Wild Montana Skies - a photo essay

The last major piece of my sabbatical this summer was a trip to Bozeman, MT., where I spent a long weekend with Mike and Nora Miller.

There was a big engine right outside my window.

We flew over Wenatchee, although it was a little hazy.

The first full day there, Mike, his nephew, and I did about a 10-mile float down the Yellowstone River. Unfortunately, the fish weren't very active. For the record, though, I was the only one to actually pull a fish into the boat. Just don't ask me how big it was or I'll have to lie.

The second day Mike took me to a lake about 15 miles from their house. We rode quads up there, fished awhile (we both caught some decent trout), sat out a thunderstorm, then road back.

 

Dinner that night was spent on their deck. It's a gorgeous place to enjoy a fine meal.

The third day, Mike, Nora, and I took a 9-mile hike to Emerald Lake, where we enjoyed some fine fishing right up until being caught in a massive thunderstorm.

 

Later that night Mike took me to an underground bar in downtown Bozeman, where they have live bluegrass every Monday night. It was the perfect end to a long day.

Flying home, I had a brief stop in Portland, where they have a nice display of hand-crafted musical instruments.

And then, back in Seattle, and that was the end of my summer travels.

Dan's trip to Atlanta: a photo essay

About a month ago I went to Atlanta for 5 days. Here's what it looked like:

It was a beautiful flight out. This is Glacier Peak, from the plane:

This was Wenatchee, also from the plane:

 When we got to Atlanta, it was raining:

My first morning there, I went to the Jimmy Carter Center. Here are some of the things to be seen there:

Jimmy's camera:

Jimmy's office:

Jimmy's fishing boots:

 

 Jimmy's Nobel Prize:

The next few days I was at a conference which was really good, but since I was studying, I didn't get any pictures. Just before I left the conference center, however, I took this picture of the Chattahoochee River:

Before I left, I spent a day visiting the city of Atlanta and playing tourist. Here's a train I saw. I think this is near one of the spots used in the Walking Dead, since it looked kind of familiar.:

Here are some buildings around Atlanta:

And the Olympic Park:

 

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Hit by shrapnel from the Olympic bombing:

My long-lost cousin:

 

 

On Friday, before I flew out, I visited the Atlanta Civil War and History Museum. They had a nice display on the '96 Olympics, including this piece of sheet music, signed by John Williams:

And in the Civil War exhibit, they had this battle banjo:

There were some lovely walking areas around the museum:

But then it started to rain, and it was time to fly home:

We flew over Ellensburgh on the way home:

Then they made us turn our phones off, so that's the end.

Next up: Dan's epic journey to Montana!

California Photo Essay Part 2

So then and such.

Following that trip to Venice Beach, we went to Santa Monica, and Clara did another happy dance.

A few days later, we went out for dinner at Walters, in downtown Claremont, one of our favorite spots. It was delightful.

The next day I took a friend for a short hike up to San Antonio Falls, on the trail to Mt. Baldy. Most people don't know that Southern California has some pretty amazing mountain scenery.

 This is what it looks like from those mountains, looking back into the valley.

A few days later, it was time to take the kids to Knott's Berry Farm. Unfortunately, Clara was arrested.

 The trial didn't go well.

 

Eventually she got out, and the girls went to school.

 'Murica. 'Nuff said.

 

On the way home, we stopped and Farrells and the girls got balloon animal hats.

Eventually, it was almost time to leave California, but we decided to go to the beach one last time. So we spent the day in Laguna Beach, where it was beautiful and hot and sunny and crowded and lots of fun playing in the ocean. Most of you know how that turned out. I left there with a messed-up shoulder, with two torn muscles and torn cartilage, the result of being flipped over and driven into the sand by an angry wave. Unfortunately, in all the chaos we didn't get any pictures of that day. Instead, we went to a mall so I could buy a sling and some medicine. When we got there, the sun was setting over Newport. So here's the sunset, which makes it look like the city is blowing up, which is kind of how I felt at the moment.

 

And then it was time to head back to Washington.

Next up: Dan's trip to Atlanta!