Austin City Limits 2015

 

Second year in a row attending the ACL Festival.  The great lineup prompted a repeat visit and this may not be the last time making the sojourn to Austin.  The friendly, well behaved crowd was such a joy to behold and this year the stages were absent, mostly, of the faker lip sync artists; shall we call them fartists?  Modest Mouse, Foo Fighters and Decemberists stood out as pro class acts with especially firm grasps on their sound presentation, along with Florence and the Machine.  Billy Idol held his own, and although the high notes are no longer attempted, his physique is amazing for a man of any age, never mind that he's turning 60 in November.  My my...  

No rain or mud this year, the heat nearly oppressive in the mid day sun, but at least on the hottest last day the willful breeze pushed across the park mercifully over the massive crowd.  My daughter and I trekked the 5 minutes to the nearby Barton Springs the first two days, an oasis filled with the largest pool I have ever seen.  The cool refreshing water rejuvenated our staying power for the long days.  A three day success appreciated even more so due to the absence of any injuries such as the one I suffered on day one last year with my sprained ankle. The crowd watching reaffirmed my deep conviction that Americans are the worst dressers on planet earth; however, they do sustain a high entertainment factor, hippie garb and misguided tattoo decisions notwithstanding.  

Whirlwind Yosemite

End of the Summer Party

The food was a delicious and the rain stopped long enough to gift us this double rainbow.

Running Around Montana & Wyoming

Butte Folk Festival 2015

The music was great, the rain poured down, and the crowds danced with abandon.  A great event with its shit together.  The lack of hot weather and added challenge of not getting soaked in the rain enhanced the fun experience.  It helped that we'd all dragged our rain jackets along. 

Good friends and the epitome of crowd watching rounded out the day.  This three sided chalk board is something new.  Quite intriguing to see what folks decide to put down to represent themselves.  And the discovery of the Front Street Market import store, hiding out in plain sight in downtown Butte, loaded to the brim with items you would never imagine (pickled patty pan squash anyone?) was a real gem to discover.  

Seeley Lake June - Maiden Kayak Voyage

It was a gorgeous day for my first outing and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I had forgotten just how much I love the water. 

Fairview Hike June 2015

This 9 mile hike is perhaps the longest hike I've done in one day. The area is north of Helena, with a group doing a "key exchange," half the group starts at each end and drives the other half's vehicles, then returns the owner's key at the half-way lunch stop.  A lively group of speedsters, moderates, and slow poke photographers, the group was spread apart over several miles.  A perfect cooler, slightly overcast day presented perfect hiking conditions.  A narrow rocky cliff trail challenged those of us with slight height issues.  I never did look at the no doubt spectacular view, but rather kept my eyes on my next step ahead of me.  Steady breathing kept me at an even keel.  One false move would induce an unhappy ending for the unlucky hiker.  I did not want to fill that role, and safely made it to the end of the offending trail. Several pooh-poohed those of us who stated a more dicey stretch would certainly have proved problematic.

Bizarre shit  happens, and it is wise to take these circumstances seriously.  Look at those three young bible hikers who launched over the falls at Yosemite a few years back.  Just wading out for a photo op in shallow waters at the edge led to their untimely demise, one after another trying to save each other.  Not the smartest folks, they breached the "do not pass barricade" signs and climbed over the guardrail.  The many onlookers witnessed a disturbing event, their young kids in tow, as they saw the scared eyes of the three realize they were about to meet their end.