Sunday, January 23, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Southwest by Midwest Show
SW x MW
This is my part of a show that will be in New Mexico next fall. I have to delete 2 pictures, so Which Two?
Thursday, January 13, 2011
My Journal From First Quarter of 1990
This is a BLAST from the past! The island mentioned frequently is Roosevelt Island which is only a few blocks from my office in Roslyn, VA. The bridge I refer to is Key bridge, which leads to Georgetown in DC
January 15, 1990 I drove up the Potomac river at dawn today and the surface of the water was as smooth as glass. I wished I had a camera with me. It defies the imagination that the Potomac could be so still. The bitter cold weather of December has receded and January will be abnormally warm if the current weather pattern continues.
January 16, 1990 First trip to Roosevelt Island for the year. It was surprising dry considering the rain and melting snow. The trees appear to have some color on the tips of their branches. But I think that it must be my imagination. There was a lot of green in the grasses high on the island. Perhaps the snow shielded the vegetation from the December cold.
January 22, 1990 Dick Cerri had another Kate Wolfe remembrance on his folk music show last night. Her birthday was on January 27, one day past my brother's. That was the reason for the show last year at this time that introduced me to her music. I have a two record set that I have not yet opened. I need to make tapes of them for some new music for the car. I interviewed in Poughkeepsie last Friday. I
imagine I will be moving there soon, if they follow thru on their initial enthusiasm. I will miss the folk music shows on Saturday and Sunday night and the island and the Smithsonian. It now occurs to me that it will be hard to move. But I do need a change and it appears that this opportunity will make the necessary changes.
January 24, 1990 I walked across the bridge to Georgetown at noon to see if the warm weather had brought up any bulbs in the little gardens in the front of some of the houses. The temperature made it up into the mid 60's today. No bulbs were visible. I also used the time to reflect on my choices in Poughkeepsie. I think that the best job considering the future would be with the logic synthesis department. That will give me a new skill that will be more useful in teaching
later.
January 29, 1990 Winter is back! It is cold and wet with the threat of snow later on. The weekend was wonderful and the daffodils are two inches out of the ground on the east side of the house. The buds on the trees are starting to swell. Hope that this false spring will not ruin too much! I used the warm day yesterday to clean all the screens and windows in the house. This on the hope of a move to New York. I heard a new singer last evening. Shawn Colvin has some nice songs on HER (I thought Shawn was a boy's name) new album. There is also a CD called the best of Tom Paxton. Looks like I need a trip to Tower Records soon. Perhaps tomorrow. Dick Cerri mentioned someone who has a similar show to Music Americana in Philadelphia. So there is some hope for acoustic music up north!
February 2, 1990 I spent the afternoon at the Manassas facility and noticed that the geese are starting to pair. It is interesting that only some have started the process. There is still an amorphous group, but there were at least 4 couples that had paired off and were separate from that group. Spring is really coming early this year. When I first saw them in November, there was only the group! I was able to get the Shawn Colvin CD. I like the music, but the words are very strange. No Best of Tom Paxton in sight!
February 8, 1990 I was able to skip the second half of an all day meeting and spend some time on Roosevelt Island today. The trees are definitely OUT! The buds are large enough to produce 'color' on the trees. And I say some leaves as well. The temperature was nice, but the wind was chilling. I walked around the parameter and was amazed to find NO water in the marsh. There was a very low tide and nearly all the water had drained out. There were three pairs of mallards near the bridge on the east end of the island. The males are gorgeous. They have paired up in the same way that the Manassas geese have. As a matter of fact, people are also pairing up as well. The number of couples on the island was much greater than the usual winter day! I just hope that the plants are not killed by an extended cold snap. The long range weather report is encouraging in that respect. However, most people are looking for a miserable April and May. Everyone feels that we have to pay for this nice weather somehow.
February 23, 1990 I went to see the Marin exhibit at the Smithsonian today. There was a very light rain (like a dummy I left the umbrella at the office), which was not enough to cause any damage. Weather is still warm. The average temperature for the month is currently 48 degrees. Not as much above normal as January was, but still exceptional. The painter was always disappointed that his work in oils was never accepted the way his watercolors were. There is a clear difference and the watercolors are exceptional while the oils simply are not. Various sketch books were on display as well, and it was interesting to see what he would quickly sketch in a book and how it would evolve into a painting.
February 26, 1990 The entire month of February was nice, until the very end. We had a cold snap over the weekend that dropped the temperatures into the teens. The temperature never got above freezing yesterday. There is definitely some damage done to the trees and such. The forsythia was beginning to bloom and today it looks brown. The splashes of yellow in early spring will be subdued this year. We will have to wait for a while to see the extent of it. With the exception of one day, I have been too busy to be able to walk to the island. I hope that I can do better next month.
February 27, 1990 I took the metro into Washington today. The magnolias were DEAD. The leaves and buds were black and dead. It was a depressing sight to see.
March 6, 1990 I went into DC to find the Guitar Shop. This was Sophicles Papa's shop back in the 60's when I first started to learn to play the thing. I found two interesting books and learned that the brand of strings that I have been buying is not so much in favor anymore. Apparently Augustine strings can be very good or very bad, depending on random selection. I am half way thru the process of putting a new set of Augustines on, and will play those out and then switch brands. I also looked at new guitars. I can buy a handmade Spanish guitar for roughly 900 dollars. This is a rosewood guitar. Since my thumbnail is still missing, I told the salesperson that I would be back in about two weeks to try a couple. This is a lot less than the $2000 that Joe Wallo wants for his handmade guitars. I do need to find out what the final cost is. I assume that the $900 did not include a case. We shall see.
March 8, 1990 I took a short walk through the middle of the island today. The weather is warming up after a week of cold weather. It was too hot for my jacket after I was out of the wind. The squirrels are still fat and I saw the first bluets near the bridge. The trees are definitely beginning to bud. Even the daffodils have problems this year. Half of our's have fallen over from damage from the hard freeze. The beds along the Potomac are really spotty. This will be a terrible spring for flowers.
March 12, 1990 Today I managed a long walk around the outside of the island. The Potomac is low because there just has not been any substantial rain. There were pairs everywhere. Ducks and gulls in the river, a pair of geese on some rocks and pairs of people everywhere. And bluets everywhere as well. The weather was HOT, with the temperature somewhere in the 80's. This is really going to confuse the plants even further.
