Montana & Wyoming Day 3 - Polson, MT to Great Falls, MT

Our longest day of filming yet (and in fact possibly ever)! 6.9hrs of flight (which is about as much as you can do on two tanks of fuel), and seven shot tapes. And the footage we got was outstanding!

Being a bit mad, I decided to go for a jog first thing, so I set my alarm at silly-o-clock (that's 5am), and off I set. But did I factor in the higher altitude? Nope. So after 20 minutes I'm struggling to breathe as I'm running around alongside this stunning lake. Even so, it was superb!

We met for breakfast at 6:45 and I treated myself to pancakes with some sausage patties. I cannot understand why the only place you can get sausage patties in the UK is at McDonalds! They are delicious. I'm quite tempted to get a 40ft freezer container and ship a ton or two back - there's got to be a market for them back home. If you go to the states, do NOT miss out on the best thing america has to offer.

This was, of course, washed down with a gallon of lukewarm liquid, that's probably coffee. Or bovril. Or river water. I'm not sure. I am missing tea though, to the point that I can feel physical withdrawal symptoms. Typical isn't it? On trip 1, I have neither kettle, nor tea. On trip 2, I remember the tea, but forget the kettle! On trip three, I remembered the kettle - but in my rush to the airport I didn't have time to pick up any tea bags. And the shooting schedule has been so full on that we've not even had a chance to pop in to Walmart.

After our action packed day, Simon the pilot retired immediately to the sanctuary of his room (and who can blame him!), whilst Richard, Colin and I were treated to some live country music at the local gaff. Can't say it was the best music in the world (you know it's a bad sign when one of the singers is holding up a music sheet to sing along to), but the burger was delicious and I consumed my first salad so far on this trip!

Finally got some pics up, here's the view from my office!

Montana & Wyoming Day 2 - Whitefish, MT to Polson, MT

What an fantastic second day, despite the grueling 5am alarm for a six thirty departure, my god was it worth it. We started the day by flying north over the glacier national park, before bad weather grounded us for the next six or seven hours. We had an enjoyable lunch, worked on various bits of kit and enjoyed the hospitable FCO before taking off in much better weather later in the afternoon. Heading south east we finished up in Polson, where there was a rodeo show in town. It was absolutely awesome, with cowboys and cowgirls bucking around on horses and the whole town cheering them on.

Pics to follow - can't seem to work out how to get pics of this damn iPad!

Update: Polson Rodeo!

Montana & Wyoming Day 1 - Spokane, MT to Glacier National Park, MT

What an incredible first day! Still feeling her effects of jet lag I woke up about half five and decided to go for a run. Last time I was state side I ate everything my eyes fell upon and left several pounds heavier. This time I'm determined to avoid the same fate. A three mile run in the hotel's gym should help offset some of the days calories.

This was followed by a very early start - we left the hotel at 7:30 and headed off to the airport to do a test flight and finish configuring the kit. All checks complete, we lifted up and off we set! I'm always most nervous for the first tape. Have I done everything OK, will anything rattle loose in flight? Did I check and double check and triple check every connector, setting, mounting point? But, it's just like riding a bike, within moments I'm racking away and pulling focus as if I'd been doing it yesterday. And what an epic first day! We flew east over the Montana state line and were instantly presented with some of the most gorgeous scenery I've ever seen! Snow capped mountains, lakes, rapid rivers, trees and greenery as far as the horizon, where the jutting silhoutte of the glacier national park can be seen from miles away.

After a a brief rest and a bite to eat in Whitefish, we're now waiting for the sun to sink a little lower, before we head up to film glacier national park at sunset.

Montana & Wyoming - The Trip Out

The day got off to a stressful start, with a coach fire on the M25 making me an hour later than I'd planned for the flight, and then security holding me back for some random check for half an hour once I'd checked in. Obviously I must look suspicious. Arriving at the gate only 10 minutes before boarding, I understand why they tell you to arrive at heathrow 3 hrs before your flight!

The iPad has revolutionised air travel, the in flight entertainment system offers me a choice of: Act of Valor, Jeff Who Lives At Home, John Carter, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Safe House, This Means War and Project X. 7 filmed I have never heard of, all of which seem completely crap! Fortunately I watch Scarface instead. And it only used up 15% of the battery. It's a three hour film!

This time I finally remembered my travel kettle - but in my haste this morning I forgot tea bags! Doh. One day I'll get this right!!!