More on the Road - Wyoming

Breeding business took me to Wyoming just a while. I can find great sculptures of cowboys and horses most of anywhere.

Then, I could finally pass by one of places in my list. I made a quick detour to Devils Tower.

Here's another angle. Some people who got my text message responded "is this a picture of drawing or something?" NO!! I was there!!

Here's a proof and my interest. I dropped by a trading post and got me a shot glass. I really like to buy and collect shot glasses as souvenir at memorable places.

My breeding road is still some more weeks to go. Then we are being hit by another miserable rain spell. This is more than enough. We even stop complaining. Of course outside jobs suck. Then not only I but also every guide must concern the water levels of rivers.......

Having a poor internet connection and not much time to access so I don't know when my next post will be.

More on the Road - South Dakota

It's been over two weeks on the breeding road. I have nothing to complain about motel stays and restaurant meals (as they are taken care of) and enjoy my profession. I have to admit that I have started to miss my own cooking a bit and even strong winds in Livingston. But not much fishing for now as I can easily imagine run-off is really huge right now. Then there are always laughs among people working together and lots of new scenes for me in South Dakota. I can't help taking pictures every now and then. I may have to change the blog title into "lefty traveler"??

Here's a picture at one of ranches we worked. Their barn decoration caught my eyes.

South Dakota is known to be the biggest Ringneck Pheasant hunting in US. I don't have to tell you again but I do that I'm a pheasant skin mania!!!! So I was super excited when I spotted this obje while on the road.

I really come to like most of all towns in South Dakota. In a good way, most of towns seem small for my liking, even the capitol city, Pierre. And there are lots of old west historical marks and buildings along. One of the local favorite restaurants in Pierre is the steak house. It's full of old pictures and stories. I snatched a picture of Wild Bill Hickok's gun on the wall.

Sunrise at Mighty Missouri.

Here's the story board along the MO

Then there's a huge statue of Casey Tibbs, legendary rodeo cowboy, just out of Pierre.

You can google about him but this picture of the base of the statue should explain a lot.

One thing I do complain is the wet weather that makes people working outside sulky. We got hit by rainy days. After that, sun and storms are taking turns. I consider that I'm used to various and unpredictable weather patterns in Montana but prairies in Dakotas also seem to have their own ways.

On the Road

My "breeding" road has passed over a week now. So far so good. I enjoy my other profession too. I may have to change my blog as "lefty breeder" (left-handed people tend to use their right arms into cows). I try to wash my hands when I shake hands with you!

After a job in Billings, I headed to South Dakota through Wyoming. I wonder why interstates in Wyoming are in brick color every here and there.

Typical "road food" (if not the junk) on the go.....

I am given lots of jobs in South Dakota. Today I am having a little slack time. I have just made a quick trip and come back and am writing this. Western South Dakota is a nice cow country.

Where I'm staying is a town called Bella Fourche. I've heard there's a "geographical center of US" nearby. My understanding for definition of this is the point where the US map balances(Alaska + Hawaii + Lower 48). I drove along the dirt road above and found a friendly sign. I first didn't really see anything special. Then I noticed there was a slack between bob-wires, enough space for one to crawl in and a foot path.

I found a pole in advance. Information that I had forehand said there would be a noticeable red flag. Apparently it's not any more.

I made it to the center of nation!!

As it was middle of nowhere and nobody around, I took a liberty of taking a nap along the monument. Am I disturbing the mark and supposed to be fined or imprisoned as seen above?

These girls were too fast to catch up for breeding.........

Right now I'm adjusting my body for climate and my mental/routine for jobs here in South Dakota. Again, so far so good.
Job first, then there will be more places to visit!!

(rivers/creeks are muddy with run-offs and I didn't bring any fishing gear.)

Somewhere by the Stone

I'm somewhere along Yellowstone River. Am I fishing? No.......flood warning along Stone now........

I'm actually part of this...........

I'm resposible of "siring" these girls.

Weather has been miserable. We've been having full of rain since Sunday. Look at the ground. But this evening, we finally seem to see "silver lining behind every cloud".

I'll try to post my own "breeding porn" next.

DIY Float & Shuttle

After I floated with Stuart and Robert last Saturday, I just felt that I want to know more about Yellowstone and get used to my boat. To achieve both at the same time efficiently, I need a shuttle. Friends and fellow anglers are the best source to make it happen but everyone is busy except for me.........
When I woke up Sunday morning, somehow I recalled a scene that a dairy farmer in WA state was riding his bicycle between his farm and hay field during hay season. Apparently he must have had to make shuttle among his truck, tractors, and other equipments. That was it!! I got my own idea for self float and shuttle by using a bicycle.
I figured it would be doable for 3- to 5-mile section. I first drop my bicycle at where I pull over my boat. Then I drive up-stream where I launch my boat and leave my truck there. I'd float and pull over my boat and secure it. Now I'd grab my bicycle and ride up-stream to my truck. Then come back to my boat and pick it up.

It really worked well without any wreck. I felt I got to the point to develop my own shuttle business during this coming summer when I'm not guiding!! This is how I chain my bicycle at where I pull out my boat.

I got really comfortable with my boat and mighty Yellowstone. Do I look like Captain Yamamoto?

I saw herds of pelicans along both Madison and Yellowstone.

This nontraditional oar's shape is really good. With some nicks and abuses, I really got a feeling of my new gears.

Point of Rocks.

Today I launched at a launch locally known as "26". It is indeed steep. But I got some tips how to handle here, and it wasn't as bad as it looks.

Then I conquered "Rock Garden".

Today was the typical Livingston weather; strong winds from SW. But I made it OK .

During 4 days, I put 20 miles on my boat and bicycle. It was quite a practice and exercise. All 4 days, I had to pedal my bicycle against winds.

It looks like a touch of run-off is hitting Yellowstone. Then we are still expecting Mother's Day Caddis hatch. I will be soon on the road for breeding cows. I keep my eyes on your run-off reports!!

I might run this operation in the fall. If you see a guy with a backpack (stuffed with wader and boots) and an orange scarf around his neck on the bicycle along Madison or Yellowstone, please kindly give me a lift!!