In lieu of...Freezeout Lake Montana

So we are not at Freezeout Lake, MT like I had planned to be.    If you read my post on Thursday night, I was truly stoked at the prospect of being able to see potentially hundreds of thousands of migrating geese and swans.     Part of my new year's resolution this year is to take photos of two places that I have never been before.  I was really really REALLY looking forward to spending Saturday down in Montana with a bunch of snow geese and tundra swans, and I really had hopes of getting an awesome picture as a momento.  

Darn it all though, Nate developed a Fever yesterday, and was acting all sick.    Plus he was madder then heck which is NOT like him.  We knew something was wrong with the poor kid, but I still don't know what.   Teething?   Reaction to immunizations?    Kids are such a mystery, and the only thing I know is they always seem to get sick at the worst time.  At any rate, John  was determined that we not put the kids through a 7+ hour drive if they weren't feeling well.  Thanks a lot Nate!   Killjoy.




This morning I got up early (and still a bit disappointed)  and headed out for a consolation drive to Waterton. 
But first, I had to swing by the temple and get a shot of the sun rising behind it.  I love being awake when everybody else is still asleep.   It is so peaceful. 

And I love watching the sun rise.    It didn't matter that the sun was rising behind me.    That's what mirrors are for. 

There was this one moment, as I approached Waterton, when all of the sudden a Bald EAGLE  flew right in front of the van.    It flew so low and so close that I could clearly see its face.   For a very fleeting moment I tried to watch this eagle, AND reach for my camera (which for some insane reason was not on my lap), AND keep from driving off the road.     It was very VERY cool,  but seeing as there is no picture to prove it - well you'll just have take my word for it. 

Waterton is starting to wake up and come alive after it's winter sleep.  The lower lake is entirely thawed and the ground is, in large part, bare of snow.    I did drive up Cameron road though, and it was interesting to note the presence of winter at the higher altitude.   But if the animals are any indication of spring, then I would say it is almost here to stay. 

The townsite was full of cute little baby deer like this one. 

This picture, I know,  is not amazing as far as scenery goes, but I enjoyed watching the geese as they floated on the water.    There were a couple of dozen geese just "honking" to each other and it was impressive to hear.  I tried to extrapolate that sound by 100,000x  and pretend I was at freezeout lake, but that just made me sad.   If you look along the back hill you will see a herd of Elk.  The pic doesn't show it, but this herd was running towards the townsite.  In fact it was really moving fast, and even with all of the honking from the geese, I could still hear the low rumble of  these stampeding Elk.  

Does it seem as though I am obsessed with my side mirror?   Well I sort of am.  I've noticed that sometimes I watch my side mirrors, and rear view mirrors as much as I watch what is in front of me. 

 

I realize that may be a bit hazardous perhaps, but when you live where I get to live, you almost have to get used to looking all around. 

I rarely go anywhere now without appreciating the fact that, no matter what direction I am headed- I am usually driving both towards AND away from something beautiful at exactly the same time! 

Pretty Lucky.