Alaska 2020 ........Plan B

July 5-7

                  "Through all these times and all these towns, it's in my blood and it's all around

                     Life is a highway....I want to ride it all night long. 

                     If you're going my way, well, I want to drive it ..........all night long"

We were handed official looking papers by Canadian border agent McDonald and instructed to turn our RV around. We then handed these papers to agent Hastings who smiled cheerfully from the US customs booth. He asked us our reason for returning to the US and we gave him the short version of the past 2 hours. Although never voiced, his expression matched the disappointment we were feeling. We returned to the Sweetwater rest area where just hours before, we had nervously gathered our paperwork. Now, we sat with maps open and formulated plan B. 

A phone call to our friends, Tim and Judy, confirmed they were home and would love Vermont visitors. Forty years ago, this young couple left their families behind in Middlebury and Salisbury Vermont to start a new life in Chinook, Montana. Here, Tim found unlimited hunting opportunities and Judy discovered a close knit community in which to work and raise a family. Their ties to Vermont remain strong, as evidenced by Tim wearing his Johnson hunting coat during cold MT winters and regular visits from family,

Chinook was about 3 hours southeast of where we now were sitting in Sweetgrass. Our visit would include picking Tim's brain around plan B. 

Our RV at Tim'and Judy's Stonebroke Kennels

Stonebroke Springer Spaniels

Tim

Judy fed us barbeque chicken and we fell asleep to the sound of freight train whistles and awoke to a new day of possibilities. 

Tim suggested a ride into the Bearpaw Mountains which we eagerly accepted. It turned out to be just what was needed to clear our heads. By day's end, we knew what we would do.

The landscape varied from rolling hills down to farmland and abruptly back up to jagged rocky outcroppings. Cool shaded creek bottoms provided hiding places for deer and elk and despite it being midday, we were able to see some deer feeding.

                                                                                                 Whitetail deer

I was surprised to see this Bald Eagle perched on a pole overlooking a small pond. He looked agitated, but allowed me to get a few pictures before leaving. They are impressive birds and despite having many opportunities to photograph them in Alaska, I would never pass up the chance to photograph one. 

We drove by several large farms with cattle grazing. Close to new barns stood the relics of bygone days. This must have been a wonderful place to homestead providing fertile valleys for farming and mountains for hunting.

Mule Deer bunny hopping away

                    These beautiful soft faces begged to be photographed. I also think they were looking for a handout.

Tim was aware of my sliding from side to side across the back seat with the windows open and camera ready. Like me, he's an avid photographer and was happy to stop and allow me to shoot. He and Bucky talked about hunting and I could tell that Bucky's interest in the Bearpaws had increased.  

 It's impossible to write about the West without at least one horse picture.....just missing the cowboy!

After our tour of the mountains and another great meal in Chinook, Plan B was made. 

We will leave our RV parked behind Stonebroke Kennel and hope the dogs will keep an eye on things! Tim and Judy will drive us to Great Falls and the friendly skies will carry us to Alaska.

Keeping the world small and friendships dear helps to bridge rough water.