Yaks! (Photo credit: bdearth)
Yes, we are having a heat wave here in NW Montana. It hit 87° F. here today while we were out on photo safari. That’s rare for mid-May up here.
Today’s safari took us to places we don’t frequent often, to see what was available for the lens and the Muse. We visited The Garden of the Thousand Buddha’s down in Arlee before moving west. It’s a Buddhist temple area sitting on the Flathead Indian Reservation. The Garden is coming along, though inclement weather isn’t doing it any favors in exposed areas around the central huge Buddha.
A bison roaming about at the National Bison Range in Montana (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Most people suspect that we have bison ranches. In fact, we have the National Bison Range just southwest of the town of Charlo. Did you know that we have ranches running musk oxen and yak? Yep. We scouted out one such ranch down in the Camas Prairie area of Sanders County.
Along the way, we picnicked along the Flathead River and watched kayakers braving deep spring run-off waters. Osprey fished along those same turquoise waters, daring bald eagles to infringe on nesting territories.
Squirrels warned off those who came too close and pileated woodpeckers took their time with smaller trees a few yards from the car. Young quaking aspens waved at us, not having aged enough to rustle in the breeze. Smoke from a suspected new wild fire in the mountain range south of Highway 200 filled the valley with tension; not uncommon, merely early in the season.
Overall, it was a good day.
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11 Comments on You’ve Got to be Kidding, last added: 5/17/2012
We have feral wallabies in Kalihi Valley very close to where I live. Exotic (non-native) birds abound here as well. Fun, isn’t it. One Hawaii Island there is a llama ranch. The Hawaiian equivalent to ranch-house-place etc is hale (ha-lay). So of course, the owners named their place Hale Llama (Dali Lama). I love fun nerdy facts. Seems as if I need to stop by again tomorrow to see what Meena Rose has in store!
Claudsy,
As a city slicker, you have given me such an intimate glimpse of the outdoors! Very engaging. You have given me much to yack about
Meena
Hale Llama is too funny. I once shaved my head completely for a fundraiser. As my hair was growing in, I earned the nickname Dali Mama. See you tomorrow, Lara.
Til then.
I’m glad you enjoyed “tripping” with me, Lara. It was a good day, but exhausting, in it’s own way. We drove about 250 miles, all totaled. Exotics abound in this state and in many others. I’ve never met a wallaby; in the wild, that is. I can’t imagine llamas in the tropics, either.
We all have regional oddities that can play with the mind and our writing projects. Perhaps I should begin a project that asks for… I’ll have to think about it and get back to you.
Please do stop by for Meena’s post. You’re gonna love it. Really!
Meena, Sister is going to be posting some of the photos she took today in an album on her FB page in the next couple of days, probably. You can check them out on https://www.facebook.com/pages/BJJones-Photography/228417527189794/
Be sure and say hello for me. You’ll enjoy them.
Somehow, I never think of you yacking, only being a deer.
I can’t imagine not loving it.
Factoid: Hawaii Island aka The Big Island is big. So where the llamas are on top of Kohala Ridge, the altitude and the sea breezes make for some comfortable llamas.
That would make sense, since they get snow there. I’m glad to hear that, Lara. It’s amazing what we learn just from a simple post, isn’t it?
Yea, they get snow over on Mauna Kea where the space observatory is located. That’s even higher up. The Big Island is made up of 5 (I think) extinct, dormant and active volcanoes. Mauna Loa is still active of course with Kilauea crater and Hale Maumau.
It sounds like a wonderful place to live.
Yeah, it is, Val. It’s quiet most of the time and we never go a week without learning something new and different. The air is clean, except during fire season, the waiters are clear, except when during spring flooding. And people are friendly. It’s a good life here.