Adventure 527: The Prelude Continues: Enter Boston to St. Stephen, New Brunswick

Who among us can cast the first stone?

After a simply delightful and spiritually uplifting visit to the Standish Cabin on the Boulder River, we spent a busy week at home preparing for the next leg of this year's adventures. We shut down the garden. I winterized Davey Boy, the sailboat, with the able assistance of my first mate, Liz Ulmen. I boxed up Judy's bike and all of our bike gear and sent the package off in the able hands of the Mr. Brown (UPS). Judy shuttled the Drouins to their flight to Boston on Tuesday. Liz shuttled us the next morning. We arrived safe and sound at Boston's Logan airport, took ground transportation to John Logue's home in Braintree, where we spent the night. We joined the morning rush of traffic through Boston, and now, after six hours of driving we find ourselves in St. Stephen, New Brunswick. As my cousin, Douglas, often says, "It's good to be us." Thanks once again to traveling mercies, I managed to drive us here without incident. We enjoyed a fabulous dinner on the waterfront of St. Stephen, looking fondly at our home country across the river. We have another long day of driving before we reach our real destination in Nova Scotia, where we'll spend most of the next two weeks. We're traveling once again with our good buddies, the Drouin's with whom we've broken down enough barriers to share a hotel room if we desire. So, basically, life is good, especially today.

 Two buddies, arm-in-arm once again.

 My view of the soft Massachusetts morning as I practiced the form.

 Our host, John Logue's humble, yet welcoming, abode.

 Boston's morning traffic.

 Libby's market serves the best lobster roll in Maine.

 I could eat a dozen, but only had one today. 

 A bit later, Mrs. Drouin opened the galley for olive bread served with peppers, ham and cheese. 

 Happy we are to take a rest at the Winsome Inn.

 Here's a couple of winners.

 The view down river from our table at the Five Kings Brew Pub. 

 The USA in the distance.

 We shared a house salad. Fresh greens with pickled red onions and cherry tomatos, tossed with a tart vinaigrette, and topped with toasted cashews.

We shared the Mussel Bowl: mussels, ramen noodles, colorful peppers, and a lemon grass, coconut milk broth. Simply and surprisingly exquisite.

Adventure 526: Good Bye Standish Dude Ranch, hello East Coast

View from the front gate

I was sipping a tall glass of "Boulder Juice" (The cabin's well water) trying to decide what I enjoyed most the last six days. Surely, the propinquity we shared with our hosts, John and Diane Standish, felt good, and of course the tightening of our bond with our friend, Liz Ulmen, felt as warm as a swaddling blanket. And if that wasn't enough, we also enjoyed Jeffrey and Lindsey Steinback along with their two precocious children, Anna and John-John. Another treat came in the form of Tina Standish, who is the bride of John and Liz's brother, Mark. She made the trip from Billings for a night. We spent much of the six days learning about the cabin's history sprinkled with quite of bit of family lore. Time and time again, we felt the love of family. So, it could have easily been the  acceptance that I enjoyed most. But that wasn't quite it. What I really enjoyed was the freedom to enjoy my own quiet time pursuing my own desires. I spent inspired time sitting on the porch bending wire, lulled by the river's rushing rhythm, feeling refreshed by the mile high air. I made five wire sculptures, and best of all, John and I collaborated to make stands for them. So that, I think was the best part. Of course, we ate well. I liked that, too. We hiked. I liked that, too. We tried new things. I like that. We enjoyed peace and quiet. We were thankful to be included, and what a way to continue our Fric and Frac adventures, although technically we didn't have Frac with us. We just lived well in the Poustinia. We're home for a week before darting off to Nova Scotia and then our eighth bicycle trip in Vermont. We'll be traveling with our friends, Ed and Deb Drouin. The four of us have traveled so much together, it's like wearing a favorite pair of fuzzy pants. We're just so glad for the kick off party we enjoyed with the Standish family. Truly, life is good, especially today.

 Even dusty ATV babes look good.

 Up river view.

 This natural bridge, which hides the river during low water, is overwhelmed by the spring run off.

 Pop-Pops John with grandson, John-John.

 John-John helping with the fire.

Tina with her "baby", Freya.

 Lindsey and Anna, a familiar scene during our stay.

 At the trailhead for our hike up to Trinity Falls.

 Some elevation gain required.

 Liz brought a little wine and chocolate to toast her late husband, Dave who is famous in family lore for producing wine after long hikes.

 My Bunny crossing the creek.

 Dancing girl.

 Us dressed in our Standish shirts.

 Brother Jim Standish built and attached this sign many years ago.

Pop-Pops getting a little love from grand daughter, Anna.

I call this: "Just Lovin' on Ya".

John, Liz, Diane.

We spent the our last night alone. The three of us took the "Mexican Train." Judy got off first.

Adventure 525: Standish Cabin/Poustinia Retreat

Little Red Poustinia

In their song, Trucking, the Grateful Dead say, "Sometimes the light's all shining on me; sometimes I can barely see." Well, from the Standish cabin the view is all I can see, and Oh, how the light shines. We've been lucky enough to begin this year's adventure here. Where is here, you say? An hour or so straight East from Big Timber, Montana. Yellowstone National Park beckons from the South. The Standish cabin fronts a large section of the Bolder River. The constant rush of the water over the boulders competes with the gentle currents of mountain breeze that blows just enough to deter the bugs. Paradise, of you will. Judy and I are housed in the Poustinia, a one room sleeping cabin complete with a full bath, a coffee maker, a frig, and a small deck just above the river. Formally a tool shed, the Poustinia is truly a place for contemplation. During our stay, we've been experiencing Montana mountain life as led by John Standish. We've experienced pounding a metal leaf at the blacksmith station. We've experienced driving a four wheel RTV over quite rugged rocks. Most of all, we've experienced these two lovely people, John and Diane Standish,  who have spent each hour of each day loving on us. We feel the warmth of their safe acceptance enveloping us. I'm not sure life can get much better. We're here as the guest of our good friend, Liz Ulmen, who just happens to be the younger sister of John. We feel honored. I was doing my Tai Chi form this morning, gazing mindlessly down the sunlight valley when, invaded by my "monkey mind", it occurred to me that everywhere John, Liz, and Diane look there must be memories. John and Liz spent their youth here. As young married couples, they raised their families here. And now, in the grateful light of retirement, they're all looking forward to passing the aura of this place to their grand children. Judy and I have spent our lives trying to focus on things truly important. I can think of nothing more important that passing the love of place and the sense of belonging to our future. Needless to say, life is good here at the Standish Cabin, especially the last few "todays".

The Standish cabin.

Down valley view.

Up river view.

John in his happy place.

Monkey see, monkey sort of do.

Miss monkey.

Miss monkey showing off her finished product.

My leaf.

Happy 73rd for Judy.

Latest wire sculpture 1.

Latest wire sculpture 2.

Four wheeling.

Big rock creek area.

Liz Knieval.

Bray's lake, our lunch spot.

Our adventure leaders, John and Diane.

They even let septuagenarians drive these things. 

John and I collaborated: his iron cross; my wire Jesus.