A Visit to the Bridger Mountains and the Shields River Valley

This morning we were off on our adventure with Carl to the Bridger Mountains. This takes us in a new direction towards Bozeman and the Shields River Valley. We began ticking off our "Montana Life List" with a beautiful American Bald Eagle soaring over head and many hawks on perches near the road. It was another challenging photography day with overcast skies and our prey way off in the distance. We cranked up our ISO camera sensitivity and "gave it our best." We saw many wonderful species today in their native habitat so we will let the pictures speak for themselves. Tomorrow we are heading to Yellowstone for three days with the promise of brighter weather and closer views of the wildlife.

Mule Deer - My what big ears you have

Red Tailed Hawk

 Antelope

Sandhill Cranes

On our way up to Carl's house in the mountains outside of Livingston we came across this female Moose. Unfortunately we only had out Point-and-shoot camera with us. After a wonderful steak dinner on the grill featuring ribeye from a local 4-H project cow we headed back to our abode to prepare for tomorrows overnight stay in Yellowstone. Carl's been a great guide finding us lots of wildlife.

Trail Creek Road - A Drizzly drive through the back country

Upon learning that the Grizzlies were out at dawn, I arose at 5AM and drove out to the Tom Miner basin. Julie was less enthusiastic about the excursion so she remained comfy back in our loft apartment. The Grizzly bears did not disappoint by sending out a mother and her three cubs. The great distance between me and this family of bears resulted in poor photos but kept me from becoming bear breakfast. When I returned Julie was ready for a days activities and we decided to explore the Trail Creek Road while Carl attended to some chores at home.



The weather today was overcast and rainy but being experienced English travelers this didn't slow us down a bit. Though this is my third trip to Montana I am still struck by the hardy people who choose this remote life. There are great distances between homes and ranches. I have to watch my gas gauge to make sure that I have enough gas to make my journey for the day. The beauty of the area is awe inspiring and there is a beautiful simplicity in a life devoid of strip malls and roadside attractions. Your circle of friends and those you think of as neighbors might reach out 50 miles. The closing picture of the UPS truck however reminds us that one can live remotely and still be connected.

Quaking Aspens - These trees grow in clusters and are connected underground and therefore one complete organism.

This mule deer's hearing is so astute that he jerked his head towards me as the sound of my camera shutter clicked from 100 yards off.

 Golden eagle searching for Lunch

(photo credit Julie)

Montana Moments - Arriving in Livingston and exploring the Paradise Valley

Julie and I arrived yesterday in Livingston Montana to visit for 10 days with son Carl and his friend Shannan. Livingston is an old western railroad town situated on the Yellowstone river. We were not sure about our choice of dates as Livingston can be experiencing winter at this time of year. Luck is with us and the weather is beautiful - Indian Summer. We spent the day away from our loft apartment over a craft brewery and explored beautiful Paradise Valley. Our wish to Carl was "find us some wildlife" and once again he didn't disappoint. Following are some pictures from the day. The beauty speaks for itself.

Exploring the Frontier Culture Museum - One of Virginia's Hidden Gems

Julie and I had the opportunity to share one of our favorite places with our Granddaughters, Annalise and Audrey, in mid-July during their visit with us. The Frontier Culture Museum, located on the outskirts of Staunton Virginia is a living History Museum depicting the origins of the people who settled the Shenandoah Valley.

The Museum has moved several period homes from the regions of Europe where the original settlers came from. The period preserved is the period of the great early migrations of the mid 1700's. In the past several years they have created a more authentic history by including a typical African Village where many of the enslaved peoples came from who were brought against their will to the Valley.

The Ulster County Scots-Irish Homestead

The English Homestead

The German Homestead from the Rhine Valley or Palatinate.

The English Homestead of course held particular interest to my wife and the German homestead came from the area my mother's family came from in the Rhine Valley.

The Museum in addition has moved dwellings from the Shenandoah Valley that represent the homes that the settlers built. As time progressed buildings reflected a merging of cultures that is represented in the building techniques and features.

Here is a replica of a frontier cabin that would have been the first crude structures built by settlers.

This is a picture of the 1840's homestead moved from the Finecastle Virginia area. This dwelling holds special interest to my family as one line of my mothers family migrated south from Franklin county in Pennsylvania to Finecaslte. This house which has been moved and preserved actually belonged to the Riddlesbergers, a distant Great grandparents brother. I am proudly in possession of the Family Bible which lists the name of the daughter of these descendants.

German Stoneware - Saltglazed

This stoneware appears to be replicas of the type of pottery that was made in the Palatinate region. Dutch potters moved to the area of Germany in the 1600's to avoid religious persecution during the reformation period. The area of the Rhine became known as Kannenbacker land or Jug Makers Land. 

Young Re-enactors fishing in the pond

The Museum holds a summer Day Camp where children can enroll and experience what it was like to live in the eighteenth century. These children are bringing in the harvested flax which will later be spun into linen thread to make clothing. 

The Museum is a wonderful spot for photography. It is worthy of your time to visit the center to explore the history of the peoples who came to this area and formed part of our national character. We were delighted to share it with Stephen, Allison and the girls. 

