Torrey, UT

Here we are I'm In Torrey, Ut. It was a beautiful ride here and we managed to stay dry. In fact it was rather warm to hot in places. Things change on short notice however. As you can see, we stand to get our 40% chance of rain. We've been watching this storm from our campsite. A fantastic lightening show going on. We may have to retreat to the bar across the street to wait this one out. Stay tuned.

Just A Miss

I finally got done processing all of my photos from the Will James Roundup I was at a couple of weeks ago in Hardin, MT. I took about 400 photos and have been busy converting them all to something useable, selecting the best, cropping, enlarging, etc. After making one initial pass through the results, I have 77 photos right off of the top I can use for reference for some great paintings, in both oil and watercolors. I also plan on doing a series of pen and ink sketches of many of these images.

The trick here is going to be to to capture the fluid motion and not just make an accurate illustration of the image. Drawing an accurate rendition of the image is easy. I want to create something that depicts the motion. That'll be the hard part. There are some great action shots and I really need to experiment with some technique to pull it off. I'm thinking kind of loose and sketchy with just a hint of detail.

I'll start with this one, titled, "Just a Miss". Because I'm only using the information presented to do the art, it would be very tempting to move the loop a bit so it is a "catch". We'll have to see what I decide to do.

Rainy Day Sunday

I've never been so wet riding in the rain with the sum shining at the same time as I got yesterday. It was crazy.

Left son Glenn's in Ranchester, WY a little after 8:00 yesterday morning and 630 miles later arrived home wet and tired, a little after 8:00 in the evening. A great riding day none-the-less.

I thought this shot was befitting. I took it just coming into Delta, CO.

I want to thank every one who followed me this weekend. I'll get a couple of photos posted from the rodeo as soon as I get them processed.

What a Great Day

You know, for as tough a night that I had, today turned out pretty darn good. I got some outstanding photographs of the rodeo, spent some time with old friends and I think the best part of the day was the ride down to Ranchester to see Glenn and spend the night.

Leaving Hardin in the early evening I headed south on the Interstate at a pretty good clip. The sun was setting and cast the rolling hills in gold against dark and stormy skies. The was the sweet smell of cool rain in the air. It was absolutely wonderful.

Rough Night

Fellas in the spot next door were up 'til after 1AM. I couldn't decide whether to join them or put my ear plugs in. Sounded like they were having a good time.

The cot I brought doesn't fit in my small tent so I had to sleep on the ground. Sort of like trying to sleep in a straight backed kitchen chair.

Hot all night. Would've slept out of the tent, under the stars, but the wind and off and on sprinkles, didn't allow it. Like sleeping in a sauna.

77 degrees at 6 AM. Decided to get up and make some coffee. Broke a sweat packing up. Gonna be hot again.

Lots of little black bunnies running around camp last evening. Couldn't decide whether they looked cute or looked like supper.

Well, I'm off to the rodeo. I'll let you know how it goes.

Hardin, Montana

Great little spot at the KOA in Hardin. I got here about 4:00 this afternoon. It was 104 degrees at the time. Jeeezzz! I don't think there is any danger of the tomatoes freezing for the next couple of nights.

Since then, I went over to the rodeo and took in the evening event of a big loop roping, found some old friends. I tried a couple of photos with my iPhone but they are iffy. Got some great shots with the Nikon however which I'll post when I get back.

Right now it has clouded up. A stiff breeze and the wind has picked up. Watching some great lightning in the near distance. Hope it rains and cools things off a bit. More tomorrow.

On My Way

Headed to the Will James Round Up Ranch Rodeo in Hardin, MT. I used to live up there years ago and still have good friends there.

Left the shop in Montrose, CO. about 2pm and got into Rawlins, WY. a little after 8 this evening. Quite warm all the way. 95 in Craig, CO. 85 here in Rawlins. Trying to decide whether to even bother with setting the tent up. I think not.

Even though it was quite warm, it was a great ride. Lots of open country with rolling sage covered hills. Saw several antelope right along the road. They looked good.

A Weeklong Loop on the Harley

Took a little ride on the Harley last week up into Canada. We've made the trip before and it never disappoints. Lots of wonderfully beautiful country between here and there. Lightly traveled back roads, campgrounds with some great people and a couple of interesting places to eat along the way. Lots of paintings to do and stories to write.

