We had not been back up to Red Lodge MT since arriving back in Wyoming (now almost a year ago), and had been talking about making a visit to this quaint little ski resort town for a while.
On a beautiful and very warm Sunday last weekend we (on the spur of the moment) decided to take a drive.
Red Lodge borders a beautiful trout river, is surrounded by mountains, is a tourist mecca both summer and winter, and contains endless picture taking possibilities both in and around town.
It was a good day for a drive............
We had just turned onto the main road in town, and I was just beginning to get the lay of the land again after having not been to Red Lodge in almost six years, when I glanced down a side street and saw them.
They were a couple of blocks away.
Slowly walking together across the back street.
I lost sight of them just as they began their slow walk together down the side walk.
Two moose - a mother and what looked like a year old or so baby.
Walking side by side and slowly meandering towards the very busy, tourist filled main street.
It all happened so fast that we had almost completely by-passed the duo before both LC and I processed what we had just seen.
Instantly we both looked around, trying to figure out the best way to get back to "our" moose.
There was traffic everywhere - both narrow lanes that cut through the down-town strip were bumper to bumper.
The sidewalks were packed with walkers and strollers and shoppers and ice-cream eaters.
Two blocks after our initial sighting LC made a quick left turn off the main road.
Driving around the block we found ourselves on the same side road where we had seen the two.............meese.
We were now stuck behind three other vehicles that were all trying to turn either right or left onto main street.
Huge momma and huge baby had effectively stopped traffic on main street by this time and were slowly strolling side-by-side across the road.
By the time we got to main street the dynamic duo were slowly wandering down one more side street.
They were headed for the river...............
LC turned left onto main, and then took a quick right - we were one block further along than the moose.
Instead of following them we were hoping to get ahead of them.
There are advantages to be associated with a retired cop.
Their cop-voodoo figures this stuff out automatically in their heads..............
They were headed for the river.
We were headed for the river.
A few minutes later we pulled the Tahoe into the shade of a tree at the city park.
Leaving puppy in the vehicle LC and I climbed out, looked around to make sure momma and baby were not close, and then excitedly walked down to the river.
Leaning against a tree LC looked down river in search of moose.
Nothing.
He looked up river in search of moose.
Nothing.
Looking around us again, we slowly wandered back towards the Tahoe, disappointed.
Likely we would not see them again.
As we reached the Tahoe LC whispered "There they are!"
Staring at us, about a football field away, were two moose.
One very large adult.
And one smaller (but still very large) baby.
We climbed back into the Tahoe and waited, excitedly whispering to each other................
A few minutes later they made their appearance.
Momma led the way.
Baby pulled up the rear.
Kory (thankfully) did not bark.
The last thing we wanted to do was disturb or alarm them..................
The moose sighting was quiet, uneventful and very sweet.
Kory never made a sound, and while LC and I watched and whispered, I quietly snapped as many pictures as I could.
They were 50 feet away from us, and wandered down to almost the exact place where LC and I had stood only a few minutes earlier.
Momma stood by the metal bench, and baby pulled up first behind her and then beside her.
They looked around, and then momma headed towards the river (in the same gap in the trees where LC had just been).
A minute later baby followed suit.
Through the trees we could see momma crossing the river, with baby behind her.
On the other side of the river was the lush flower-filled and manicured lawn of a local resident.
And that is where we lost sight of them.
Welcome to Red Lodge MT.................
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