March 13, 1990 I took the subway to the federal mall today and sighted the first string bikini bathing suit of the year. Must be a new record for the earliest sighting. The temperature was in the 90's and it was hot! This was also the day for the first air conditioning complaint. After becoming accustomed to the outside temperature, the air conditioning in the metro cars was very uncomfortable. I visited the Museum of History and Technology for a change. It has been a long time since I was there. I was disappointed in the new treatment for the Foucalt pendulum, which has been shortened one whole floor. It is now waist high on the entrance level and it's span is much smaller than before. It was one of the most unusual exhibits anywhere in the Smithsonian in it's former glorious state. In the exhibits downstairs was an aluminum violin. Apparently pure aluminum has a wonderful resonance and this was a demonstration. The mixture of the aluminum body and the wood neck and scroll was really jolting. The only problems is that the aluminum must be alloyed with another metal for practical manufacture, and the alloying immediately introduces the 'tinny' sound we normally associate with metal anything. There are many new items in the basement. Cars, bicycles, and even the Sunracer, the GM car that won the race across a good portion of Australia running only on solar power. The person in the string bikini was still there sunning herself when I walked back to the metro station. She certainly stirred the imagination.
March 22, 1990 I took a walk over the bridge to Georgetown today. Weather was nice, with the temperature at 70 or so. They were out of the chocolate chip cookies at the store near G.U. I did take some pictures and walk all the way to Wisconsin. I stopped by a record store and there as the Tommy Makem and Eiam Clancy CD I have been looking for since last September. And for only 10.99. I also found a hardware store with the spring loaded hinges that need replaced in the kitchen. So it was a really good haul. I also found a Body Shop on M street just up from Wisconsin. Nice store and I picked up some information for Patricia in case she will really think about starting up a store in NY.
March 23, 1990 Drove up to Bethesda for lunch today. It was a beautiful day and all the redbud is in bloom. I think that it is my favorite flowering tree. The splashes of red are everywhere. Lovely. When I arrived home that night, waiting for me was a new Metropolitan Art Museum catalog with the Elliot Porter picture of redbuds for sale. I might buy it.
March 26, 1990 I took metro over to get the Pulse magazine for Bob Appleman's 'present'. On a random whim I got off at the Farragut West station and took the 17th street exit instead of the usual 18th street exit. I emerged right in front of a map store that has the maps of England that I had been looking for. I could not locate the correct one because they are so detailed. But I now know what town I am looking for, Newnham, and will get the correct map tomorrow. What a coincidence! I have been looking for that map for two years. I asked Colin to try to find one on his trip, but he did not know where to start. Cost the $6.95. Wonderful. I wandered along K street back to the Foggy Bottom in the nice sunshine.
March 27, 1990 I finally have the maps today, but only after a LOT of effort. The map given in the book on canals is incorrect. In self defense, I just started looking at maps around the area. The one further north is perfect. The mouth of the River Rea is at Newnham and it is about 14 mile long, diminishing into the Rea Brook (which passes under Rea Bridge and its source is near N Common. I only
showed it to Colin, as the rest of the family seemed not to be much interested in this project. It only took 4 years from the time I learned of the existance of the River Rea to finally locate it on a detailed map. But then, I was not looking all THAT hard. The weather seems determined to not give me a nice day to wander around the island for one last time. Everything points to it being time to leave. The soup at my normal noontime stop has gone completely to hell. The chicken noodle was from a can the other day and the star of the soup line, clam chowder, was as thin as a rail and tasted poorly. To top it off I was stopped by two VA 'troupers' (out of uniform) on the way home. They claimed I was violating HOV, but they were just hassling me. Probably for driving the RX7. They took my license and registration back to the car, and I had already figured out that I did NOT need to pay the fine when I got them back with the words "we'll give you the benefit of the doubt". RIGHT! I'm ready to leave!
And then I moved to Upstate New York.
January 15, 1990 I drove up the Potomac river at dawn today and the surface of the water was as smooth as glass. I wished I had a camera with me. It defies the imagination that the Potomac could be so still. The bitter cold weather of December has receded and January will be abnormally warm if the current weather pattern continues.
January 16, 1990 First trip to Roosevelt Island for the year. It was surprising dry considering the rain and melting snow. The trees appear to have some color on the tips of their branches. But I think that it must be my imagination. There was a lot of green in the grasses high on the island. Perhaps the snow shielded the vegetation from the December cold.
January 22, 1990 Dick Cerri had another Kate Wolfe remembrance on his folk music show last night. Her birthday was on January 27, one day past my brother's. That was the reason for the show last year at this time that introduced me to her music. I have a two record set that I have not yet opened. I need to make tapes of them for some new music for the car. I interviewed in Poughkeepsie last Friday. I
imagine I will be moving there soon, if they follow thru on their initial enthusiasm. I will miss the folk music shows on Saturday and Sunday night and the island and the Smithsonian. It now occurs to me that it will be hard to move. But I do need a change and it appears that this opportunity will make the necessary changes.
January 24, 1990 I walked across the bridge to Georgetown at noon to see if the warm weather had brought up any bulbs in the little gardens in the front of some of the houses. The temperature made it up into the mid 60's today. No bulbs were visible. I also used the time to reflect on my choices in Poughkeepsie. I think that the best job considering the future would be with the logic synthesis department. That will give me a new skill that will be more useful in teaching
later.
January 29, 1990 Winter is back! It is cold and wet with the threat of snow later on. The weekend was wonderful and the daffodils are two inches out of the ground on the east side of the house. The buds on the trees are starting to swell. Hope that this false spring will not ruin too much! I used the warm day yesterday to clean all the screens and windows in the house. This on the hope of a move to New York. I heard a new singer last evening. Shawn Colvin has some nice songs on HER (I thought Shawn was a boy's name) new album. There is also a CD called the best of Tom Paxton. Looks like I need a trip to Tower Records soon. Perhaps tomorrow. Dick Cerri mentioned someone who has a similar show to Music Americana in Philadelphia. So there is some hope for acoustic music up north!
February 2, 1990 I spent the afternoon at the Manassas facility and noticed that the geese are starting to pair. It is interesting that only some have started the process. There is still an amorphous group, but there were at least 4 couples that had paired off and were separate from that group. Spring is really coming early this year. When I first saw them in November, there was only the group! I was able to get the Shawn Colvin CD. I like the music, but the words are very strange. No Best of Tom Paxton in sight!
February 8, 1990 I was able to skip the second half of an all day meeting and spend some time on Roosevelt Island today. The trees are definitely OUT! The buds are large enough to produce 'color' on the trees. And I say some leaves as well. The temperature was nice, but the wind was chilling. I walked around the parameter and was amazed to find NO water in the marsh. There was a very low tide and nearly all the water had drained out. There were three pairs of mallards near the bridge on the east end of the island. The males are gorgeous. They have paired up in the same way that the Manassas geese have. As a matter of fact, people are also pairing up as well. The number of couples on the island was much greater than the usual winter day! I just hope that the plants are not killed by an extended cold snap. The long range weather report is encouraging in that respect. However, most people are looking for a miserable April and May. Everyone feels that we have to pay for this nice weather somehow.
