West Yellowstone, Montana, Rendezvous

Hello Readers:
We recently visited Montana and were fortunate to be there at the same time as the ten day rendezvous. It was like a huge flea market except the wares were all authentic hand-made frontier type articles. We saw furs, hides, beadwork, tomahawks, period clothing, all kinds of handwork, flint-knapping and lots of interesting things.
I purchased some fire-starting material (striker, flint, lens, etc.) and some buckskin to fashion some small bags for incidentals. My wife wants me to make her a small bag. I gave her a small accessory bag, but she wants a small handbag with a flap. I stitch these by hand with waxed nylon cord. I use a "speedy stitcher" which is merely a needle on a handle with a small hand-wound bobbin. I form a lockstitch that is more sturdy than a whipstitch.
It was neat seeing the people dressed in buckskins and period clothing. I got a lot of neat photos.
The west is still a great place to visit. There is much to see including wildlife, scenery and events such as the rendezvous. Several years ago we went to a cutting horse competition in Ennis, Montana. We saw one of my favorite authors, Tom McGuane competing. He is a better author than competitor (don't tell him).
There are lots of rodeos and if you like them, visit Cody, Wyoming. They have daily rodeos from June to September.
There are lots of neat things to do in the western states. Each state has its specialties, so it is always neat to visit areas that are different from where we live.
Remember that travel is always educational. Keep those wheels turning!
Regards,
L. Woodrow Ross

Montana, Idaho and Wyoming Fishing

Hello All:
Here we are in Montana again. We spent a week in Idaho with our daughter and her family. We had a great time traveling into Jackson, Wyoming, Beartooth Highway in Montana and taking photos of amimals and beautiful landscapes. We saw Old Faithful again.
We caught a few trout and a huge whitefish. It was great fun. Bead-head nymphs seemed to work best.
Our friends arrived a week after we had been here and we're staying two more weeks. We fished in Yellowstone Park and caught a lot of small rainbows in Grayling Creek.
We did the Lamar Valley trip again and got photos of a grizzly on a bison kill. He was gaurding it from the scavengers. It was awesome.
We got photos of bison, black bears, wolves, elk, antelope, marmots and all the beautiful landscapes.
We will be here for another six days and then go to Ennis, Montana. We will fish the Madison and visit Virginia City.
I tied a few size 18 caddis flies with snowshoe hare foot hair. Also, tied a few streamers of a new pattern that combines the Black-nosed Dace with the Muddler to form a new pattern. I hope they are successful.
This has been a great trip so far. I am doing research for a new novel and have already taken more than 500 photos.
I will update as time permits.
Regards to all,
L. Woodrow Ross