Today has been one of the most extraordinary days of the 2005 expedition.

The day started off with Dawn Charging taking us to the Tribal Alliance office where we met up with Scott and Dominick and viewed their plans for the Three Affiliated Tribes MHA Cultural Interpretive Center, including a scale model of the actual building. After a brief explanation of the group's goals and funding needs, I think everyone in the Crew felt that this is a special project that we need to support and promote as much as possible.

It has always been my personal goal to ultimately locate the TOD collections among the people who sheltered Lewis and Clark, so I asked both Dominic and Scott if they thought the artifacts could be housed at this center. They both affirmed that there would be interest in archiving the collection there and I mentioned that in addition to the artifacts of the Flight of Discovery, we would work to provide an endowment as well so that the materials could be inventoried, preserved and studied in the years to come.

From the Tribal offices, we went to the Edwin Loe Elementary School, scene of one of our favorite stops last year and this year the Principal Jean Hall and Teacher Karen Hartman really surprised us. First, we noticed that there were numerous articles posted on the bulleting board in the main hall of the school concerning the Flight of Discovery and related activities. Then a group of dancers from the school showed up in Native dress to entertain us. They were so extraordinarily colorful we couldn't resist asking to have our photos taken with them. The Crew was afforded seats of honor in the front row and the dancers entered to the sound of adult singers with percussion pieces; the effect was staggering. I can honestly say that I personally was blown away by the artistry and all of us felt quite honored by the event.

Furthermore, Mrs. Hartman introduced about sixteen students who had actively participated in the TOD "Flight Bag" module. Since our visit last year, any student who took the time to use the module to develop a flight plan was given the opportunity to actually fly their selected route in Milo's aircraft. What a deal! The school awarded Milo a very nice Pendleton blanket in recognition of his efforts.

Amy Mossett, in Native dress and with assorted props lectured the students on their cultural heritage. Just as last year, the lady is impressive and her lectures seem timeless and leave me in awe. We presented a PowerPoint on our activities over the last year and answered a few questions - then it was time for lunch. We sat with Amy's daughter, Cedar and her little girl. Then off to individual classes around the school with Amy where Jill, Kim and Kari answered questions regarding their lives and activities as pilots and aviators. The effect that these extraordinary women (including Amy) have on the children is a source of great joy to me and I consider myself very fortunate to be associated with them.

From the school we were taken to a couple of trading posts where I personally provided some economic support to the local arts community (e.g., everyone in my family is getting Native American crafts for Christmas). Among the gifts I purchased were two pairs of moccasins: one of traditional beadwork and the other dyed quill by the artist Jo Esther Bear.

Amy and her daughter Cedar then hosted a visit to the traditional native garden. Coming from farming stock myself, this was a true highlight for me. I was allowed to take a soil sample from the garden and the FOD was given an ear of corn with the deepest blue-purple kernels I have ever seen. I have heard Amy speak before about the foods grown by the Mandan, Arikara and Hidatsa long before Lewis and Clark explored the Upper Missouri country, but to see her in Native dress among the corn and Arikara beans was a step back in time. The soil column/sample will go in our office/museum and is for me the most precious artifact we have from two years-worth of expeditions because it demonstrates the important connection humans have always had with their environment.

From the garden we went back to the airport and before taking off for Fort Peck, Jill, Kari and Kim gave Amy and Cedar a scenic flight in 339SP and 722RJ. After a fuel stop at Sloulin International (Williston) we proceeded on under overcast skies and landed in Glasgow at a great airfield. We had a little difficulty finding the cabin at Fort Peck Lake where we were to meet the students and teachers from Wolf Point and Glasgow, MT but we finally found the site just before dark. The parents of some of the students had a BBQ waiting for us (thanks!) and as we ate the picnic tables under a grove of cottonwoods, the kids gathered around and asked a bunch of questions and were quite excited to see us.

When darkness finally did come, it was complete; you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. Inside the cabin we made a brief presentation on the FOD then inspected the artifacts that the kids from Wolf Point had collected since our visit last year. It was great to recognize some of the kids that we had taken for flights last year during the expedition, even though in the past year they had matured quite a bit. Parents and teachers from Glasgow asked for and will receive a TOD of their own when we get back.

The weather along our route for tomorrow looks pretty iffy. We're spending the night at the Historic Ft. Peck Hotel which is very quaint and rustic. After a very busy and rewarding day, I think everyone will sleep pretty soundly.

Flight Operations

Dawn picked us up, and we went to the WIC Center for introductions. Then off to the New Town School for our second annual meeting with the children and teachers. We were treated to several traditional ceremonial Indian Native dances along with traditional music. The young dancers wore beautifully beaded hand painted and sewn original costumes. This was a very special honor for us all.