7 Fallen Soldiers

Friday morning started out a bit different, that is recently. I woke up at 06:00, put on coffee, showered, shined my boots, polished my buckle, ironed my black dress shirt,  grabbed some chow and hopped aboard my bike, that I had washed and polished the night before. In the parking lot of our local grocery store, I met up with 5 other riders to start our days journey. We were headed to Fort Harrison, in Helena Montana. The purpose of our trip was to escort the unclaimed remains of seven Montana Vets. As part of the Missing In  America Project, we met up with about 500 other riders and were escorted by the Patriot Guard of America along with local police all along the course.

We met up with riders from the eastern side of the state as we merged onto interstate 90 in Livingston. From there, we made our second stop at the Harley shop in Belgrade. There we picked up another 40 riders and headed over the continental divide, to Butte, Montana.

As we ate lunch and waited, waves of riders continued to pour in and fill the lot as well as the streets surrounding the shop.

      Every type of bike you could imagine as well as every Montana M.C. Club was represented. The lot filled and filled even more. Eventually we were called in and issued orders, we received a blessing and we mounted up. The remain of each of the seven soldiers were placed into the rear cargo area of seven different bikes, along with a properly folded American flag. The caravan was staged and as local law enforcement lit up the cherries and berries, we were properly escorted onto the highway. Riding in the largest group I'd ever been in, prohibited me from taking pictures during the ride, however, the sea of riders following the curves, up and over the mountains, was goose bump material. Riders flowing out of sight while my mirror was filled with, nonstop headlights from bikers bringing up the read, was a spectacle, for sure.
     As we rolled into the city limits of Helena, we were instructed to close ranks and ride in parade formation with our flashers on. I was so impressed with the amount of people that pulled over, (in both directions), honked their horns and waved. They did it from the bridges, parking lots. shop entrances and lots of front yards. These seven vets were getting a hero's welcome after all these years!

The scene at the cemetery only begins to tell the whole story. The parked bikes, on both sides of the rode seemed to go on for ever. My panorama view fails to capture all the bikes in front of me and all the bikes out of the frame itself.

Aside from the bikes, the Army Cavalry rode with a riderless horse, the U.S. Military Honor Guard gave a 21 gun salute, the Indian Nation color Guard presided, a lone piper played Amazing Grace, and Taps was bugled.

I'm a big fan of reflecting..................... If you are an American, and you read this, those seven vets served for you. Take a moment to reflect. Close your eyes for a moment and just say thanks. If you read this, feel free to post your thanks in the comment section.

The fallen veterans are Jon William Ball of Kalispell; James Brodniak of Kalispell; Orville Clinton Hatch of Billings; Anthony Mills of Billings; Michael Lynn Shannon of Whitefish; Charles Shelton of Kalispell; and Charles Rollin Spears of Kalispell.

High Mountain Lake

Knowing Sunday was going to be a scorching, hot one, I headed up into the mountains. This meadow is 2 miles in and provides a great view.The jagged peak in the upper left corner is where I'm headed.

2 miles later. My great pal Rob will recognize this as the "torrent water crossing". It may not look bad, but in past trips up, this stream has been almost impassible.

2 miles up from that! This is a beautiful, West Slope Cutthroat Trout.

Aside from the sow, black bear and two tiny cubs,( and 2 million mosquitoes) I shared this lake with no one.

The water was crystal clear and the big fish roamed the water like schools of sharks.

Down To The River

     What better way to spend a hot 4th of July than take all four girls down to the river. Lucky to have this spot in my own back yard. It was my Pop's favorite place to fish and every time I'm here, it feels like he's right here with me. I've fished here amidst otters, deer, bear, one bull elk, lots of eagles and on more than one occasion stepped in big cat tracks on my way in. I've never seen the lion but I'm sure he's watched me fish a time or two. Today we waved to countless passing rafters and floaters, most flying "old Glory" off the back.

     Special days, like special places are all subject to change. The river changes everything it touches every day and year to year, you get to see what's new. If you find a spot you like, enjoy it with every thing you got 'cause it just might not stay that way for long. High water can blow out a channel, erase an island and even plunk an entire roof top (stone chimney and all) smack dab down in the middle; all without blinking an eye. Today, I realized the river has terminated my three, long time, favorite fishing holes, that I have come to expect would always be there. How silly of me? And I know better!
     I'll never fish here the same way again, but I'll never forget fishing here with my Pop and now swimming with the girls. No sense pouting, just go with the flow.

Roped In To The Rodeo

Bareback, Saddle Bronc, Bull Riding, Calf Roping, Team Roping, Steer Wrestling & Barrel Racing.

Spending the night at the Rodeo sure puts a smile on my face. Classic western Americana at it's best.

The weather was perfect this year; the rain held off an the sun found scattered clouds to play a game of hide and seek in. I enjoyed watching all the people enjoying themselves. It;s always funny to see how people on vacation interact with the crowd as well as the rodeo clown. Rule #1 with the rodeo clown, he doesn't have to be P.C.. Why? Because what happens here in Montana happens because that's how it goes. If you get his joke and you are offended, it's more than likely not the first time you heard someone say it. If you're far from home and you've heard it before, you may be the only one pretending to be offended by something that is quite likely based on truth.

