September 8, 2005
Sibley Lake
Big Horn Mountains
Wyoming

Big Mistake! The battlefield was totally depressing. Even thought The Ranger gave a very informative talk that favored the Native American history of the battle, even bring Sitting Bull’s words (see below) into the talk it was all too sad thinking about how and why the battle happened. Then to add insult to injury as we were leaving we had to jump on I-90 for a short stretch and low and behold it ran right smack through the middle of what was the Indian Encampment.
Our spirits lifted though as the Big Horns drew near and we started to climb up into some of the most beautiful mountains. First scraggly pastures with lost of rocks, then small groups of old weathered pine trees giving way to more and more rolling hills slowly turning into mountains. The weathered pines turned into proud Lodge Pole Pines and we were into the Big Horns. The mountains are softer than the Rockies with dense Pine forests and high pasture land. Flowing through out our great rivers, The Little Big Horn, The Tongue and Shell Creek to name a few. Looks like great trout fishing waters to me. Although there are signs by many of the river stops warning you that the water has bacteria and should not be drunk no warnings about eating the fish however but one has to wonder. By the end of the day had made two strong images ad am looking forward to tomorrow.

by Sitting Bull

Heather at Greasy Grass Memorial

heading into the Bighorns’

along HWY 14

high Bighorn Pasture

detail high Bighorn Pasture

top of hill

dmk shooting top of hill

looking DOWN the hill

Sky

September 7, 2005
Kamp Katie
Jordan Montana
AFTERNOON

Awoke to wild turkeys in the yard!

Spent a wonderful morning with May Billing who owns Kamp Katie. Katie was her Mom and when it was time for the kids to start school Katie moved into town, from the family ranch, and started Kamp Katie. Now May runs the place in the summer and lives out on the ranch in the winter. The ranch is about 30 miles from town and May is doing it all on her own since her husband died. She had so many great stories about growing up in the area and how things use to be. She was a reported for the local paper and has written many articles on life in and around the Jordan farming community. She shared one of her many photo-writing albums with us. So many thoughts about the land and the folks who homesteaded there. We heard about PeePee Butte which was a must stop on their way to Mile City. Guess why… We passed PeePee Butte and found it all fenced and cross fenced in- besides today you could of gotten a ticket for using PeePee Rock.

She spoke so much about the old days and even though it was a lot harder it was so much better. The quality of life was what was what was important. Family, Life, Land and Spirit. There was always enough to get by or a neighbor who would help to tide you over.

Progress for May didn’t seem all that important and for all intent and purposes she is living much the way she did all her life on the Montana Plains.

welcome to Kamp Katie

Wake up call

Henry is awake and ready to go

Kamp Katie

May Billing at her kitchen table

Heather and May looking over her books

forward a page from May’s book

an open letter a page from May’s book

udate a page from May’s book

where I shot Mays’ Portrait

September 5, 2005
Westby Town Camp
Westby, Montana

Crossed the state line as dusk set in and found a great little camp site in the town park. Free electric, water and site. Can’t beat that! As we drove into town the sign said “Westby a town with heart”. There is some truth in advertising even today. So nice to fine a place that welcomes travelers, without asking anything in return.
As HWY 5 runs just below the Canadian Boarder it goes trough all sort of old North Dakota towns Most of the towns are just off the highway along the railroad tracks and were rail heads for the grain farmers. The towns were places 7 miles apart. Clyde, North Dakota was one. When the school closed in the late 60’s the town dried up and now has a population of 4 folks. Made a few good images here. Another town was Langdon, where we photographed the Roxy Theater and then on through Allcabo, North Dakota. Allcabo had a great old school house. The school has been closed for many years and the town is near deserted, sitting way out n the plains but some of the town folks have kept the building up. The school sitting up on a hill overlooking the town and there is a sign in the front door window that says the door is open but sticks a little, please come in and look around. Inside the school is as it was in the ’50 , complete with basketball in the gym. The piano still sits in the music room along with a tuba and a few French horns. One room has old yearbooks and much memorabilia spread out on the desks for you to see. There are still safe places in american where folks trust one another and you don’t lock your doors at night.

Downtown Fortuna North Dakota

North Dakota and the road goes on forever

The Roxy

Help the road may not go on forever

But for a bit longer there’s diesel in the tank

Road to Writing Rock, North Dakota

Alcabo School House

Music Room Alcabo School House

September 3, 2005
Bemidji KOA
Bemidji Minnesota

So glad we were able to stay up here. It’s been great going out each day and exploring the dirt roads and back country around Bemidji. Upper Red Lake was amazing- huge lake more like an ocean.
Feel so much like fall the colors are changing the air is getting cool and crisp

Had a grand time here at the KOA Mary and all the staff are great. Also made a good new friend in Bob Riddle. Hope to run into him in Quartzite Arizona this winter. Met Tad and Deanna McBlacne who are here for the summer as work campers. They just started full timing this year and have an interesting web site:
www.rvhappenings.com
They will be at Quartzite as well this winter.

This KOA is run like no other I’ve been to, pancake breakfasts, steak dinners and even raffle drawings! Additionally the wireless internet, that works flawless is free. The whole feeling here is one of family and friendship. The Bemidji KOA is up for sale so I’m not too sure how long Mary will own it but Mary also has a KOA in Terre Haute and after getting to know Mary I’m sure it just as magnificent a place. It’s Mary and Keith Davidson
Terre Haute KOA
5995 East Sony Drive
Terre Haute Indiana
Be sure to stop by and say hello when your in the area!

The KOA Crew cooking us a steak diner lets’ see that from left, Jane Unash, Virginia Youngdahal, Denanna McBlane, Mary Davidson, Gunar Youngdahl, Tab McBlane and Bob Unash

Bob wins a prize at the steak dinner raffle

That’s Mary raffleing off an origional oil painting

a hand panted mail box by Mary goes up for raffle.

another night at the chile cookout they did, that’s Bob dishing up a bowl for Heather

Tad and Bob at Bob’s camp

First fall color

And second fall color

Heather DMK and Henry at Upper Red Lake

Henry at Upper Red Lake