Texas!!!

2006-08-08T16:56:00.000-07:00

Well, we've got a lot packed away and the Airstream is looking pretty good . I did a lot of work in the bathroom, put in a new counter top, plus I refinished the bathtub and sink. Also new lights, a fresh coat of paint, refinished doors and a new shower curtain! Well worth the effort. Jan has been frantically dealing with clients and making sure they all get their invoices! Right now she's out getting some provisions for the road trip. We think it'll take about a week to get to Big Sky Montana.

This is going to be a short entry because after all this preparation of the Airstream, the business, packing up the photo gear and equipment, plus getting the house ready for hurricane season, well, needless to say we're both knackered!!

Here's a photo of Lily wondering what all the fuss is about and trying to figure out the best place to sleep while she's away...you could say she's going to "Havanese trip"

2006-08-04T05:39:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how long it's taken us to get on the road! Clients are coming out of the woodwork...some we haven't heard from for a year. It almost seems as though there's a conspiracy to keep us in Naples. Anyway, at least each day we're getting closer. I loaded the bike into the van last night. Not an easy process, but one that I will no doubt get better at as time goes on! practice...practice...practice. Next is to load up the Airstream, now that should be fun!

2006-07-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

This trip has been talked about and planned for a number of years. In fact, I think we needed to do this because our friends and family must have been getting pretty sick of us talking about "the Airstream" and where we're going to go when we get it.

Well, after all the talk and planning, this summer we head out on our first major trip with the silver bullet. We're off to Montana and then over to New England via Canada...well, that's the plan anyway!! We'll have to wait and see how it all works out, stay tuned!