Dymphna
Lee Ann Joined: February 19th 2009
Logged in: January 30th 2012
Logged in: January 30th 2012
Travel Blog Posts
Where I grew up.
When my folks left Wolf Point in 1990, I had left in 1984, it was not under the best situation. They had put 20 years into this town and done much for it. But we had out grown our building and needed to move. The people were mad at us for moving, but there really was no choice. Our business, Wood's Powr-Grip Co., Inc. had been founded here in 1964 and we had added on to the building so many times that we were losing product in the building. My grandfather had started with a building the size of a convenience store and lived in the basement. Now we had over 60 people working there we were pulling all of those jobs out of a town that was only 4,000 people, this was going to hurt ... read more
Driving up
The Cook City Highway runs from Red Lodge, MT to Yellowstone National Park. It is a breath taking drive! It is not for the faint of heart though. The drop offs on one side with rock wall on the other has unnerved a few. This is not a fast drive. Do not take this as a short cut to Yellowstone - it won't happen that way. The drive is a slow one and again breath taking is all I can say about it. I had to stop and look over the side and take a shot looking down. This shot is taken from the guard rail. Yes it is straight down and this is maybe only half way up. A couple of years ago my folks went on their motorcycles with another couple over the highway. ... read more
Me at Mammoth
Mammoth Hot Springs is the prettiest - imho - of all of the hot spots in the park. Sad part is, a great deal of it is no longer running. When ever there is an earthquake of any sort it changes the flow of the different hot springs and geysers. I remember visiting about 15 years ago and much more of it was running at that time. But what was running was incredibly beautiful. The rocks are actually growing because of the carbon in the water building up. There was one spot that the ridges had built up around and had gotten dry. When you looked into it - it was like a mini forest of rock in there. I could not find my camera at the time I saw it and after I found it ... read more
Popcorn
Popcorn This is called popcorn. It grows on the walls of the cavern and is formed by the water pushing through the walls slowly and become what is seen here. It is better than a 1/4 mile up hill walk just to get to the entrance of the caves. The tour is so worth it though. My friend who went with me on the trip has rods in her back that are ready to be replaced - so it was not easy for her. It took us a while to get to the cave and then she held onto my shoulders and followed me through the caverns. The caves have been explored now for better than a century and they talk about how the early tours were. I can't imagine going down there like they did. ... read more
Almost there
On the Stillwater Nye, MT is on the Stillwater River. It is a good ride in a canoe. There are a few bends in the river that take some skill to get around. I have dumped the canoe once - but that is because the guy in the bow leaned like he was on a motorcycle instead of in a canoe as we went around the corner. It was May - so the water was ice cold. My folks have a cabin up there so I have spent a fair amount of time in the area. There are great trails for 4-wheeling. Hikes for different level hikers of all ages. Nye has one general store, a family friendly bar and a post office. It is so small that they only have a one room school house ... read more
Custer before the battle
This was not just a re-enactment of what happened, but this was a history of what lead up to the battle. But before they started anything - they started with a flag ceremony on horses. All there were respectful. My granddaughter got her first lesson in flag etiquette. She is only 3, but also stood at attention with her hand over her heart until the flag was passed. (I also had to remind my 22 year old son to remove his hat, a mother's work is never done.) This history starts with Lewis and Clark coming out to this area and their dealings with Indians. They introduced the different characters from the Core of Discovery that were with them. Sacajawea actually gave birth during the trip not too far from here. Now giving birth is tough ... read more
From the Empire State Building
I come from a town so small there are no stop lights and the sheriffs department drives through once a week, even if we don't need it. My daughter had never been to a big city. Being a teenager (18) she was sure the grass was greener on the other side of the fence and wanted to move to one. We had a blast - but she changed her mind. LOL The traffic did her in more than about anything. The other thing was how rude those in service positions are there. She is a photographer - or hopes to be after going to school. So we were always having to stop because "Mom don't you see that shot???" "No honey, but let me hold your stuff." She did this shot from the top of the ... read more
Front of House
Chief Plenty Coups lead the Crow tribe into the 20th century. He had a trading post in his two story home. The home has been well preserved and lovingly cared for. I can't imagine how hard that must have been. All change is difficult! And this was no small change for him to lead his people into. The town of Pryor is small. As I drove through it I was amazed at how much fun it would have been to grow up there. There were boys out riding their horses or bikes. The freedoms they have are far greater than what you find in 'civilized' places. I find such places far more civilized that what others do. They know that if they try to get away with something - Mom is going to find out, because ... read more
Looking at Ghost Cave from afar
Billings - Ghost Cave Ghost Cave This was taken looking from one cave to the next. I was standing near the cave with most of the pictures and looking towards the Ghost Cave. Costs List of costs to get in. I took a picture of the sign in order to make sure I got it right. Picnic area There is a picnic area with a tepee in the center that kids can go in. Ghost Cave Here is another shot of the Ghost Cave. They have excavated quite a bit from this cave in the order of artifacts. They will be opening a new interpretive center in mid July 2009. As my son and I were leaving the Ghost Cave I turned around to see him starting to step over a snake. I did not have ... read more
Freddrick Billings
Fredrick Billings - founder of Billings, MT The picture is taken in front of the Western Heritage Center. I went on a ghost tour this past week and found out it is supposed to be one of the most haunted places in Billings. Billings was founded by Fredrick Billings in the 19th century. Billings was a railroad stop that grew. The yard is not as big as it once was and other industries have grown up here. We are the largest city in Montana with about 100,000 people here. The area is still growing, despite the economic downturn in the rest of the country. We are the medical hub for the eastern end of the state. Because of the sparse population it is not unheard of to have to travel long distances to get to a ... read more