February 23, 1990 I went to see the Marin exhibit at the Smithsonian today. There was a very light rain (like a dummy I left the umbrella at the office), which was not enough to cause any damage. Weather is still warm. The average temperature for the month is currently 48 degrees. Not as much above normal as January was, but still exceptional. The painter was always disappointed that his work in oils was never accepted the way his watercolors were. There is a clear difference and the watercolors are exceptional while the oils simply are not. Various sketch books were on display as well, and it was interesting to see what he would quickly sketch in a book and how it would evolve into a painting.
February 26, 1990 The entire month of February was nice, until the very end. We had a cold snap over the weekend that dropped the temperatures into the teens. The temperature never got above freezing yesterday. There is definitely some damage done to the trees and such. The forsythia was beginning to bloom and today it looks brown. The splashes of yellow in early spring will be subdued this year. We will have to wait for a while to see the extent of it. With the exception of one day, I have been too busy to be able to walk to the island. I hope that I can do better next month.
February 27, 1990 I took the metro into Washington today. The magnolias were DEAD. The leaves and buds were black and dead. It was a depressing sight to see.
March 6, 1990 I went into DC to find the Guitar Shop. This was Sophicles Papa's shop back in the 60's when I first started to learn to play the thing. I found two interesting books and learned that the brand of strings that I have been buying is not so much in favor anymore. Apparently Augustine strings can be very good or very bad, depending on random selection. I am half way thru the process of putting a new set of Augustines on, and will play those out and then switch brands. I also looked at new guitars. I can buy a handmade Spanish guitar for roughly 900 dollars. This is a rosewood guitar. Since my thumbnail is still missing, I told the salesperson that I would be back in about two weeks to try a couple. This is a lot less than the $2000 that Joe Wallo wants for his handmade guitars. I do need to find out what the final cost is. I assume that the $900 did not include a case. We shall see.
March 8, 1990 I took a short walk through the middle of the island today. The weather is warming up after a week of cold weather. It was too hot for my jacket after I was out of the wind. The squirrels are still fat and I saw the first bluets near the bridge. The trees are definitely beginning to bud. Even the daffodils have problems this year. Half of our's have fallen over from damage from the hard freeze. The beds along the Potomac are really spotty. This will be a terrible spring for flowers.
March 12, 1990 Today I managed a long walk around the outside of the island. The Potomac is low because there just has not been any substantial rain. There were pairs everywhere. Ducks and gulls in the river, a pair of geese on some rocks and pairs of people everywhere. And bluets everywhere as well. The weather was HOT, with the temperature somewhere in the 80's. This is really going to confuse the plants even further.
March 13, 1990 I took the subway to the federal mall today and sighted the first string bikini bathing suit of the year. Must be a new record for the earliest sighting. The temperature was in the 90's and it was hot! This was also the day for the first air conditioning complaint. After becoming accustomed to the outside temperature, the air conditioning in the metro cars was very uncomfortable. I visited the Museum of History and Technology for a change. It has been a long time since I was there. I was disappointed in the new treatment for the Foucalt pendulum, which has been shortened one whole floor. It is now waist high on the entrance level and it's span is much smaller than before. It was one of the most unusual exhibits anywhere in the Smithsonian in it's former glorious state. In the exhibits downstairs was an aluminum violin. Apparently pure aluminum has a wonderful resonance and this was a demonstration. The mixture of the aluminum body and the wood neck and scroll was really jolting. The only problems is that the aluminum must be alloyed with another metal for practical manufacture, and the alloying immediately introduces the 'tinny' sound we normally associate with metal anything. There are many new items in the basement. Cars, bicycles, and even the Sunracer, the GM car that won the race across a good portion of Australia running only on solar power. The person in the string bikini was still there sunning herself when I walked back to the metro station. She certainly stirred the imagination.
March 22, 1990 I took a walk over the bridge to Georgetown today. Weather was nice, with the temperature at 70 or so. They were out of the chocolate chip cookies at the store near G.U. I did take some pictures and walk all the way to Wisconsin. I stopped by a record store and there as the Tommy Makem and Eiam Clancy CD I have been looking for since last September. And for only 10.99. I also found a hardware store with the spring loaded hinges that need replaced in the kitchen. So it was a really good haul. I also found a Body Shop on M street just up from Wisconsin. Nice store and I picked up some information for Patricia in case she will really think about starting up a store in NY.
March 23, 1990 Drove up to Bethesda for lunch today. It was a beautiful day and all the redbud is in bloom. I think that it is my favorite flowering tree. The splashes of red are everywhere. Lovely. When I arrived home that night, waiting for me was a new Metropolitan Art Museum catalog with the Elliot Porter picture of redbuds for sale. I might buy it.
March 26, 1990 I took metro over to get the Pulse magazine for Bob Appleman's 'present'. On a random whim I got off at the Farragut West station and took the 17th street exit instead of the usual 18th street exit. I emerged right in front of a map store that has the maps of England that I had been looking for. I could not locate the correct one because they are so detailed. But I now know what town I am looking for, Newnham, and will get the correct map tomorrow. What a coincidence! I have been looking for that map for two years. I asked Colin to try to find one on his trip, but he did not know where to start. Cost the $6.95. Wonderful. I wandered along K street back to the Foggy Bottom in the nice sunshine.
March 27, 1990 I finally have the maps today, but only after a LOT of effort. The map given in the book on canals is incorrect. In self defense, I just started looking at maps around the area. The one further north is perfect. The mouth of the River Rea is at Newnham and it is about 14 mile long, diminishing into the Rea Brook (which passes under Rea Bridge and its source is near N Common. I only
showed it to Colin, as the rest of the family seemed not to be much interested in this project. It only took 4 years from the time I learned of the existance of the River Rea to finally locate it on a detailed map. But then, I was not looking all THAT hard. The weather seems determined to not give me a nice day to wander around the island for one last time. Everything points to it being time to leave. The soup at my normal noontime stop has gone completely to hell. The chicken noodle was from a can the other day and the star of the soup line, clam chowder, was as thin as a rail and tasted poorly. To top it off I was stopped by two VA 'troupers' (out of uniform) on the way home. They claimed I was violating HOV, but they were just hassling me. Probably for driving the RX7. They took my license and registration back to the car, and I had already figured out that I did NOT need to pay the fine when I got them back with the words "we'll give you the benefit of the doubt". RIGHT! I'm ready to leave!
