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A Beautiful Earth, MT

Gravelly Range Road, a Treasure of a road. As many areas we encounter, at times I am told to keep it for myself. But this is all about sharing… Just as a ribbon with no end the road goes on forever, the horizons are immense, this is after all Montana. Surprises are of many along the road, they are not motorcycles as we only came across one car all day, but a sheepherder from Chile that resides at 9400 feet with his herd of 1200 sheep and 8 dogs. Where else could this happen?… Lunch and much conversation even though we do not speak the same language. No need for it, there is a Universal language that is so much more powerful when it comes from the Heart. Spirit however was not too fond of his new buddies trying to get into “his” car… I think he is becoming a bit grouchy when it comes to sharing.
Another surprise was a family of three on a bicycle, father, mother (a teacher) and their 8 year old son. Now that kid has to be a happy one as they are planning to go around the World.
A foggy morning on the Madison River, weather warming up, every day is been just this great day being so fortunate to live it and appreciate this beautiful Earth of ours.
More on the Blog…
Be well… always.
Ara & Spirit

More wandering at the “Rusty Cowboy” and Gravelly Range Rd. MT

Time escapes us often, even with the days still lingering with great light in the late hours. Fun was photographing the space we are camping at, for the past I think couple weeks. “The Rusty Cowboy”owned by Teri who has become a Dear Friend of ours, a Friend we will miss soon as we will be leaving in a few days. And then, again we went on wandering to no end on Gravelly Range Road, a road, an area and a space that does not stop calling us. I wonder how many have truly ever even heard of it, driven it or ridden it. I don’t think anyone has from the lack of vehicles seen throughout the days passed. The road itself, very well maintained in most places, is not of a challenge per say, but the space is, as feeling passed a certain invisible marker being into another dimension so far away from civilization. It is as it was, the real stage as Mother Nature intended. Reminds me so much being at “The Oasis” in Texas, with even more remoteness.
Enjoy the couple Blogs posted including the photos, it is the essence of “Montana”.

Be well… always.

Ara & Spirit

Bannack, MT

Finally a real Ghost Town visited just in time as we will be moving on in a couple of days. So many photos that it is going to take a couple Blogs to post most of them. Wandering slow, versus the usual many travelers “warp speed” with mileage in mind more than anything else, we also met up this time with a family of six bicycling the country. “6”! I was thinking about all the meals, the camping gear, the showers, the logistics which must be by themselves just incredible. We also had a long stop over in Dillon admiring the Old Hotel and right across, the new “graffiti”. A contrast in itself.
But the big prize is Bannack. Turned into a State Park where dogs are allowed everywhere, quiet and peaceful with even I was told, the sights of Ghosts at night.
The Badlands will be our next stop before heading south, hopefully to cool weather… we sure don’t want Mr. Spirit to be uncomfortable!
Enjoy the Town…
Be well…
Ara & Spirit

Good Bye Montana, more of Bannack

This State grew on us, it helped me straighten up a bit, understand better what Life is all about under a different light. Odd thoughts one might think. Not to me truly, as the land within every space has it’s own character and personality and gives back what one puts in. Exception being the Freeways! We bonded it seems only yesterday and already it is time for us to leave, only meaning we will come back. It is the beauty of this vast Country, knowing that a Lifetime will never be long enough to see it all, even less, feel it all. It is so fine, it is a thought that will never occur, meaning asking myself “now what?”. It just cannot happen.
I finally posted all the Photos of Bannack, the incredible well taken care of Ghost Town, the quiet one that allows a real walk through of it, and also another real “food find”… The Taco Bus in Dillon. Can’t miss it, you don’t want to miss it. Of course now, none will be up to their standard and Dillon is not on our way for a last real invigorating meal. Well, if we left now we could be there in about one hour… 71 miles. We have ridden much longer for a good meal!
Enjoy…
Be well as always.
Ara & Spirit

The Dream? MT

I am aware of being a book of complex nature, aren’t we all? No soldered board that could ever match our own elaborate circuitry. Valleys and peaks are put down in words, sometimes “someone” would like me to change those ways. Some understand, some don’t, the comments differ, either way my path has been created, subject to change, but not today.
We have left Ennis, already planning to come back next year, so many roads, such vistas still unseen. It has been quite an experience moving on to this State as slowly building the foundations of a strong relationship with it’s rugged and yet inviting space.
We are headed East, for finally our descent South which makes me feel as the one of this airplane after a long flight. Ron Dakotah should be on our path tomorrow with the hopes that we can again camp together. He has only gone 300 miles or so since we parted, it has to be the ultimate Journey…
Some photos of West Fork Road, another one to again try to experience with some day better weather. Life goes on!!!
Be well… always.
Ara & Spirit

