Off to Montana

Last week we took off for Missoula, Montana where our youngest, Forrest, is graduating from college. Yay!
Anyone flying into Denver knows this scene. It looks like a Cirque de Soleil training camp.


I was surprised to see so much snow still. We had a clear day so had nice views of the Rockies.


We knew we were out west when walking around town, we saw these two guys tanning, and I don't mean getting a tan.


Three rivers run through Missoula, the Blackfoot, Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers. The Clark Fork rushes through the downtown area and a few years ago, some boulders were strategically placed to form a nice wave for kayakers to play in.


Many competitions take place here, with kayakers doing spins, flips and moves like backstab, blunt and roundhouse. All can be viewed from the pedestrian bridge or from a platform overlooking the river.


There are many micro breweries in town which my boys all know. The names of the beers lean towards the funny....Olde Bongwater, different from Fresh Bongwater, Eddy Out, Moose Drool, Dancing Trout, Cold Smoke, Trout Slayer, Scape Goat, Dragon Breath, Hopnosis, Faceplant, Dumptruck. They know them all.


Graduation day dawned clear and cool. This was the University of Montana's first outdoor graduation and we couldn't have asked for a better day.


The ceremony included a Native American chant/song, performed by native elders.


My proud clan, although we were missing the oldest son, Aramin. Forrest is staying on in Missoula, working at a vineyard along the Clark Fork River then grad school at some point. Congrats Forrest!