Friday, August 29, 2014

The Photo Bin - August 2014


It's fun, once again, to have content for the Photo Bin. The recent run of blog posts here has been picture heavy, but that's what you get when a new camera arrives and an expedition is undertaken. There's been lots to look at, but still a few odds-and-ends have managed to fall to the Bin.

Craig, Montana exists for but a single purpose; to sustain those who fish the Missouri. The main drag is just a of couple blocks long and has three fly shops, a breakfast/sandwich take-out joint, a nice, rustic restaurant, and a lodge house. It would all dry up and blow away but for the river. Behind the lodge house there's a bar and I never caught its name. It's a locals' watering hole, as far as I can tell, for that's all we encountered during our late night incursions. Admitted, we were there well after the out-of-towners, the sports, had retired to their beds.

The tricos come off early, you know.


In the heart of the place, there's Headhunters. It's the smallest of Craig's three fly shops, but it projects a funky vibe and an energy that's infectious. Good people. It also served as my communications central. My friend Jess McGlothlin had clued me in. "Cell service is sketchy but you can get it in spots... sit on the white bench on the porch and you're good to go." Thanks, Jess!


Further north (way further north - British Columbia north), Elk River Guiding Company owner Paul Samycia keeps a healthy fly supply in the truck as we head out to chase some cutthroat and bulls.


And why wouldn't you keep a truck full of flies with waters like these around? My buddy Mac tests Wigwam's shoreline structure amid the splendor of freestone and fir.


The week-and-a-little kicking around British Columbia, Alberta, and Montana was a blast, due in large part to the company of good folk. Left to right: Jay, Chad, Todd, Mac, and Chris. Thanks, boys, for a fine adventure.


Closer to home, the hummingbirds swarmed everywhere. I had a ball trying to capture their kamikaze antics and twittering attacks. I nicked a number of shots that were technically better, but this image speaks to me best of the attitude of these pugnacious little buzzbombs. Aerial warfare.


Finally, on a sad note, we judged our neighborhood's annual sunflower contest on Sunday. The finale (a day in which we, as a group, wander from house to house where we measure every entry and, more importantly, take pause for a bit of "refreshment" at each stop) is normally held in July, when the sunflowers are at their peak. But schedules and weather pushed it late into August and the contestants were worse for the late summer wear. Drooping and pitiful. The flowers were bad too.

Our sunflowers never really got started as I was in charge of the garden during Mary's June/July recuperation from hip surgery (and you know who wears the green thumb around here). Between the bugs, the birds, and the benign neglect, they hadn't a chance.

Rich and Sheila's were also a no-show, but they were more creative in their non-entry.

What is a Photo Bin?

13 comments:

  1. Next time you're in Montana, amigo, you are going to be in trouble if you don't stop by! --TR

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  2. Geez, look at that water clarity. Love at first sight.

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  3. Kevin, it's a startling feature of every Canadian river we fished. Crystal clear water and no trash. Granted, we were in out of the way places, but just the same...

    And Tom, you can bet I'll be stopping by. The Montana portion of our trip was flown by the seat of our pants, driven by moment-to-moment plan changes so I could give you no warning. Next time, however, Pony is on the itinerary. Of that you can be sure.

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  4. Some awesome pics, Mike! Glad you guys were at least able to blitz through Montana. :)

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  5. Thanks Jess! Just trying to lift my photography game to Fire Girl standards. I've a long way to go. And blitz is a completely appropriate term for our travels. We appreciated the advice.

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  6. Mike,
    BC trip #2 is officially in the rear view mirror. We drove up yesterday at first light, but came home this evening rather than stay until Monday. The fishing was excellent, but the camping ... well, it sucked. We checked in to Mt. Fernie Provincial Park - beautiful spot - only to have the powers-that-be stick a second party in our tiny campsite. Then the dozen young gentlemen in the next site over decided to stay up until the wee hours raising hell. As good as the fishing was, I decided it was better to drive home early than to attack the campers next door with a hatchet at 2 am. Next time, I'm renting a cabin.

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  7. As you can tell, I'm zoned. Very little sleep the last couple night.

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  8. Sorry you had such a tough trip, Todd. The "young gentlemen" must have been having one heck of a party to push you away from excellent fishing. Glad you're home safe.

    And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

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  9. Looking at your pics is a real delight !!
    JP

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  10. And happy belated birthday...
    JP

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  11. Thanks JP, for the kind words and the birthday wishes. It's always wonderful to hear from you.

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  12. In other news, the interior roof of my Xterra looks like that too. I would suggest to him that he glue a foam pad up there - it works better :)

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  13. A fine suggestion, Austin, though I think the horse is out of the barn already for Paul. Maybe I should consider for my truck...

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