Side Trip

On the way from Glacier NP toward Boise we took a little side trip to the National Bison Range in northwest Montana. It was a 19 mile dirt road trail around the range and sure we saw Bison and Antilope but the highlight of the trip were these two Bull Elks grazing in the river. It isn't a side trip that many people make I'm guessing but it was well worth the almost 2 hours.

What Photographers Do

Here is a picture from near Logan Pass of the photographers that we were on tour with. It wasn't always this crowded but there were times when we were all packed in fairly tight.

Another Sunset

Here is a picture from the area around Many Glaciers in Glacier National Park.

Some Pictures

Here are a couple of pictures from different days of our journey through Glacier.

This picture from Logan Pass was taken on the first night of our time in Glacier.








This picture was taken two days later.

Sun Star

This is an example of what I've learned. This picture is called a Sun Star and was taken at Sun Point in Glacier National Park.

July 29

We are back in civilasation now, though some of the children in the breakfast area seem to be as wild as the animals that we have seen.
Anyway over the next several days I will be posting some of the pictures from Glacier and some reflective commentary on what I learned. This picture is not one of great composition or beauty but of the surprises along the way. This large black bear was eating berries along side the road on Sunday afternoon and we were able to watch him at a safe distance for some time.

july 26

Sunday morning and up at 4:50 to catch the sunrise at Many Glaciers then back for a quick shower before going to Babb United Methodist Church at 9:00.
It was a great service in so many ways. To sing Holy, Holy, Holy as a start to worship after everything we have seen over the last couple of weeks just brought tears to my eyes. It truly was a moment of special worship.
This afternoon we have a break before getting back into the Park early this evening. So Kathy and I drove down to East Glacier only to find that the place we wanted to eat lunch is only open from 5 to 10 each day. Oh well around here there isn't anything that is a waisted drive.
I do promise pictures coming soon but cell coverage is sketchy and data coverage almost nonexistent.
The wait should be worth it I hope as both Kathy and I have learned so much in the last few days. It has gone beyond anything that I had imagined.

july 24

We have been in the Glacier National Park for the past 3 days. The coverage has been spotty or non existent here so no pictures for now.
It has been an intense couple of days and I've learned more than I could have imagined so now we will see if it improves my photography any.
We are on the go almost all day. Up before 5 to be in place for the sunrise and the staying to the last light possible.
I just keep telling Kathy, In Indiana it's 7 a.m.
Hopefully pictures to follow soon.

july 20

This morning Kathy and I are at Gillette, WY getting ready to move on into Montana. Yesterday was miles of driving first up I-29 from Omaha where we stayed with my cousin Peg and her husband Andy and their 11 week old Burmese Mountain dog. Kathy threatened to find space in her luggage for the dog but my concerns over his shedding and Peg's threats of bodily harm convinced her that maybe it would be ok to just come back to visit.
I-90 across South Dokota is not the most boring road ever built but it is fairly flat and straight. The day was broken up by watching the hundreds of Corvettes driving east through out the day. Apparently there was a Corvette convention somewhere out here and they just kept coming and coming. This was a good thing because there were sections of the road which were under a lot of road construction. Here apparently they don't section of a few miles at a time to rebuild they just figure if they are going to tear up a road they might as well make it worth while. So there were sections where we were driving for 20 miles as a single lane road. I hope that I don't see the back of the same Dodge Caravan with the Minnisota license plate today.
Tonight we will be visiting with friends in Hamilton, MT before meeting our photography workshop group on Tuesday evening. We are looking forward to both opportunities.

Double Checking

After spending time unistalling and reinstalling computer software lets see if I can now upload pictures through my blackberry.
So just because it is a test here is a bonus picture from England of Halle's Abbey.

NOW WITH PICTURES

I've gone back and updated the posts with some of the pictures that I took over the last couple of weeks. They are all straight out of the camera and not adjusted at all so what you see is what you get for right now.
There will be more to come later. (Trust me after 880 pictures in Europe I think I have a few more worth sharing.)
Now it is back to the laundry and then to packing tomorrow so that we can leave for Montana on Saturday morning.

july 15

We are now back in the states waiting in Chicago for flight back to FW. Well Kacie is in Atlanta as we couldn't get on the same flight.
The trip was without any major drama or screaming children so that was good.
Tomorrow after sleeping in my own bed Ill try to go back and update posts with the appropriate pictures.
Thanks for all your prayers for safe travel.

july 14

Yesterday Kyle and I took the train to the end of the Munich line and to a little 3k hike up to a small village where there was an old Abby. The church was surprisingly ornate. The income from the Abby sense 1455 has come from making beer and I must say they have finally gotten it right.
The hike was supposed to be 3k but it was more like 4 miles and up hill both ways.
This morning now we have said goodbye to Kyle and Melissa who are headed to Prague and the rest of us are spending our last full day in Germany.