Each of the three nights of rodeo, is followed by patriotic music and fireworks. When they dim the fairground lights and the colorful flashes of firework lights erupt with the beautiful mountain peeks as a back drop, I sink into my seat a soak it all in. I'm proud to be an American. America, Montana and the Rodeo; one statement says it all..............Love it or Leave it!

Happy 4th of July!

Hay!

     There is always time for reflecting and for some of us we find it in very unusual places. After attending the parade last night, I hustled home, baked a pizza on the grill and then headed out for the evening. I spent the evening in the thrasher,  cutting 80 acres of alfalfa.
     Picking vegetables from your back yard garden can be very rewarding; hopping in a big rig and doing it on a grander scale is awesome. The evening was perfect for soaking in all I've done lately. The canvas used to paint this picture, just happened to be a field, on a rolling hill side, bursting with alfalfa.
     As I made my way up and back on the hill, I reflected on how blessed I am, to be where I'm at, in my life; Living life and loving it all. As I bounced up the hill in the old New Holland, I marveled at the full moon creeping up over the hill top. Each round, seeing the moon at it's new height. On my down turn, I watched as the sun was setting, pumping out those beautiful pinks and oranges I so love. I couldn't help but think of Ezra Riley and how he always carried a big box of crayons in his truck, and when ever  the sun set, he would pick through the entire box, looking for that special color to match up with the painted horizon and long shadowed ground scape. All in all, the long shadows draw you in; there is no other part of the day when everything looks so unique. Whether you prefer to look at it like the end of a great day or the beginning of a new night, Mother Nature still forces you to turn the page.
     Turn the page, keep reading, finish the chapter or finish the book; my favorite part is closing the book, setting it down and as I'm still touching the cover, I reflect.

My Town, My Parade

For 12 straight years I have been attending the Livingston parade. I've had some terrific times at the parade and I've met some fun people as well. Where else in the world can the 4th of July be brought to live via a woman in a cowboy hat, seated upon a red, white and blue clad cutthroat trout, swiping a fly rod at 10 and 2?

Ah, the pipes! Wouldn't you know it, the girl standing next to me, watching the parade, turned out to be of Scottish heritage, like myself, and also a descendant of the Stewart Clan. One catch though, she was from the uppity Stewart's and I'm of......, well let's just say, "the other Stewart's".   Mar sin leibh an dràsda."

With a string of hot rods muscling their way through, this Mopar ended up being the 2nd place winner in the parade. I heard that first place went to a girl driving a newer Chevy convertible. Rumor has it she won because she dropped her top and all the upholstery matched or was original or something. There is always next year Beau Hazard.

The Bozeman Saddle-ites are always a welcome site in the parade but beautiful to watch during the rodeo.

Most floats threw out candy to the crowd. This float threw out rolls of toilet paper. I caught two rolls and gave them both to my new buddy. It's the gift that keeps on giving. I'm now worried that I will bump into him in the near future and he will tell me he was just thinking about me the other morning. Yuk!

What would the parade be without a celebrity sighting. Here we see Margot Kidder, hopping out of a jeep during the parade.

O.k. ladies, I now know, just how embarrassing it is when you show up to an event and someone else is wearing the same outfit. I, however wore a belt and elected to tuck my shirt in. "Gold lame' must always be tucked in when worn before dinner" have some class!

Here is an funny, old classic that still manages to get around here in town. You decide where the caption goes. This one or that one.

Hope you had as much fun at the parade as I did.

Cut Me Some Slack

The road to the fairgrounds fills up with horse traillers on both sides. The parking lots become jam packed with rigs by the hundreds. It's slack night in Livingston, and that means it's the start of the Livingston Rodeo. As if the 4th of July doesn't make you feel patriotic enough, surroung yourself with hard working folks who are more apt to tell you, "shut up and saddle up" than they would say, "I'm too busy to help", kind of warms your heart.  Kickin' up dust and rollin' over steer, it's all going on right now.

     4th of July in Montana is also refered to as Christmas in July. With the Livingston rodeo being the 4th highest paying rodeo in the country, folks come from all over to take a whack at the purse in all the events. Slack is free to the fans and gives cowboys and cowgirls a chance to get a ride in and still make it to another rodeo. Sometime they ride, pack up and light out and sometimes they borrow a horse, ride and actually fly. Either way, one thing I have learned is to get out of the way of any truck hauling a trailer during July. Chances are, your plastic Honda Civic, doing 65, could be all that stands between a cowboy and his only paycheck this year.

Nothing like puttin' on your Sunday best and showing what you got in front of your peers.
     The parade starts tomorrow and two more nights of rodeo followed by fire works and patriotic music. The bronc and bull riding happen on the 3rd and 4th, they really get the crowd pumping. And don't forget the roded clown who is constantly on the verge of stealing the show. He has my dream job! Right here in my back yard.