And then I moved to Upstate New York.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Montana Sheep Ranch and On to Spokane
Sept. 17, 1910
Got up rather early and had breakfast. It rained during the entire morning. Had jack rabbit for dinner and it was fine. After dinner, Frank, Seisel, Charles, and self started out to climb to the top of “Black Butter” Mountain which is the highest peak around here. It is all of rock and quite hard to ascent in some places. When we reached the top, we stacked up quite a pile of rock to leave in memory of our exploration. On the way back Charlie killed a hawk and we ran across a bunch of forty chickens.
Sept. 18, 1910
Got up and after breakfast went out to hunt chickens and run across quite a number. Seisel killed three and Charlie killed two. I fired a couple of shots at them but might as well shot at a barn. The German family were over here and the baby. Quite hard to understand them talk. Took care of baby while others had dinner. Seisel & Robert washed dishes. Seisel & self went after the cow this evening and it was a very pretty sight to see the moon come over the hill. Spent the afternoon talking.
Sept. 19, 1910
Started out @ about 8 o’clock to go to Clear Creek which seemed to be about twenty miles. The country was very beautiful and the valleys appear to be very fertile. Went over there to fish for trout and they surely can go some. Caught quite a few and then a government man came along. Robert fell in the creek. We cooked the fish for supper at the deserted cabin. Old Mr. Sheets came along with us. They weighted the bunch, posted own with rocks. The gates are very old. Saw quite a flock of chickens. The ride home was fine and the moon very bright. Reached home @ 8 PM.
The irrigation ditches here are very queer and some of them look as if they run up hill. The ditches are not very deep and run every way in order to be level. The water comes from Springs or reservoirs which are built. Oats is worth $2.50 a cwt. And alfalfa worth $10 to $12 a bu. One man had a piece of alfalfa yield 20 Bu per acre and sots $1 to thresh it. When any stock dies, they just leave it and it does not appear to have any odor during the time it decays.
Sept. 20, 1910
Got up and fooled around. Then Seisel, Robert and self went over to Mr. Jesses after a pair of deer horns for Warnie. We had quite a little fun with the baby. Got back to the house about noon. After dinner, we all changed clothes and went fishing. The water was very cold and so clear that we could see the fish. We caught enough suckers for a very good mess. The threshing machine men came along and were here over night. After supper Charlie, Seisel, Robert and self went over to Cleveland after the mail. It is about four miles over there. A very fine moonlight night. When we reach home, everyone had gone to bed.
Sept. 21, 1910
Joe broke his leg when he went after the horses. After breakfast we started to thresh and took about an hour and half. They had about 11 bu. of oats and quite a bit of wild oats and mustard seed. Seisel, Robert & self went over to help Mr. Lewis thresh and it took us until noon. After dinner Mr. & Mrs Taylor and son Chas. went up to Chinook to stay overnight and leave in the morning for Madison County. Frank took the people to town. Mr. Lewis’ grain was not bound and pitched it with a four prong fork. After the folks went away played cards to see who had to churn milk and who was king tomorrow. Robert lost and must do everything.
Sept. 22, 1910
After breakfast Robert went out to milk the cow but before hand Seisel had milked her and Robert was none the wiser and went on ahead and got about a pt. of milk. We then went out to hunt chickens and saw a many, but got note. Then came back to the house. I had to split wood and Seisel & Robert had to wash dishes. After dinner we went over to the Prairie Dog Town and tried to shoot them but had no luck. Then went over to Cleveland and it was very cold. After finishing supper, a sheep herder said that he was sufficiently amused. War and Robert went after the mail. Frank and Self washed the dishes.
Sept. 23, 1910
Noticed a heavy cloud which looked like smoke down below the mountains and we thought it was a fire and went over there to see. Fooled around the house in the morning and Robert pressed our clothes. After dinner went over to Dog town and Seisel killed two of then. The prairie dog resembles the ground hog in a great many ways and they say that they dig their holes down to water. The dogs do not scatter our over country but just inhabit these towns. We then went to hunt chickens and Seisel killed one. It grew Quite cold. After supper, I popped some corn. We played cards and tried to read a little. Frank went over to the Reservation and took a couple of herders over there.
Sept. 24, 1910
Got up and it was snowing and then turned into rain and made it very disagreeable. Robert washed some of his clothes. Seisel went out and killed a couple of grouse. Robert milks this evening. Seisel has to churn in the morning, and I wiped the dishes. It rained and snowed the entire day and we stayed in the house all the time. We sleep in the afternoon and then later read a few stories in the Sat. Post. In the evening it was very dark and wind blowing quite a gale and was still snowing. Played cards in evening and went to bed rather early. Could not see “Black Butter” at all.
Sept. 25, 1910
Quite a little snow on the ground and later on sun came out and all the snow melted off of the ground but was still up on the mountains. Seisel, Robert & Self went out and caught a rabbit out of lumber pile and had rabbit & grouse for dinner. Frank & Mr. Sheets came back from Reservation in time for dinner. Seisel & Self washed the dishes. After dinner, Warnie made some candy & popped some corn. Robert went out and drove the cattle out on the road. Seisel had to milk the cow. It surely was a fine day and it is very queer how the sun is shaded by the high hills. The night grew very cold. In the evening we had a lesson in bookkeeping. Hit Robert with snow ball. (Buffalo grass looks nothing but equal to corn in Ohio.)
Sept. 26, 1910
Robert and Self cut up some wood. Frank & Seisel went over to Sheets. Robert having a great time doing his ironing. Frank & Seisel did not come home for dinner, but reached home early. We fooled around the house most all of the time that day. In the evening we played cards and read awhile. When the telephone gets out of order out @ Seisels’s, they have to take it to Chinook and then send it down to Havre. One time they ere without their phone for 3 months. It appears everything is done in rather a careless way. The dog they brought back from the Reservation surely can run fast. Frank & Seisel are trying to get the Bill Sheets Ranch which is half of the Roberts, Taylor and Sheets Ranch which is big.
Sept. 27, 1910
We started to town in wagon at 7:40 AM. We notice the Canadian Line. Saw a coal mine. Reached Chinook @ 1 PM. The ride was very enjoyable and noticed that where they had corralled the sheep overnight there was no grass left. Went down to the RR station after some freight; agent was sweeping the platform and Seisel told him he was after some frt. He just kept on sweeping and we had to wait until he finished. Went down to see Mrs. Mary Brown who is from Wyandot Co. Mr. and Mrs Harvey Mapes of Marion, O. came down and we had a very pleasant evening. Left Chinook @ 1:40 AM and started for Helena. Had to take an upper berth.
