Category: Spring

The Stunning Sandhill Crane Migration!

Posted on by Joy

Hello! It has been a while, so time to catch up. Right now I’m sitting in a VRBO in Montana seriously considering moving back to the Treasure State. Not to mention ongoing worry about destruction of our National Parks and Monuments and privatization of virtually every part of government that is still standing. However, as we all know, worry does nothing but make you sick, so send letters, make phone calls, vote, we can only do what we can do–keep on keeping on my friend!

Enough of all that. We can all agree to disagree. That’s truly the American Way!

What a wonderful trip to Monte Vista again this year to see the Sandhill Cranes as they migrate north. The experience was a bit different than the last three years. Thousands upon thousands, but none very close. Saw ducks already in their most gorgeous mating colors, and a big surprise–at the very end, of course 😉 .

Check this out!

Ride~About: Badwater Basin–Oh, So Low!

Posted on by Joy

Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, is a 45-minute drive from our lodging in Death Valley. The scenery along the way can take your breath away. It is very overcast with the possibility of rain but that won’t slow us down. Two miles from our lodging at Stovepipe Wells Village, with the sun peaking through between the mountain tops and the clouds, we see the Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes. This is only the beginning, so come on along!

Let’s Go!

Ride~About: 20 Mule Team Canyon in Death Valley

Posted on by Joy
Uh-oh. Driving down CA-127 to Death Valley’s southern entrance, we may run into some weather! Well, onward to 20 Mule Team Canyon, a 2.8 mile one-way dirt road along CA-190 into Death Valley. We can’t let a little rain stop the adventures. Well, we do have to be careful of flash flooding. Let’s go and hope for good weather
Here we go . . .

Beauty, Diversity, Partnerships Commingle at Ninepipes

Posted on by Joy

We only have one day to explore Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge. The weather is not too promising, but such is spring in Montana. Over the course of the day we may see sun, then rain, then sun, then clouds. An ever-changing landscape, but the birds are consistent. Waterfowl, songbirds, and raptors alike are nesting and beginning to raise their next generation.

We are 18 miles south of Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the lower 48 states, with over 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline. The refuge sits in the Mission Valley with the Mission Mountains east and the Salish Mountains west, but the center of our attention is the 1,672 acre lake in the middle of the refuge surrounded by many smaller ponds.

Entrance to Ninepipes is right across the road from the Lodge. You can see a bit of light above the grass line which is the lobby/restaurant entrance. Let’s explore a while before breakfast. It is a bit before 6am and the birds are calling as the sky brightens. Let’s see what surprises we find at sunrise!

Mission Mnts sunrise

So much to see . . .