Teddy Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

The Teddy Roosevelt National Park in SW North Dakota was closed. One could get in as far as the campground at the beginning of the park and camp, but due to extreme rain this summer the road had sloughed off in places so the road was closed to cars, but not BICYCLES!! I was able to ride through out the entire national park with out another car or person...only buffalo. It was amazing, and truly a highlight of my trip.

Really cool geologic features!

Little Missouri River I believe runs through this part of the world.

Trying to leave for a bike ride and I did not know if this would attack or not.

Montana visions

Trains. plains, big sky and empty roads.

A welcome inspiration along the road.

Buffalo petroglyph and tobacco!

Time warp!

Glacier National Park Backpack

Head of Cosley Lake, Glacier National Park

The lake and camp site from Bear Mountain.

Communal kitchen at camp.

Eight mile hike into Cosley Lake in the NE corner of Glacier National Park. Trail head not quite at the Canadian border. The hike in to the lake took it all out of me as the temps were in the 90's and I did not begin until 11 am, so hiked in the hot sun and got there after 6 pm...7 hours. How would I know walking up the slightest incline would tire me out. I kept thinking, "Boy am I out of shape." The hike out three days later took only a little over 4 hours. Big difference for a cooler day and an earlier start and a young couple hiking out with me. This was a personal goal to backpack by myself. I could not be more proud.

Trail head at conclusion of hike with new friends.

A small journal sketch from my camp along the lake.

Eleanor, Amy and me

I can only imagine the conversation Eleanor, Amy and I would have as we drank wine at the picnic table in Glacier National Park. I am certain Eleanor would have been aghast at the continuation of the crisis in education and poverty and Amy, what thoughts do you think she would have shared?

In search of road art

Thursday August 18

I leave today for Glacier National Park as I head eventually for Wisconsin. Along the roadways and trailways I will be searching for road art. I am curious as to what I will find. Yesterday there was this nice train art in the bus we took to the ferry to Bowen Island and a cool trail marker. I hope to do better as I leave family here in Vancouver and am on my own again.

Total Immersion

August 14, Sunday spent day at skate park to watch Jes and Luke skate. My thoughts as I watched my daughter speed across the hard smooth cement walls and ramps was that it looked so easy and graceful yet the hardness of the surface offset that feeling. I could just imagine the pain of scraping an elbow, knee or thigh. To contrast this we spent the remainder of the day at Whytecliff Park paddling on the forgiving surface of the ocean. The chop of the water and wake from passing boats was unforgiving to a novice SUP'dler, but infinitely more gentle than cement. A brief moment on my feet ending in total immersion. That's what it takes to master either of these sports...total immersion.

Kneeling

Immersed!

Hiking into winter

This journey from Girdwood to Vancouver has presented the opportunity to spend time viewing a small segment of life in Canada. In the far north people are generally friendly, the remoteness I assume or perhaps the short warm summer. I love the north and could easily move into a small town anywhere in the BC Rockies. I also loved waking up in Kluane Provincial Park and witnessing my old friend snow on the peaks after yet another wicked rainstorm, but it wasn't until hiking the summit of Whistler that winter came back in all its beauty. The wind sculpted surfaces of these snow walls were at once soft and fluid, resembling waves on water. Pulled up the hood and stuck hands in my pockets. It feels good to be cold again.