Souix Charlie Falls

Before I go on to talk about the walk up to the falls I want to update the status of things as far as our trip to Africa is concerned.  We got a lot done this week.  One of the hurdles that I’ve been eager to get past was the medical end of things.  We have prescriptions and injections that needed to get done.  The cost is really outstanding.  One good thing about traveling as much as we have is that we have a very good record of our immunizations and are up to date on things.  This trip required two that I wasn’t excited about.  This consisted of Yellow Fever and Typhoid Fever.  Yellow Fever is good for ten years and now they have a series of pills for Typhoid…good thing too…I hate shots and the shot for Typhoid used to be miserable.  Gabby had to receive the shot for that because of her age however they’ve improved it so it doesn’t have the painful fevered lump any more after you get it.  Lovely is the only one I know who takes pictures in such situations.  My profile picture has been the picture she took…yikes!  We have our prescriptions for malarial preventatives but I won’t get those just yet…we start that before we go and have to take it for some weeks after our return home.  This is some real progress!

 

One of the most beautiful trails I have ever walked is the Souix Charlie Falls trail.  This trail winds through a valley next to a river and sheer cliff walls.  I love the active rapids Nature provides it’s own frame for beautiful pictures .  There sheer cliff and river are also framed by the artistic hand of God .  It’s stunning to me how large trees can grow right out of the side of the cliff walls !  I really enjoyed rounding the bend to see the curve of the cliff seem to huge the scenary .  We walked further and things began to open up.  I wondered just how far this trail extended into the distance .  Returning to the trail head held its own beauty.  All the angles are different and it’s a whole new view of the mountains I hadn’t noticed on the way in .  The joy of visiting this area is something I know will stay with my kids.  There’s nothing like it .  It’s hard to grasp the entire panorama without a little video clip

Rushing Stream

Danielle, Mike and Gabby wait at the head of the trail for grandma and grandpa to catch up .  The rushing stream is about all you can hear and I don’t mind one bit…it’s a perfect backdrop for such a wonderful place I am a lover of wild flowers and the many berries to be found here.  This one reminded me of a Chinese lantern .  I always have our trips abroad in mind no matter where I am.  This reminded me of a bonsai tree in the middle of the river somehow The next generation of pine trees were everywhere in the making…it made an intoxicating smell that actually reminds me of Christmas Mom is always a trooper.  She was nursing her ankle which is still recovering all along the trail .  We never walked to far for her though.  The spray from the river and the wet year we’ve had kept many parts of the cliff wall very green with moss Wild flowers flourished even on the cliff side and the majesty of the trees filled the place with a serenity that can’t be found in the city .  We were having a break from it all but the bees were hard at work Blue Bells may appear fragile but they thrive in such environments Returning once again to the place where the car was parked I couldn’t help but notice this old dead tree that guarded the path.  What things had it witnessed during it’s life?  Now though it is no longer green it still stands vigil season to season …I love Montana!  To be continued….