Highway 212 to South Dakota

This is the furthest point North we will be coming to this summer and also the furthest point East as we will start our descent back to Texas soon. South Dakota, a new State and we are right in the middle of it all, much attractions even if I feel as this weekend will be a Zoo due to the Holidays. We might track back a bit and stop along Highway 212 which we hurried by looking for Ron Dakotah, my “Sheepherder Wagon Friend”. His own Journey is moving right along as he himself is on his way to Texas. The big difference is the hardship of his own logistics and the time it will take him to reach by then warmer weather, about 3 months. I feel here as “fall” is making a bit of it’s mark. Cooler temperatures, dry, almost as if on borrowed times the days I sense are as a warning for winter around the corner. All I can say now is “how big and beautiful this Country is!” as every little town, every bend and even seemingly every mile passed by is an inviting space to slow down within and feel it’s own presence.
Familiar photos on the Blog… the red wagon!
Be well, always.
Ara & Spirit

Could Life just be a big “Quote”, SD

Every little town we pass by is a turn around. A structure here, an odd display of man made accoutrements designed to attract the attention, all works for us. The imagination of so many are indispensable, it is what makes “Americana”, it is what creates the smiles while running down mainly the back roads from point to point when time is not much of an issue. The Artists of the road are of many, their original thoughts maybe have not been of creating Art, only to get the attention needed to swell their businesses, but I see it as a free form of Art. So was the case stopping at the “Stoneville Saloon” in Alzada, how can one not. The same when in Deadwood to check out Kevin Costner’s memorabilia in his gambling called “The Midnight Star”, a bit more crowded arena that I care for, but worth the detour through Spearfish Canyon, a beautiful riding road adorned with waterfalls worthy of their hike. None of this ever stops, one mile at the time we cover the spaces that presents themselves ahead of us enjoying their moments and vision offered incessantly.
Enjoy the Blog…
Be well, always.
Ara & Spirit

In Broadus. MT

If every little town was such as Broadus, it would take a few Lifetimes to travel through this Country, stopping and spending the hours contemplating all that is now laid out. I must have developed an inquisitive mind, I always seem to manage to meet the “main” local personality, not in the sense of his “power” in town, but in his/her accomplishment within the community.
In Broadus it has been Doug. An old theatre which at one time had only three rows of seats, now settled for a larger audience, with a gym on stage, a Pizza parlor and more…
We will be leaving headed south in a day or two, it is that time before we get caught in this weather that is now beautiful but showing it’s Fall imprint. And I was wondering how many such as Broadus are lining up our route between here and Texas?
It is beautiful Country here, up in the Black Hills, it reminds me a bit of the Blue Ridge Parkway, if only there were less Casinos and structures lining up the shoulders all along. I see it as quite an irony when a Century past adorns it’s Sacred Grounds with another path no so Sacred.
More on the Blog…

Be well, always.

Ara & Spirit

Remember bud, if you stop by Western CO you've got a place to shower and hang your hat!

Wrider wrote:Remember bud, if you stop by Western CO you've got a place to shower and hang your hat!

Thanks Wrider... very kind of you.





Devil’s Tower… Badlands… WY./SD.

Anomaly could be Devil’s Tower! I could not keep my eyes off of it as many around us, including watching the climbers reach the top and going over the final ledge. A strange fact, climbers are allowed to the top but dogs are not around the 1.3 mile path that circles the Tower. Has anyone gone to the top lately and check on the waste left by the climbers?… no offense but… We all know what is happening with Mt Everest.
Another great ride included the Badlands, 240,000 acres of a fingerprint left by Mother Nature, maybe not unlike other geological ones as it even reminded me of some of the foothills in Big Bend, but vast enough to blend with and be transported as in another space.
Today there are clouds and rain, we are not leaving here till Monday morning, the forecast is of the same till then. The Custer Park’s photos might have to wait till next year, we rode it, but again the weather was not conductive for the camera. I call it the “spaghetti” road! No downpour, just cold steady drops covered with steady gray clouds! That kind…
Till next time…
Be well…
Ara & Spirit