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- Day Four -
After visiting Two-Medicine Lake, we continued on our little journey with the map we got from the curio shop owner. We found a place to park and hiked up to a secluded place where we found a waterfall unlike I've ever seen - Running Eagle Falls. During the spring time, there are two flowing falls, one from inside (as photographed) and one over top. During the fall, only the inner waterfall is flowing.
Before heading back West to Whitefish, we drove on a winding road with aspen forests surrounding each side. It was beautiful and refreshing, a relaxing way to end our adventure for the day.
"The Story of Running Eagle:
Running Eagle lived many years ago, long before European contact in the early 1700's. She was born here in the heart-land of the Amskapi-Pikuni, next to the shining mountains. Running Eagle was a real mortal person, not mythical.
Running Eagle's life story is an illustrious saga of leadership and many victories that are famous to this day.
The story of her life was told by Pikuni elders in a true oral traditional manner. Running Eagle is the only young woman of the Pikuni people to have gone on a four day fast; to suffer, dream, pray and find her medicine. High above the beautiful falls, her vision was successful. This is a most sacred and respected site, named in her honor by the Pikuni people. In those early days, only young men of certain societies had the special privilege to fast and receive their power.
Running Eagle became a true woman warrior for courage and bravery in all her accomplishments and deeds. Running Eagle was a great horsewoman, a fast runner and excellent hunter. She was kind, thoughtful, and a generous person. With precise perfection, Running Eagle made everything, including her spear, quiver, bows & arrows, all of her horse accouterments of those days. She was out-standing in her warrior-woman attirement of white buck-skin decorated with dyed quill work. She wore a splendid straight up eagle feather war bonnet and carried a shield.
The true exciting stories of her prowess on war parties, raids, adventures, and counting coup unfolded many times in lodges throughout the land. In the time of her teenage years, Running Eagle became the head of her father's painted lodge after his death. It was then she raised her brothers and sisters, and took care of the extended family in accordance with Pikuni laws and traditions.
Running Eagle was a tall and beautiful woman, with long black braids, and walked a straight religious path with grace, pride, and honor. Near her 30th year, Running Eagle went on her last raid across the Continental Divide where she was killed by the Flathead in their territory.
The Pikuni warriors brought her back up to Upper Two Medicine Lake and buried her in a tree on the mountain overlooking the falls. The Pikuni people hold Running Eagle in very high esteem for her knowledge and wisdom, and the inspiring person she became."
- Cynthia (Good Leader) Shildt Kipp
The beach to the east of Bournemouth Pier.
Past the beach huts, towards the East Cliff Lift.
The East Cliff Lift
The East Cliff Lift, also built in 1908, links the Russell Coates Art Gallery & Museum with the beach. The museum and art gallery is free to enter and is open every day except Mondays. The East Cliff Lift features a small heritage display in the top toll house.
It has been published in UK Light Rail and Tram Museum Guide 2016, from Train Crazy Publishing.
- Day Four -
We started our day early and headed east towards Glacier National Park. Instead of taking the main road to the entrance, I suggested driving the longer way around to explore, why not? We are glad we took the path less traveled because we saw some awesome sights all around the Apgar Mountains!
- Day Six -
Day five was full of whitewater rafting, eating, taking long rides searching for wildlife, and enjoying our last full day in Montana.
Although day six was busy and departure was upon us, we did some last minute exploring. We revisited some old places and stumbled on new gems as well. Firstly, we drove down to Whitefish Lake where it all began.
We took the same path where we first saw Montana water. The woods and the shoreline felt more similar and special this time around. Instead of coming, we were going. It was a special goodbye, considering I did not have my camera with me most of the first day (it was charging back at the lodge!) Every breath and step I took reminded me of a few days prior, except this time, I was reminiscing on everything we had seen and how wonderful of a trip we had. Whitefish Lake was a beautiful introduction to what were were about to experience and it was a very fitting outro of our time spent here.
There is a small stone bench at the top of these steps with the engraving:
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. May your path be lit with sunshine. Shannon Tallman 1957 - 2005"
The beach to the east of Bournemouth Pier.
Past the beach huts, towards the East Cliff Lift.
Land train's that go from Bournemouth Pier to Boscombe Pier.
Near the end of the beach huts.
The beach to the east of Bournemouth Pier.
Past the beach huts, towards the East Cliff Lift.
The East Cliff Lift
The East Cliff Lift, also built in 1908, links the Russell Coates Art Gallery & Museum with the beach. The museum and art gallery is free to enter and is open every day except Mondays. The East Cliff Lift features a small heritage display in the top toll house.
- Day Two -
We left the highest point, Clingman's Dome, and continued downwards onto the winding, curving roads. Back onto 441, we followed Oconaluftee River southward. We pulled over along the way to admire (and photograph!) creeks, meadows full of wild flowers, and wildlife. We spotted numerous elks roaming.
We ended up getting "lost" down an odd little road full of small houses, domestic animals, and bizarre decorations; we easily turned back on track. Continuing south towards Cherokee NC, we made our next stop Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
There was a museum, a homestead wonderfully preserved, to show how families lived and survived in the mountains 100 years ago. My Mom was delighted and wonderstruck imaging life on the homestead; I tried my hardest to capture that moment for her!
- Day Three -
Our adventure on day two led us all the way south through the Great Smokies and back. We enjoyed a relaxing night at Berry Springs Lodge and scouted out our adventure for the next day. Day three, we decided to head east, around the National Park instead.
We began in Gatlinburg, stopping at a few overlooks and admiring the town from above. We then followed Little River east, hiked at a few stops (Mom relaxed in her stone chair!), checked out Elkmont Campground, and eventually we made it to a man-made waterfall from the 1800s, "The Sinks".
We headed out of the National Park toward Townsend, a quaint little mountain town and onto Foothills Parkway, which skirted around the Great Smokies. It was a perfect road for bikers and sightseers. There were not many tourists at all but so many beautiful stops and overlooks.
One place in particular was Look Rock Tower, which was too high for Mom, but I had to check it out. I could see the highest peaks of the Smokies and an awesome panoramic view! After I came back down to find her, she had found some cool rocks to climb, lizards, and neat mushrooms for me to photograph.
We drove Foothills Parkway as far as we could, finally ending at Chillhowee Lake.
Trip with coworkers Greg, Travis and Brent.
Flew LAX - Nadi, Fiji, then took boat ferry to two different islands where we stayed multiple nights at each island.
One of the trip highlights was visiting the island Cast Away was filmed.
The last night we stayed at Hilton Fiji Beach Resort.
After Fiji we flew to Hong Kong, China on Fiji Air.
- Day Three -
Our adventure on day two led us all the way south through the Great Smokies and back. We enjoyed a relaxing night at Berry Springs Lodge and scouted out our adventure for the next day. Day three, we decided to head east, around the National Park instead.
We began in Gatlinburg, stopping at a few overlooks and admiring the town from above. We then followed Little River east, hiked at a few stops (Mom relaxed in her stone chair!), checked out Elkmont Campground, and eventually we made it to a man-made waterfall from the 1800s, "The Sinks".
We headed out of the National Park toward Townsend, a quaint little mountain town and onto Foothills Parkway, which skirted around the Great Smokies. It was a perfect road for bikers and sightseers. There were not many tourists at all but so many beautiful stops and overlooks.
One place in particular was Look Rock Tower, which was too high for Mom, but I had to check it out. I could see the highest peaks of the Smokies and an awesome panoramic view! After I came back down to find her, she had found some cool rocks to climb, lizards, and neat mushrooms for me to photograph.
We drove Foothills Parkway as far as we could, finally ending at Chillhowee Lake.