Sept. 28, 1910
Got up at 8:30 AM. We were an hour late in reaching Helena. They were having their State Fair here now and we cannot get a bed, so we strike out for Spokane this evening. Went past the Fair Grounds coming in on the train. Went by the capital building and it is a pretty structure and at present, they are building on same. There is surely a nice crowd down at the RR Station. The station is a nice one and owned by the Northern Pacific. We did not get out of Helena until 8:55. We had no order for a berth and were quite fortunate in getting a lower. Just before we left Helena, it started to rain a little. The State Hair at Helena has made great progress in the last few years.
Sept. 29, 1910
Was awake at Hope (ID). We were an hour late. The land in and around there is timber land. Right near Spokane and on into the city the land which ten or fifteen years was worth $20 to $40 is now worth about $500 (an acre). We reached Spokane at about 9:30 AM and came up to the Empire Hotel. The rooms are very good and the meals are just fair. Robert went down to the Post Office and got the mail. Spent afternoon in reading & writing. After supper went down to the Post Office which is a fine building. The we went down to the Orphium and they had a very good vaudeville bill. The fellows just rush ahead and sit down and their girls follow them. Not a very good looking theater. Music of orchestra very low and not much good.
Sept. 30, 1910
Robert had been down to Post Office. Got up and had breakfast and then we took a walk down street. Have some nice business building and appears to be a busy city. All fruit sells at a high price. Noticed a great number of real estate offices. After dinner went down to Washington Theater and saw a vaudeville bill and had a monkey. Then we went down and way the Davenport Restaurant which is quite large and very good looking. After supper went down to the Great Northern RR Station and it is a pretty good one. Went to bed early. In Spokane they have not system in running autos and vehicles and turn comes any way. People walk every way.
Got up rather early and had breakfast. It rained during the entire morning. Had jack rabbit for dinner and it was fine. After dinner, Frank, Seisel, Charles, and self started out to climb to the top of “Black Butter” Mountain which is the highest peak around here. It is all of rock and quite hard to ascent in some places. When we reached the top, we stacked up quite a pile of rock to leave in memory of our exploration. On the way back Charlie killed a hawk and we ran across a bunch of forty chickens.
Sept. 18, 1910
Got up and after breakfast went out to hunt chickens and run across quite a number. Seisel killed three and Charlie killed two. I fired a couple of shots at them but might as well shot at a barn. The German family were over here and the baby. Quite hard to understand them talk. Took care of baby while others had dinner. Seisel & Robert washed dishes. Seisel & self went after the cow this evening and it was a very pretty sight to see the moon come over the hill. Spent the afternoon talking.
Sept. 19, 1910
Started out @ about 8 o’clock to go to Clear Creek which seemed to be about twenty miles. The country was very beautiful and the valleys appear to be very fertile. Went over there to fish for trout and they surely can go some. Caught quite a few and then a government man came along. Robert fell in the creek. We cooked the fish for supper at the deserted cabin. Old Mr. Sheets came along with us. They weighted the bunch, posted own with rocks. The gates are very old. Saw quite a flock of chickens. The ride home was fine and the moon very bright. Reached home @ 8 PM.
The irrigation ditches here are very queer and some of them look as if they run up hill. The ditches are not very deep and run every way in order to be level. The water comes from Springs or reservoirs which are built. Oats is worth $2.50 a cwt. And alfalfa worth $10 to $12 a bu. One man had a piece of alfalfa yield 20 Bu per acre and sots $1 to thresh it. When any stock dies, they just leave it and it does not appear to have any odor during the time it decays.
Sept. 20, 1910
Got up and fooled around. Then Seisel, Robert and self went over to Mr. Jesses after a pair of deer horns for Warnie. We had quite a little fun with the baby. Got back to the house about noon. After dinner, we all changed clothes and went fishing. The water was very cold and so clear that we could see the fish. We caught enough suckers for a very good mess. The threshing machine men came along and were here over night. After supper Charlie, Seisel, Robert and self went over to Cleveland after the mail. It is about four miles over there. A very fine moonlight night. When we reach home, everyone had gone to bed.
Sept. 21, 1910
Joe broke his leg when he went after the horses. After breakfast we started to thresh and took about an hour and half. They had about 11 bu. of oats and quite a bit of wild oats and mustard seed. Seisel, Robert & self went over to help Mr. Lewis thresh and it took us until noon. After dinner Mr. & Mrs Taylor and son Chas. went up to Chinook to stay overnight and leave in the morning for Madison County. Frank took the people to town. Mr. Lewis’ grain was not bound and pitched it with a four prong fork. After the folks went away played cards to see who had to churn milk and who was king tomorrow. Robert lost and must do everything.
Sept. 22, 1910
After breakfast Robert went out to milk the cow but before hand Seisel had milked her and Robert was none the wiser and went on ahead and got about a pt. of milk. We then went out to hunt chickens and saw a many, but got note. Then came back to the house. I had to split wood and Seisel & Robert had to wash dishes. After dinner we went over to the Prairie Dog Town and tried to shoot them but had no luck. Then went over to Cleveland and it was very cold. After finishing supper, a sheep herder said that he was sufficiently amused. War and Robert went after the mail. Frank and Self washed the dishes.
Sept. 23, 1910
Noticed a heavy cloud which looked like smoke down below the mountains and we thought it was a fire and went over there to see. Fooled around the house in the morning and Robert pressed our clothes. After dinner went over to Dog town and Seisel killed two of then. The prairie dog resembles the ground hog in a great many ways and they say that they dig their holes down to water. The dogs do not scatter our over country but just inhabit these towns. We then went to hunt chickens and Seisel killed one. It grew Quite cold. After supper, I popped some corn. We played cards and tried to read a little. Frank went over to the Reservation and took a couple of herders over there.
Sept. 24, 1910
Got up and it was snowing and then turned into rain and made it very disagreeable. Robert washed some of his clothes. Seisel went out and killed a couple of grouse. Robert milks this evening. Seisel has to churn in the morning, and I wiped the dishes. It rained and snowed the entire day and we stayed in the house all the time. We sleep in the afternoon and then later read a few stories in the Sat. Post. In the evening it was very dark and wind blowing quite a gale and was still snowing. Played cards in evening and went to bed rather early. Could not see “Black Butter” at all.
Sept. 25, 1910
Quite a little snow on the ground and later on sun came out and all the snow melted off of the ground but was still up on the mountains. Seisel, Robert & Self went out and caught a rabbit out of lumber pile and had rabbit & grouse for dinner. Frank & Mr. Sheets came back from Reservation in time for dinner. Seisel & Self washed the dishes. After dinner, Warnie made some candy & popped some corn. Robert went out and drove the cattle out on the road. Seisel had to milk the cow. It surely was a fine day and it is very queer how the sun is shaded by the high hills. The night grew very cold. In the evening we had a lesson in bookkeeping. Hit Robert with snow ball. (Buffalo grass looks nothing but equal to corn in Ohio.)