july 13

I now have access through my blackberry once more after multibale calls to tech support that kept getting disconnected.
We are now in Munich and looking forward to some sightseeing today. We said goodbye to Frans mother last night after dinner. It was a sad moment in that "mama" had been a wonderful host and guide. We have many more fine memories now to add to our list.
I'm sure there will be other memories to add in the coming days.
From the town square in Munich you can see the glockenspiel work (if you get there at the right time)

July 12

Not only have I had problems loading pictures but now I haven't been able to access the blog either. So I'll slide in a quick update this morning before we move on to Munich.
Friday night was why I came to Germany.
Everyone finally made it to Düssburg. Kyle and Melissa got there from Brussels, Fran made it home from Munich and we surrounded the table with food, laughter, and stories. Fran's parents and her aunt had been showing Kathy, Kacie, and I around for the last couple of days and that was all good. But when we were all together my heart was just full to overflowing. That was the whole reason for coming to Europe. Everything other than that moment was just icing on the cake.
So now we move on today to Munich for a couple of days before flying back to

the states.
Right now all is well and all is well.
Here is Fran with her Father and Mother and Aunt

july 8

We are getting ready to fly out of London soon. The next stop will be our time with Frans family in Germany.
One thing I would say about London is that it is a truly international city. I've never heard so many different languages spoken in such a short period of time.
The amazing part of it all is that it seems to work. I'm sure if you asked around or lived in London that you might hear otherwise.
I wonder what it would take to develop a religious community like that?
Not a pluralistic community where everyone got to pick and choose what they believed. But rather were the details and nuances of belief could be matters not worth fighting about?
Just some of the things I'm wondering about on my way to the airport.
Another picture from London

july 7

Yesterday we ventured out over the tube to see the place where time begins.
Greenwich was several transfers and then a long walk up a steep hill to see a strip of metal imbeded in the stones surrounding the Royal Observatory.
The space was filled with people speaking many languages all wanting to have their pictures taken on the Prime Meridian.
All of this to remind myself how much we like to think we control our time. One of the things I'm reminded of when traveling is that time does not mean the same thing to me as it does to others. When I'm in a hurry the lorry driver unloading his cargo that makes me wait in the road foe what seems like hours is waisting me time while my lingering at Stonehenge when the workers are trying to get everyone out because it is 7 and the signs say closing is at 7 seems like an imposition.
Time as helpful of a concept as it is really is about me. It is about my schedule and desire to make the world revolve around what I think is important.
All of this is a long way around the round a bout to say it isn't easy trying to get on Gods time rather than Sids time.
But I'm trying.

july 6

In London today after arriving yesterday afternoon.
We went up on the London eye last night and that was quite the view.
Kacie and Kathy are hoping to get tickets to Wicked tonight, not sure if I'm going yet or not
The highlight so far has got to be our worship yesterday at Salsbury Cathedral.
I'm not sure I can begin to describe with my thumbs what it was like to take communion where it at been given for close to 1000 years. Then to sing Amazing Grace in a space that makes it sound different than anywhere else.
The whole time was just drenched with Gods presence.
First from Salsbury and then next of Saint Paul's Cathedral from the London Eye.

july 5

The 4th was a great day for sight seeing! A photography exhibit at the home, ok mansion, of the man who developed the negative/positive process. A walk around a neolithic stone circle. Then finishing up with the sun beginning to set on Stonehenge!
But the real special part of the day was the angel working behind the bar of The Shoe who spent time finding us a place to stay when everything was booked in both Salsbury and Southhampton.
Sometimes it takes awhile and sometimes it happens in unusual ways. But given the time and a willingness to see, God always shows up.
From Stonehendge

july 3

Today was a trip down to Bath. The trip down was great as the weather cleared and we had another beautiful day We went to the Roman Bath world trust sight and the Fashion Museum and will leave it to you to guess which one I enjoyed more.
The only excitement so far has been the lack of good road signs and the narrow narrow roads. Did I mention that the roads can get very narrow?
Oh that and the bank sending an email telling us we had run out of money! Hopefully we got that taken care of quickly. Thank God for online banking!

One from the inside of the Roman Baths.

july 2

I guess if you go to garage sells and auctions buying anything and everything because it is a good deal you become crazy if you have children who have to clean up after you when you die. If you have money and time and no children you become a patron saint of fine craftsmanship and you can leave your estate to become a National Trust and it will become known as Snowshill Manor.
I don't know but I'm still thinking the guy was crazy.
Here are a couple of things from the extensive collection.

july 1

Yesterday afternoon was a bit of exploring the countryside with a stop at Hilcott Gardens. It was a beautiful place with some amazing flowers. Looking out from the gardens we could see this view which will be added later because I can't figure out how to add pictures from my blackberry yet.
Instead of a picture of the countryside how about a picture of the manor house from the extensive gardens.