July 13, 2017
A team gets lost and found.
Now after midnight it is hard to know where to start with a day filled with blue skies, frustrations, surprises and a horseback ride. Having not heard back from the Manpower team, we divided up the team into various projects and headed off into Browning. Half way there, I got a call: "we can have you join us in ChewingBones for work on the campground(one hour away). Ok, but we aren't in Browning yet, what shall we do? Meet us in Red Eagle, near East Glacier, it will be closer for you. I hastily rearrange who is where, drop off teams, and head off with Clark and Dave to find the Manpower team. Soon after leaving Browning....no cell service. No Red Eagle campground on google. Hmm......we drive through East Glacier, past Two Medicine, up the steep and winding Looking Glass road amid unbelievable vistas, and soon realize we have likely gone too far. What to do? Keep going! We end up (eventually), at Chewingbones campground. We spy a Manpower team working; only it isn't the team we were supposed to meet. As we were negotiating with Nathan, another truck pulls up with the boss, Spoof. I apologize profusely for missing Red Eagle and getting lost. I explain that what does a New York City girl know anyway? Pretty soon the whole truck full of workers was laughing and smiling. No worries says Spoof, I am headed to Red Eagle and will let them know. You can keep your team to work here. Meanwhile, Clark and Dave are already working on the dock that needs repair as well as cutting and splitting wood, right alongside the Manpower crew. Lunch together with the crew was followed by more work , and ice cream break, and final wood splitting before heading back to Browning to find the rest of our team. This is the way Global projects are meant to be. When I put out my hand to shake, one of the crew said, we don't shake, we hug, as he grabbed me in a big bear hug. Stopping at the museum on our way back to Heart Butte to chat with Ernest, this is what we found:
On the middle shelf , you will note the rock art that youth corps gave Ernest last night. I had to find a tissue.
Returning to Heart Butte, we found the rest of the team safe and sound getting ready for their evening adventure of riding and BBQ. After a quick break for change of clothes and planning for tomorrow, we headed off to the ranch. this entails a bumpy and windy dirt road with great big ruts. Driving the van, I was reminded of when I drove this road last year after a heavy rain. Way better this year. The evening progressed with a slow and lazy cadence. No rushing when you have to deal with horses, give a quick lesson, get everyone saddled and mounted and head off. Meantime half the group stays back to eat and schmooze and enjoy the lovely breeze and heavenly setting. Despite the slow pace, and growing late hour, I was lulled into a remarkable and surprising contentment. Eventually the first riders returned, the wranglers took a quick food break, and we mounted and rode off up the ridge, over the hill to see the stunning sunset over Glacier. Our lead wrangler Chuck, always the professional, took remarkable time and care with Jane, one of our 11 year olds who had had a prior bad experience on a horse. With his gentle but insistent coaching, she was able to handle her horse well and was chatting away nonstop. A major success. A brief stop at the bonfire, final thanks and goodbyes, and we were off back over the rutted dirt road to Heart Butte.
All is quiet now as everyone gets sleep before our final day tomorrow. Hoping for great projects, wonderful camaraderie, and a joyful final evening of celebration and gratitude.
Wishing all of you great work and celebration in whatever you are engaged in.
With love from Heart Butte,
Barbara
A team gets lost and found.
Now after midnight it is hard to know where to start with a day filled with blue skies, frustrations, surprises and a horseback ride. Having not heard back from the Manpower team, we divided up the team into various projects and headed off into Browning. Half way there, I got a call: "we can have you join us in ChewingBones for work on the campground(one hour away). Ok, but we aren't in Browning yet, what shall we do? Meet us in Red Eagle, near East Glacier, it will be closer for you. I hastily rearrange who is where, drop off teams, and head off with Clark and Dave to find the Manpower team. Soon after leaving Browning....no cell service. No Red Eagle campground on google. Hmm......we drive through East Glacier, past Two Medicine, up the steep and winding Looking Glass road amid unbelievable vistas, and soon realize we have likely gone too far. What to do? Keep going! We end up (eventually), at Chewingbones campground. We spy a Manpower team working; only it isn't the team we were supposed to meet. As we were negotiating with Nathan, another truck pulls up with the boss, Spoof. I apologize profusely for missing Red Eagle and getting lost. I explain that what does a New York City girl know anyway? Pretty soon the whole truck full of workers was laughing and smiling. No worries says Spoof, I am headed to Red Eagle and will let them know. You can keep your team to work here. Meanwhile, Clark and Dave are already working on the dock that needs repair as well as cutting and splitting wood, right alongside the Manpower crew. Lunch together with the crew was followed by more work , and ice cream break, and final wood splitting before heading back to Browning to find the rest of our team. This is the way Global projects are meant to be. When I put out my hand to shake, one of the crew said, we don't shake, we hug, as he grabbed me in a big bear hug. Stopping at the museum on our way back to Heart Butte to chat with Ernest, this is what we found:
On the middle shelf , you will note the rock art that youth corps gave Ernest last night. I had to find a tissue.
Returning to Heart Butte, we found the rest of the team safe and sound getting ready for their evening adventure of riding and BBQ. After a quick break for change of clothes and planning for tomorrow, we headed off to the ranch. this entails a bumpy and windy dirt road with great big ruts. Driving the van, I was reminded of when I drove this road last year after a heavy rain. Way better this year. The evening progressed with a slow and lazy cadence. No rushing when you have to deal with horses, give a quick lesson, get everyone saddled and mounted and head off. Meantime half the group stays back to eat and schmooze and enjoy the lovely breeze and heavenly setting. Despite the slow pace, and growing late hour, I was lulled into a remarkable and surprising contentment. Eventually the first riders returned, the wranglers took a quick food break, and we mounted and rode off up the ridge, over the hill to see the stunning sunset over Glacier. Our lead wrangler Chuck, always the professional, took remarkable time and care with Jane, one of our 11 year olds who had had a prior bad experience on a horse. With his gentle but insistent coaching, she was able to handle her horse well and was chatting away nonstop. A major success. A brief stop at the bonfire, final thanks and goodbyes, and we were off back over the rutted dirt road to Heart Butte.
All is quiet now as everyone gets sleep before our final day tomorrow. Hoping for great projects, wonderful camaraderie, and a joyful final evening of celebration and gratitude.
Wishing all of you great work and celebration in whatever you are engaged in.
With love from Heart Butte,
Barbara
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