Sept. 26, 1910
Robert and Self cut up some wood. Frank & Seisel went over to Sheets. Robert having a great time doing his ironing. Frank & Seisel did not come home for dinner, but reached home early. We fooled around the house most all of the time that day. In the evening we played cards and read awhile. When the telephone gets out of order out @ Seisels’s, they have to take it to Chinook and then send it down to Havre. One time they ere without their phone for 3 months. It appears everything is done in rather a careless way. The dog they brought back from the Reservation surely can run fast. Frank & Seisel are trying to get the Bill Sheets Ranch which is half of the Roberts, Taylor and Sheets Ranch which is big.
Sept. 27, 1910
We started to town in wagon at 7:40 AM. We notice the Canadian Line. Saw a coal mine. Reached Chinook @ 1 PM. The ride was very enjoyable and noticed that where they had corralled the sheep overnight there was no grass left. Went down to the RR station after some freight; agent was sweeping the platform and Seisel told him he was after some frt. He just kept on sweeping and we had to wait until he finished. Went down to see Mrs. Mary Brown who is from Wyandot Co. Mr. and Mrs Harvey Mapes of Marion, O. came down and we had a very pleasant evening. Left Chinook @ 1:40 AM and started for Helena. Had to take an upper berth.
Sept. 28, 1910
Got up at 8:30 AM. We were an hour late in reaching Helena. They were having their State Fair here now and we cannot get a bed, so we strike out for Spokane this evening. Went past the Fair Grounds coming in on the train. Went by the capital building and it is a pretty structure and at present, they are building on same. There is surely a nice crowd down at the RR Station. The station is a nice one and owned by the Northern Pacific. We did not get out of Helena until 8:55. We had no order for a berth and were quite fortunate in getting a lower. Just before we left Helena, it started to rain a little. The State Hair at Helena has made great progress in the last few years.
Sept. 29, 1910
Was awake at Hope (ID). We were an hour late. The land in and around there is timber land. Right near Spokane and on into the city the land which ten or fifteen years was worth $20 to $40 is now worth about $500 (an acre). We reached Spokane at about 9:30 AM and came up to the Empire Hotel. The rooms are very good and the meals are just fair. Robert went down to the Post Office and got the mail. Spent afternoon in reading & writing. After supper went down to the Post Office which is a fine building. The we went down to the Orphium and they had a very good vaudeville bill. The fellows just rush ahead and sit down and their girls follow them. Not a very good looking theater. Music of orchestra very low and not much good.
Sept. 30, 1910
Robert had been down to Post Office. Got up and had breakfast and then we took a walk down street. Have some nice business building and appears to be a busy city. All fruit sells at a high price. Noticed a great number of real estate offices. After dinner went down to Washington Theater and saw a vaudeville bill and had a monkey. Then we went down and way the Davenport Restaurant which is quite large and very good looking. After supper went down to the Great Northern RR Station and it is a pretty good one. Went to bed early. In Spokane they have not system in running autos and vehicles and turn comes any way. People walk every way.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Stagecoach Ride Through Yellowstone and Train Ride
This was written by Brookes Beery about the trip he and my great uncle Robert Rea took west. I have left it in his original diary form. Note that the mid day meal is dinner and the evening meal is supper, as was the custom in that time. Dinner was the largest meal. I have the set of dishes from Great Uncle Robert's mother Grace and it contained a set of large dinner plates and an set of smaller supper plates.
Sept. 8, 1910
Woke up at Livingston, Montana and it was very cold. Got off there and had breakfast. They have a very good R.R. Station and started from there @8 AM. Coming out of Livingston the mountains are beautiful and are of a great height in some places. Passed Yankee Jims Gorge. Then Corwin Springs, The Devils Slide. We reached Gardiner at 10 AM. Left there at 12 o’clock. (note: they took a stagecoach in the park) Entered the Park (Yellowstone) by the northern entrance and started thru Gardiner Canyon following along the beautiful Gardiner River. Eagle’s nest built on the extreme top of a cliff – several of the cliffs were 1500 feet above roadway. Mammoth Hot Springs, Hymen Terrace, Liberty Cap, Devils Thumb, Minerva Terrace, Jupiter Terrace, Boiling River, Cupid’s Cave, Silver Gate & Hoodoos Golden Gate. Stopped @ Swan Lake Basin and camped all night. It was very cold and could hear the coyotes yelling. Saw a few deer on first day. We are going thru the Wylie Way and have tents, stove, etc.
Sept. 9, 1910
Ice in pitcher of water and very late for breakfast. It was very cold. The first stope we made was @ Apollinaris String and had a cup of water. Obsidian Cliff, Beaver Lake, Norris Geyser Basin, Minute Man, Gibbon River & Canyon, Gibbon Falls, Firehole River & Canyon. Lunch Station @ noon. Then followed Firehole River, Fountain Geyser, Mammoth Paint Pots which were very beautiful. Great Fountain Geyser, Excelsior Prismatic Lake, Upper Geyser Basin. Old Faithful Inn is a beautiful log structure & Old Faithful Geyser is just east of the Inn. We say Old Faithful play with searchlight turned on same and different colors there we shown were beautiful. Saw Riverside Geyser play @ 6 PM and also the Castle play. The Giant started to play at about 7:20 and saw it at a distance and it is a very rare sight as it only play from 7 to 12 days and this time it was four days late. We are about 7 or eight thousand feet above sea level and the air is very light and makes it difficult for one to breathe. On our way over here to Upper Geyser Basin we stopped @ Iron Spring and drank a little of the water. We saw quite a number of deer on the way over. The entire day after warming up was very pleasant. Saw Boiling River, etc., Biscuit Basin, Roaring Mountain, Frying Pan.
Sept. 10, 1910
Started out on a walk with a guide and there was an old man along with us who insisted upon keeping a couple of stones he picked up but the soldier made him put them down. In the wintertime, the soldiers get around very little and when they do go they go on snow shoes. We started out along the Giant Castle, Bee Hive, Giantess Sponge, Lion which played while we were there, Lioness on the side of which are the two cubs. Sawmill Geyser was playing and it does remind me of a sawmill a great deal with its chug chug. Economic Geyser was playing and there is no overflow. The Oblong is a very beautiful grotto. Splendid Riverside. Morning Glory is very beautiful and possesses beautiful colors. The Beauty Spring is where the Indians thought that if you would take 30 some baths, you would become very beautiful. Handkerchief Pool is where one takes a handkerchief and places it in the pool and it will go down and in a little while will come back up. The Sponge resembles a sponge a great deal. Three Sisters. Specimen Lake. Emerald Pool of green centre & yellow outside. The Punch Bowl is where they pipe the hot water to camp. All of these geysers are of very hot water and when they play, they send an abundant lot of steam and there is most always a roar before a large one starts. Saw Old Faithful play twice this morning. As far as we have gone the trees have been mostly fir but occasionally we would see a spruce. Morning Glory, Mortar Pan working. Riverside played. Broken Heart. The Castle played at dawn and saw Old Faithful play last night and various colors were beautiful. Saw a silver tipped bear come down with her two cubs to the garbage pile. The visitors are know as dudes and the people who work are called savages and they eat in separate tent. Cannot eat with personal friend visitors.
