Blog Update - July 29th - Relaxing in Montana!

OK - Have gotten several emails asking why I had not posted to the blog lately...so here is a short update

Since returning from my vacation on the North Fork of the Flathead River it has been pretty quiet around here, so I started working on some new projects.

Right now I am deep into a total re-design of the Lodge's website and it is tedious work - worked for several days coding and building the new template - wanted something similar in colors and theme but different enough that it shows that it was updated. Also wanted to make it more friendly for phones and small devices so whole new set of coding to make that possible, it has been a huge learning curve.

If you are interested you can watch the progress HERE! Just understand that the menus are complete but not all the pages are yet developed so the links may just go to a blank page or sample template page. There are a total of 20 main pages to be built and probably another 20 small pages to build...I hope to have it all completed by mid-August. Right now I have the site buried underneath my personal site and will load it up to the primary Yes Bay site when all the testing is finished and it is complete!

Other than that - Jimbo and I have taken the boat out on Flathead Lake a couple times - not many fish, but we are beginning to sort out all the problems on the boat - like a gearshift problem - a severe engine miss problem which turned out to be a bad rotor on the distributor cap. So it has been, take the boat out - then come back and fix it....hopefully next time out we can concentrate on fish rather than boat issues!!!

I have not had much of a chance to take the new camera out, but do have a couple pics to show.

Took this early one morning walking across the yard to go fishing!



Took a drive yesterday and went to see Swan Lake - nice lake but not very photo worthy!



Found this really neat metal sculpture along the way!





Still trying to sort out plans for the remainder of the summer - all I know now is I will leave here in late September and head to Salt Lake, then fly to Ohio in early October. Also planning some home maintenance - going to coat the roof of the RV, change the oil in the generator and truck and put new brakes on the truck! Some projects to get done while relaxing!

Jimbo and I are making plans for an East Montana photo trip - not sure when yet, but gonna spend a few days on the other side of the mountains and see some site...there is a Cowboy Poet festival in late August I may venture to - one of my favorite things to go see - anyways - STAY TUNED for more Adventures!

Capt. Jim - "The Gypsy"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

12 Days on the North Fork of the Flathead River - Trip Recap

How do you put in words the experience of being camped along side a wonderful river with friends and floating, fishing and enjoying the outdoors to the fullest...it is hard to explain, but it had to be some of the best days I have experienced in many, many years!

It brought to mind a letter that was written many, many years ago by my wife Mimi Purcell after a wonderful raft trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho back in 1981! That trip was a wonderful adventure as this one was!!

Here is the letter!



That letter pretty much sums up the wonderful trip I was lucky to experience...great new friends and great campground and a wonderful river...and I might add, some of the best food I have ever eaten!!

I think that my best explanation will be in pictures! This will be a long post!

I went to the campground a day early since I didn't have reservations and needed to secure one of the walk-in sites as near to my friends as possible - I was lucky to snag one site number 17 for my entire stay and only three sites away from Jim and Tim and Debbie, so it worked out very well!



The view I enjoyed so many days while reading and dozing in my chair....



Some great times with new friends!



A great fire every evening with the river in the background!



Evening visitors!





The wonderful views, drove 17 miles to Moose Lake!!





Jim and Aleena out for a little fishing on the lake!





The camp "Cook Stand" - some fine meals were put together here!







By far the BEST Dutch Oven Ribs I have ever eaten! Two different "dry Rubs"!





And the end result!



Another after dinner fire!



Clyde enjoying the campfire and companionship!



Jimbo watching the River and Aleena swimming!



The evening glow on the river bank - view from the campsite!



Now some scenery from the river and surrounding area!





Loaded up ready to float!!





The launch ramp at Ford launch site!!



The wonderful river with the ever present Mountains from Glacier National Park always in the background!











River bottom pic for future use as a background in an article I am writing!





Aleena the new Fishing Queen of the North Fork!





Tim Adair - my guide!!



The store in Polebridge with the BEST Huckleberry Bear Claws!!









A beautiful meadow in Glacier National Park while out shooting Wildflowers!





I watched a young girl gather these flowers and leave them on the railing at the meadow site - had to shoot them!











This had to be one of my most wonderful vacations of all time, I have to thank my hosts - Jim Flinchbaugh and Tim and Debbie Adair for the companionship, camaraderie and outright great conversations! I have found some new friends!

I forgot to mention the evening menu - Day one Lasagna - Day two Burgers on the grill - Day 3 - a huge pot boil with potatoes, corn, sausage and shrimp! My that was good! Then the Dutch Oven Ribs - then Kabobs with chicken and beef then we had some some brats and some steaks - we did NOT go hungry!


Enjoy the photos and stay tuned for more adventures - the summer has just started!


Capt. Jim - "The Gypsy"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!