Our route took us out through northwestern Colorado, into eastern Utah, eastern Idaho, a short run through part of northwestern Wyoming, up through the middle of Montana and into Canada. From there we crossed part of southwestern Alberta, over Crows Nest Pass and into southeastern BC. We then dropped back into Montana, Idaho, Utah and finally back into Colorado. We intentionally didn't want to go through Jackson Hole, Teton and Yellowstone National Parks largely because of traffic congestion. As beautiful and magical as those places are, it is very slow going and a bit hazardous on motorcycles especially since we were going to be just passing through.

This was our camp the first night, just outside of Montpelier, ID. A very nice KOA and a great spot to rest and have a cold one. From Montpelier on north the country was just spectacular. We rode along Swan Lake in Idaho for a good many pleasant miles. What a beautiful lake. The lake was on our left and the road turned and dipped making for a great ride. On the right side were high power poles with nests on the tops for the Osprey Falcons. We saw several of those special birds.

At Swan Lake Junction, where the road forks, is a really great gas station, convenience store, ice cream shop combo. We stopped here before and again enjoyed some Huckleberry ice cream on the bench out front. It's a popular stopping point and a other bikers joined us to discuss the roads and motorcycles.

We took the right fork in the road which leads to Victor, Driggs, and Ashton, idaho along the western side of the Teton Range. This route offers some spectacularly uncommon views of the Tetons from their "backside". This part of the ride was a definite favorite.

A slight miscalculation (a missed turn) gave us the opportunity to run into a little of the local traffic outside of Ashton, ID.  Once we got onto the correct route we rolled into West Yellowstone and through the northwest corner of Yellowstone, NP. Despite the traffic and congestion, Yellowstone is still a very magical place. Out through Gardiner, MT we spent the second night at a KOA 10 miles from Livingston, MT. Generally we eat breakfast and lunch out of the coolers we take in our little cargo trailers and eat an evening meal in town, but since it was 10 miles into Livingston we opted to cook some brauts over an open fire and wash them down with a couple of cold beers. Wow, were those good. A great end to a great day.

Our third day would take us deeper into Montana, through Great Falls on the way to Glacier NP before we entered into Canada. Time did not allow us to take in the Charlie Russel Museum in Great Falls. Fortunately, we stopped there on a previous trip however. It wasn't until we got back and I was looking through the latest issue of Watercolor Magazine that I saw an ad for a show at the museum featuring 100 of Charlie Russel original watercolors. It runs through September, 15 so I may just have to go back. I'd really like to see it.

This is taken from the bridge over the Saint Mary River form the back of the motorcycle as we arrived that evening. This serene and beautiful evening was just a calm before the storm unfortunately.

The next morning we awoke to a soggy day in Saint Mary, MT at the eastern entrance to Glacier NP. Nothing worse than rolling up a wet tent, but the road was calling and on we went. High winds and more rain were forecast so our ride over "The Going To The Sun Road" in Glacier NP, was abandoned. This was the second time we missed doing that ride. The first time, a couple of years ago, was put off because of snow. The road hadn't been opened yet and it was the middle of June.

This was the weather that morning looking into Glacier from the KOA we camped at the previous night (See photo before this one). What is hard to tell from the photo is the the winds were very brisk with gusts forecast to 60 mph in the passes. We spent an hour in the office with a coffee and a map to see what our options were. Without much choice we decided to press on into Canada, to Waterton NP in Alberta, which is an extension of our Glacier NP. The border was a mere 30 miles or so away.

This was our welcoming committee near the Canadian Border. It's actually a couple of sculptures of Blackfeet Indians, whose home ground we were on. Their native lands know no boundaries and are a part of Canada as well as the US. The skies were clearing here but the wind was stiff as you can see by the flags.

This is Chief Mountain, sacred to the Blackfeet. The US, Canadian Border is not far away. As you can see, threatening clouds began to build and by the time we reached the small border crossing, another 5 miles down the road, it was drizzling.

There were four of us on three motorcycles. Kathy and I were on our Ultra Classic and her brother Tim, on his Ultra Classic, and his wife Donna on her Heritage Soft Tail Classic. All Harleys, for those who don't know.

Kathy and I were in the lead coming up to the Canadian Border check station. There was a line so we waited in the rain. Apparently one of the border guards thought we looked suspicious. Stay tuned to find out what happened next. To be continued...

Tomorrow, Thursday, July 11, I'm headed to Hardin, MT for the Will James Roundup, a ranch rodeo some friends put on each year. Should make for some great photography for future paintings. I'm going to try something a little different and "blog" my way along, giving daily updates as I go. I'll be riding the Harley, traveling by myself, light and fast, so we'll see how it goes. If as planned, I should be back in the shop/studio on Monday sometime.

Until tomorrow...