Thanksgiving at Rock Creek

The long Thanksgiving weekend gave us an opportunity to explore the Rock Creek area. We stayed at the Ranch at Rock Creek, a luxurious take on the dude ranch theme. Unfortunately, the Arctic decided to visit as well, and the -18 degree temperatures left us thankful for our cold weather gear, which was put to good use. 

Although the cold weather put the kybosh on our planned horseback riding and fly fishing excursions, we kept busy climbing the nearby hills and fat biking in the valley.

And it's a good thing we stayed active, because the food was simply amazing. The 7 course Thanksgiving meal was a magnificent coma-inducing feast, and topped off with a spot-on flat white from Gareth, who hails from Johnsonville, just outside of Wellington. Small world!

The following morning, we headed back into the frost to work off a small fraction of the calories, capturing these dramatic photos along the way.

We started at Moose Lake, essentially following deer paths and fence lines through the expansive fir and lodge pole pine forests.

We then moved on to the East Fork reservoir, skiing along the shore as a flock of Clark's Nutcrackers chatted in the treetops and the lake made eerie whooshing sounds as it froze.

All in all, we have a lot to be thankful for this year.

Early Winter in Montana

Kristen finally arrived in Warm Springs from St. Paul in early November, by which time the hills had begun to accumulate snow, although there were still plenty of fair days down in the valley.

We explored the expanse of DNR land that surrounds the eponymous Warm Spring, pictured above and below.

The first of many hoar frosts at dawn, below.

We have grown quite fond of Butte, a town of real grit and hidden charms, especially in the historic Uptown area.

When the snows finally came in earnest, we were glad that we had brought our skis, snow shoes and crampons along.

Our first hike was up to Ringing Rocks, which chime when struck. We were accompanied by Milan Patel, one of the other doctors at Warm Spings.

I think the photo below is one of our favorites, as it captures the austere beauty we see from our nearby bungalow every day, looking West across the valley as the morning light hits Anaconda and Mt. Hagin.

Other late fall adventures included many runs ins with moose, including this bloke along the Rock Creek road.

We have been to Thompson Park just outside of Butte several times now, and it may have surpassed Cheyenne's Curt Gowdy as our favorite "city" park. It has over 3,000 acres of dense wilderness that acts as a snow trap, and the drive through the park along MT 2 is among the most scenic around.

The 4.5 mile Milwaukee trail includes 2 rail tunnels, a 600 foot long trestle bridge (below) and, of course, the occasional moose.

The weekend before Thanksgiving, we visited Missoula and did some climbing in the Pattee Canyon recreation area, which is covered with imposing Ponderosa pines.

We also discovered this amazing lake and relation area (below) quite literally just across the highway from us, which we will definitely revisit soon.

Bighorn!

Because Columbus Day is still a holiday in MT, Richard had the day off to do a little reconnaissance of the surrounding area in advance of Kristen's arrival in a couple of weeks.

The Pintler Scenic Route is aptly named, and from Anaconda passes by the Discovery ski area and Georgetown Lake, where Richard saw a group of young bald eagles play "keep away the corpse" with a coot that one of them had hunted. They were also being intermittently mobbed by hundreds of irritated ravens. The eagles would snatch the coot out of the water, then engage in aerial dogfights , ultimately dropping it from a great height, in what appeared almost like a game. Other bird sightings included a pileated woodpecker and a pair of red breasted merganser.

Onward then to Rock Creek, just outside Missoula, where the gorgeous Sapphire Mountain Range rises. A few miles into the park, Richard decided to take a "Bighorn viewing trail", but with rather modest expectations. You see, the Bignorn Sheep is the last of the North American megafauna to elude us, in spite of years of looking.

The trail ran along a ridge over the valley pictured above. About a mile in, a group of about a dozen white-rumped ungulates moved briskly through the valley. At first, they looked like a group of young caribou. But it didn't to take long to realize that they were, in fact, a group of bighorn ewes and calves. None of them had the characteristic curved horns of the adult ram, but watching them leap easily over a 5 foot cattle fence and disappear back into the hillside was still a thrill.

The trail continued back deeper into the hills along a ravine, but a couple of miles in some ominous bones and bear scat stared to appear, so Richard turned back just above Mormon Spring.

Hiking back along the same ridge above the valley where they were earlier, these two young bighorn were seen doing the more classical rock hopping for which the species is known. It truly is remarkable the ease with which they scramble up sheer cliff sides.