Sept. 11, 1910
Started out of Upper Geyser Basin Camp about eight o’clock. The weather was very cold and it was snowing. The first point of interest were the Kepler Cascades. Looking down a great distance, the water is very beautiful jumping from cliff to cliff. Along here it is quite wooded and the trees are spruce, fir & pine. We passed the Continental Divide at Isa Lake where the snow melts, the water runt to both oceans. Shoshone Pass is wehre we reached the highest elevation on the roadway of 8345 feet and off at a distance you could see Shoshone Lake. Then we first noticed Yellowstone Lake which is a very beautiful sight to behold. We then went on to Thumb’s Lunch Station. After eating we went out ans saw two black bears. Then we went down and saw the Paint Pots which are of several diff. colors. The drive in afternoon is thru the woods of quite large pine trees but goes mostly along the Lake which is very beautiful. We saw a deer, ducks and sea-gulls. We noticed the natural bridge which is very unique. Noticing Mountains covered with snow at a distance of about four miles and Lake waves which are not very high always coming to shore. We reached Lake Camp about 4:30 in the afternoon and wind was blowing at quite a gale. Had a snow in the evening and stayed around stove and talked.
Sept. 12, 1910
Left Lake Camp about 8 AM. It was snowing a little. The drive along Yellowstone River was very attractive and could see a lot of wild geese, ducks and a seagull or so. We noticed a couple of elk way up on the hill. The first point of interest was a mud geyser. Nearby is Gothic Grotto Green gabled over boiling spring. The upper falls which are very beautiful. Then we reached the Grand Canon whose beauties I am unable to express in words. There one sees all the colors which seem to blend. Way down at the bottom the waters of green and blue rush forth with their own will and as they fall from one plat to another they are magnificent. We went out on Point Lookout and what a beautiful sight it was. Noticed the eagles in their nests. We got out at Inspiration Point and walked back to camp. Every so often we would step out on a point and view the Canyon again. When we reached the Great Falls, we walked down 494 steps to view them and on coming up we had to stop several times in order to get our breath. On the way down the Canyon, we noticed two black bears and one brown one and on the way back saw another black bear. We got in our tent at Canyon Camp at about 12 o’clock and after dinner we went down and tool Uncle Tom’s trail which is very steep climbing and very dangerous. Out on a rock you can see the falls rushing down and walking further down, you see a little hot Springs rushing forth. On our way back to camp we got caught in quite a rain. Noticed a couple of deer on our way home Decker went in Savage Tent to eat and they brought him our in a hurry. Went over to the dance hall and danced one dance. Went back to tent early and it was very cold. Went to bed early.
Sept. 13, 1910
Left the Canyon Camp @7:30 and had a twenty-four mile drive back to Swan Lake Camp for dinner. We noticed the wedded trees. The next point of interest was the Virginia Cascades which was a fine sight and a great distance down the river. After dinner we started for Gardiner at 1:30 PM. On our way we noticed about twenty-four deer. We do not get to Gardiner until 7:15 PM. Arrived in Livingston at 9:15 and went to Park Hotel which is a very good one. Stayed in room and talked during the evening.
Sept. 14, 2010
Stayed in bed until about noon and then went out and had dinner. The streets in Livingston looked just like a mud road. They say that the winters in Livingston are very cold and the wind is something fierce. Not much doing there in the winter time. Decker started for Seattle at 2:25 PM. We started for Helena at 3:30. Coming out of Livingston the mountains are quite high. Went thru a couple of tunnels, one of which was quite long. Bozeman, a town of about ten thousand and surely one booming place. Most of the land in around here is farmed by dry farming method. Land worth about $75. Just the valley farmed and the rest mountains or hills. Reached Helena @8:10 and went up to Grandon Hotel.
Sept. 15, 2010
Stayed in bed until about noon and after dinner, we took a walk down town and did not see very much and appeared to be rather quiet. Helena is a town of about 20,000. Came down to station early and had supper there. Leave Helena at 6:20. Reached Havre at 2:55 AM. Left there at 4:10 and reached Chinook @ 5 AM. Went up to Hotel Chinook – Sesiel was there.
Sept. 16, 2010
Got up at 8:30 AM and had breakfast and then went around stable and started out. Brought a lady and her little baby out to her father’s ranch. The land on the way is quite hilly and to me does not look very valuable. Sesiel’s is about 26 miles from town and we reach here @3:00 PM. Had something to eat. In the evening we had grouse and wild duck and the home eating surely tasted fine. Sat around in the evening and talked. A fine moonlight night
Sept. 8, 1910
Woke up at Livingston, Montana and it was very cold. Got off there and had breakfast. They have a very good R.R. Station and started from there @8 AM. Coming out of Livingston the mountains are beautiful and are of a great height in some places. Passed Yankee Jims Gorge. Then Corwin Springs, The Devils Slide. We reached Gardiner at 10 AM. Left there at 12 o’clock. (note: they took a stagecoach in the park) Entered the Park (Yellowstone) by the northern entrance and started thru Gardiner Canyon following along the beautiful Gardiner River. Eagle’s nest built on the extreme top of a cliff – several of the cliffs were 1500 feet above roadway. Mammoth Hot Springs, Hymen Terrace, Liberty Cap, Devils Thumb, Minerva Terrace, Jupiter Terrace, Boiling River, Cupid’s Cave, Silver Gate & Hoodoos Golden Gate. Stopped @ Swan Lake Basin and camped all night. It was very cold and could hear the coyotes yelling. Saw a few deer on first day. We are going thru the Wylie Way and have tents, stove, etc.
Sept. 9, 1910
Ice in pitcher of water and very late for breakfast. It was very cold. The first stope we made was @ Apollinaris String and had a cup of water. Obsidian Cliff, Beaver Lake, Norris Geyser Basin, Minute Man, Gibbon River & Canyon, Gibbon Falls, Firehole River & Canyon. Lunch Station @ noon. Then followed Firehole River, Fountain Geyser, Mammoth Paint Pots which were very beautiful. Great Fountain Geyser, Excelsior Prismatic Lake, Upper Geyser Basin. Old Faithful Inn is a beautiful log structure & Old Faithful Geyser is just east of the Inn. We say Old Faithful play with searchlight turned on same and different colors there we shown were beautiful. Saw Riverside Geyser play @ 6 PM and also the Castle play. The Giant started to play at about 7:20 and saw it at a distance and it is a very rare sight as it only play from 7 to 12 days and this time it was four days late. We are about 7 or eight thousand feet above sea level and the air is very light and makes it difficult for one to breathe. On our way over here to Upper Geyser Basin we stopped @ Iron Spring and drank a little of the water. We saw quite a number of deer on the way over. The entire day after warming up was very pleasant. Saw Boiling River, etc., Biscuit Basin, Roaring Mountain, Frying Pan.