Reenacting River life in the 1760's along the James River

The James River Batteaux Festival - Scottsville, Virginia

Always up for a serendipitous adventure, Julie and I headed to Scottsville to spend the late afternoon at the annual James River Batteaux festival. Scottsville is a pretty 45 minute drive from our house. The festival is a celebration of life on the river during the late 1700's as the major artery for the transportation of goods in the Virginia Colony. Volunteers take great pride in building replicas of the batteauxs and pilot them down the James. 

The James river got its name from the Jamestown settlement honoring the British king James who sanctioned the colony. The Rivanna river which runs through Albermarle and Fluvanna Counties and empties into the James got its name from Queen Anne...the River Anne. Early maps show the James and Rivanna as one and the same river. It was years later that settlers discovered that the Rivanna was not the source of the James but a tributary. The Rivanna played a significant role in commerce as mills developed along the river to participate in the process of processing and getting goods to Richmond. 

There were four different eras on the Rivanna and James Rivers starting in the 1720's. As frontier farmers moved from the coast of Virginia and settled the western counties it was important to move farm goods from the plantations  to Richmond for sale.  First they used dug out canoes, both single and double. Then came the batteau's which were makeshift long boats using poles to navigate down river. Upon arriving in Richmond they would be unloaded and unassembled. The wood was sold and new boats would be built for another trip down the river. After this era human power gave way to horse power with the development of canals; horses and mules pulling boats along towpaths. In the mid- 1800's the railroad arrived putting an end to the river boat era.

Cotton and Tobacco  were the main cash crops that traveled to Richmond. River transport was much more efficient then rolling hogs-head barrels along the dirt roads, being pulled by oxen. River towns became important towns of commerce. Scottsville and Columbia located near the confluence of the Rivanna and the James were prominent outposts in the west. Scottsville was at one time given consideration to be selected as the state capital.

The Rivanna river is referred to locally as Mr. Jefferson's river. As a young man Thomas Jefferson took an interest in his father's need to get his farm goods to the James and on to Richmond. The Rivanna had its seasonal ebbs and flows making it impossible to travel during low water. Thomas in 1763 devised a plan to build stone wing dams to raise the level of the river making it navigable year round for the shallow longboats. His efforts were rewarded by getting him elected to serve in the Virginia colony General Assembly and fill the seat of his mentor Dr. Thomas Walker of Castle Hill fame. 

Volunteers from Virginia each year build their long boats and take them down the James to Richmond to commemorate this time period in Virginia history. The Bateaux men and women pull over in the late afternoon and camp along the river in what has become a festive atmosphere with music, food and lots of libation.

Not to miss out on the fun we finished our afternoon with a light meal at the James River Tavern and headed for home. I'm not sure we will be signing up to volunteer as river men next year but we did purchase T-shirts to support the cause. 

My River Gal

As we pulled away from the river a CSX train passed by on the tracks that hug the James river from Richmond on to the gaps through the Blue Ridge mountains.  As trains pull our freight all over this country we pause to thank the re-enacters for sharing this past with us of river life which helped kick-start our country. 

A Wonderful two weeks in England and Wales concludes with a special gift

Julie and I made it to the Holiday Inn Express at the Manchester airport but we could not let the Journey go by without a few stops at National Trust spots along the way. We won't labor you with lots of narrative and photos but here are a few of our last day in Great Britain.

Erdigg Hall in East Wales. It rates inclusion into the National Trust repertoire because of its extensive records about the Service help including portraits, poems written in their honor and authentic rooms explaining the period and what life was like to be in service. This is unique among stately homes. No other families seem to honor their service help in this manner.

Beautiful English Gardens.

The Joiners workshop with a typical 1700's English Joiners Bench

A stop at Chirk Castle, another of Edward I's strongholds that was renovated by several families over the years into a stately home.  

Okay Grandkids, here is a view of a real Dungeon. Grandma and Grandpa had to walk down a long circular staircase to get to this prison cell which was pretty damp and nasty. Some prisoners spent the rest of their lives in this terrible place.

Here is a very fierce and brave knight - Wait...its Grandpa wearing real armor. I was crying to Grandma  "Quick take the picture, this helmet is heavy"

This is Nick our tour guide for one hour on the castle grounds. He was the quintessential blustery Englishman, complete with an Oxford degree. I had to suppress my laughter because of his dramatic presentation and his wonderful English accent. We felt like we were getting a tour by the Colonel in Fawlty Towers. I suspect he was pleased to be offering a preformance. Click on the video to hear a very brief video of his remarks. After one hour of not understanding what he said I turned to the other English tourists and asked " Did you get any of that?" They all laughed and responded "NO!".

Well that concludes our two weeks of somewhat out of the way places in Northern England and Wales. We love this sort of travel and this trip did not disappoint. We feel definitely blessed to be at a stage of life where we can do these things together. We are now anxious to get home and get on with our life in Virginia. I recommend keeping a blog or a journal when you travel. Keeping such notes each day makes your trip come alive and you can refer to it for years. Whether anyone follows you or not is not the point; you have the record for your own memories. Thank you to the family and friends who have followed us along.

Tonight as we drove to Manchester we were presented with a special goodbye gift. A beautiful Rainbow. As Rick Steve's says in closing his programs "Keep on Traveling".