Fall Fun

Just because it has been a couple of months since our last post, that does not mean that we haven't been busy. In fact, a lot has changed. A long term Alaska plan became a short term gig working (and living) at Montana's Warm Springs state hospital. We finally finished the relocation from MN to FL. Oh, and we solidified our plans to return to NZ (flying out Jan 10, 2016).

It is hard to believe that it has been 7 years since we last saw Craig and Cathy Coenson. They are living the Big Easy dream, and gave us a great insider's look at New Orleans. At least, the parts that we remember.

In our last bit of time in MN we also were able to spend time with dear freinds PK and Jodi.

We took a leisurely drive from St. Paul to Montana, stopping at small town cafes on the way and enjoying the fall colors on the northern plains.

Arrowood NWR, North Dakota

Mount Helena

We especially liked the laid back charm of Helena, and its proximity to very walkable wilderness.

Warm Springs, Montana State Hospital Campus

We finally arrived at Warm Springs on Friday, and took a walk around the surrounds. The campus has the feel of Kenepuru hill in Porirua, and we are interested to have the opportunity to live on the hospital grounds while we are here.

A busy July 2015

The month of July started with both of us still in St. Paul, and improbably ended with us together in St. Croix, VI.

July 12 was Richard's last day at Regions, then it was off to Florida with essentially all of our belongings. Many thanks to Adam Bell for the assist!

Here's a blurry photo of our "old" stuff in our new digs. Our first impression of Palm Beach Polo is a good one. It's lush and birdy, with white ibis, cattle egrets, storks and other large waders in abundance. We have geckos and tree frogs, and fruiting mango tree just outside the front door.

Although we had planned on spending the next year in Alaska, there was a last minute change of plans that makes it likely we will return to New Zealand early next year.

It is hard to think of a place in the U.S. less Alaska-like than St. Croix, but that's exactly where Richard ended up for a short term locums stint.

Here he is making morning rounds. . .

. . . And evening rounds.

Kristen came along for the first few days, and aside from being the world's best navigatee ladee, she took these very cool pictures from the Buccaneer, where we spent the first 3 nights.

OK, just to prove Richard is doing some work . . .

Here is his hospital ID. The job consists mostly of ER consultation, which is interesting, and the hospital staff are welcoming, friendly and helpful.

For her part, Kristen is winging it back to Minnesota for her next 7-on at Regions.

Up next? Well, it is looking like we are spending Fall and early Winter together in Montana. Stay tuned!

May Odds and Ends

This post is a bit of a hodgepodge, which is an apt description of the last month. Above, a panorama of our Minneapolis loft, home for the last 8 years, and now empty as we await closing on the 27th. The North Loop has grown so much since we moved in, and while it has become an 'it' destination, it has also lost the edge and variety that drew us to it in the first place. Sapor and Ed's Import Auto Service are just two of the casualties of 'peak Loop,' and now everyone looks like us. Time to move on, frog.

Back in April, on the last full day of our Death Valley trip, Kristen shot these amazing photos from her iPhone. Impressive!

May opened with a lot of promise for MN sports fans--the Twins went on a tear and the Wild advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

Oops, scratch that. The Wild were Booted for the 3rd year in a row by the Blackhawks. 

Still, seeing game 3 with friends Ron and Kelley Puppe was a blast, and our first time eating at Public, which has quickly become our go-to eatery now that we are living in St. Paul while we await the move to Alaska (and perhaps an interim FL home purchase).

Speaking of which, I humbly apologize for any condescending, Minneapolocentric comments I have made in the past. We absolutely love living on Mears Park, next to the new Saints stadium, farmers' market and The Buttered Tin. Also, there's still a bit of Cuzzy-Bunker's grit here.

But things are changing, growing. And that's a good thing for these amazing cities--still, we mourn the passing of such icons as Nye's. At least we got a chance to have a drink with JJ, a friend and colleague, before it closes.

What a lovely view of the Minni-apple from Nordeast!

Other miscellany included seeing Rush on their "Retrospective" (and likely final stadium) tour with Adam  and Eva.

As if that weren't enough, we also spent some time at a conference in Chicago.

And for good measure, some final photos of the loft (and of Chief, who will be staying).

You were very good to us, Minnesota, and we are ever thankful for our time in the Mini-apple.