Sept. 10, 1910
Started out on a walk with a guide and there was an old man along with us who insisted upon keeping a couple of stones he picked up but the soldier made him put them down. In the wintertime, the soldiers get around very little and when they do go they go on snow shoes. We started out along the Giant Castle, Bee Hive, Giantess Sponge, Lion which played while we were there, Lioness on the side of which are the two cubs. Sawmill Geyser was playing and it does remind me of a sawmill a great deal with its chug chug. Economic Geyser was playing and there is no overflow. The Oblong is a very beautiful grotto. Splendid Riverside. Morning Glory is very beautiful and possesses beautiful colors. The Beauty Spring is where the Indians thought that if you would take 30 some baths, you would become very beautiful. Handkerchief Pool is where one takes a handkerchief and places it in the pool and it will go down and in a little while will come back up. The Sponge resembles a sponge a great deal. Three Sisters. Specimen Lake. Emerald Pool of green centre & yellow outside. The Punch Bowl is where they pipe the hot water to camp. All of these geysers are of very hot water and when they play, they send an abundant lot of steam and there is most always a roar before a large one starts. Saw Old Faithful play twice this morning. As far as we have gone the trees have been mostly fir but occasionally we would see a spruce. Morning Glory, Mortar Pan working. Riverside played. Broken Heart. The Castle played at dawn and saw Old Faithful play last night and various colors were beautiful. Saw a silver tipped bear come down with her two cubs to the garbage pile. The visitors are know as dudes and the people who work are called savages and they eat in separate tent. Cannot eat with personal friend visitors.
Sept. 11, 1910
Started out of Upper Geyser Basin Camp about eight o’clock. The weather was very cold and it was snowing. The first point of interest were the Kepler Cascades. Looking down a great distance, the water is very beautiful jumping from cliff to cliff. Along here it is quite wooded and the trees are spruce, fir & pine. We passed the Continental Divide at Isa Lake where the snow melts, the water runt to both oceans. Shoshone Pass is wehre we reached the highest elevation on the roadway of 8345 feet and off at a distance you could see Shoshone Lake. Then we first noticed Yellowstone Lake which is a very beautiful sight to behold. We then went on to Thumb’s Lunch Station. After eating we went out ans saw two black bears. Then we went down and saw the Paint Pots which are of several diff. colors. The drive in afternoon is thru the woods of quite large pine trees but goes mostly along the Lake which is very beautiful. We saw a deer, ducks and sea-gulls. We noticed the natural bridge which is very unique. Noticing Mountains covered with snow at a distance of about four miles and Lake waves which are not very high always coming to shore. We reached Lake Camp about 4:30 in the afternoon and wind was blowing at quite a gale. Had a snow in the evening and stayed around stove and talked.
Sept. 12, 1910
Left Lake Camp about 8 AM. It was snowing a little. The drive along Yellowstone River was very attractive and could see a lot of wild geese, ducks and a seagull or so. We noticed a couple of elk way up on the hill. The first point of interest was a mud geyser. Nearby is Gothic Grotto Green gabled over boiling spring. The upper falls which are very beautiful. Then we reached the Grand Canon whose beauties I am unable to express in words. There one sees all the colors which seem to blend. Way down at the bottom the waters of green and blue rush forth with their own will and as they fall from one plat to another they are magnificent. We went out on Point Lookout and what a beautiful sight it was. Noticed the eagles in their nests. We got out at Inspiration Point and walked back to camp. Every so often we would step out on a point and view the Canyon again. When we reached the Great Falls, we walked down 494 steps to view them and on coming up we had to stop several times in order to get our breath. On the way down the Canyon, we noticed two black bears and one brown one and on the way back saw another black bear. We got in our tent at Canyon Camp at about 12 o’clock and after dinner we went down and tool Uncle Tom’s trail which is very steep climbing and very dangerous. Out on a rock you can see the falls rushing down and walking further down, you see a little hot Springs rushing forth. On our way back to camp we got caught in quite a rain. Noticed a couple of deer on our way home Decker went in Savage Tent to eat and they brought him our in a hurry. Went over to the dance hall and danced one dance. Went back to tent early and it was very cold. Went to bed early.
Sept. 13, 1910
Left the Canyon Camp @7:30 and had a twenty-four mile drive back to Swan Lake Camp for dinner. We noticed the wedded trees. The next point of interest was the Virginia Cascades which was a fine sight and a great distance down the river. After dinner we started for Gardiner at 1:30 PM. On our way we noticed about twenty-four deer. We do not get to Gardiner until 7:15 PM. Arrived in Livingston at 9:15 and went to Park Hotel which is a very good one. Stayed in room and talked during the evening.
Sept. 14, 2010
Stayed in bed until about noon and then went out and had dinner. The streets in Livingston looked just like a mud road. They say that the winters in Livingston are very cold and the wind is something fierce. Not much doing there in the winter time. Decker started for Seattle at 2:25 PM. We started for Helena at 3:30. Coming out of Livingston the mountains are quite high. Went thru a couple of tunnels, one of which was quite long. Bozeman, a town of about ten thousand and surely one booming place. Most of the land in around here is farmed by dry farming method. Land worth about $75. Just the valley farmed and the rest mountains or hills. Reached Helena @8:10 and went up to Grandon Hotel.
Sept. 15, 2010
Stayed in bed until about noon and after dinner, we took a walk down town and did not see very much and appeared to be rather quiet. Helena is a town of about 20,000. Came down to station early and had supper there. Leave Helena at 6:20. Reached Havre at 2:55 AM. Left there at 4:10 and reached Chinook @ 5 AM. Went up to Hotel Chinook – Sesiel was there.
Sept. 16, 2010
Got up at 8:30 AM and had breakfast and then went around stable and started out. Brought a lady and her little baby out to her father’s ranch. The land on the way is quite hilly and to me does not look very valuable. Sesiel’s is about 26 miles from town and we reach here @3:00 PM. Had something to eat. In the evening we had grouse and wild duck and the home eating surely tasted fine. Sat around in the evening and talked. A fine moonlight night
Sunday, January 2, 2011
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