Category: Road Trip 2015

Today we drove 418 miles across the plains of Canada from Pincher Creek, Alberta to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The wind was out of the west, at our back, really blowing. Our new diesel Audi got 50 miles per gallon! It was even too windy to have an outside picnic lunch. This is Moose Jaw Main Street from outside our hotel

Here in Moose Jaw it’s 53 degrees and the wind is blowing about 25 mph. We went out for a walk a while ago to get some cash from the ATM. I’m sure glad it isn’t’ any colder!

 

 

We spent last night at Many Glacier Lodge in Glacier National Park. Of course we didn't have cell coverage and essentially no internet so of course no blog post. So today's post will cover both Friday and Saturday.

Yesterday, Friday we drove from Kalispell, Montana into Glacier National park. We drove the Going to the Sun Highway over Logan Pass. It was overcast and raining so we couldn't see the mountains. At the top we were in the clouds so visibility was zero. But even with no mountains to see, the Going to the Sun Highway was hands down the most wonderful highway I've ever been on! It is carved out of the mountain with rock guard rails – simply stunning.

We stayed at Many Glaciers Lodge. Our room is the top right hand window. We sat and enjoyed the fire in the lobby for a while before dinner.

 

Friday afternoon after we checked in we hiked 8 miles out and back to Grinnell Lake. It was raining off and on but it was a flat hike and beautiful.

This morning we got up fairly early (7) and had breakfast then hiked to Iceberg Lake. This is the hike that Duke did 51 years ago on his first visit to Glacier with his family. It is the hike that made him a hiker for life.

We started out in the rain but the last couple of miles were in the snow. It was beautiful! By the time we got back after 10 miles I was cold and worn out. Duke says he felt great. We left Glacier and drove a few miles into Canada where we are spending the night in Pincher Creek, Alberta.

 

Our experiences going into Canada have ranged from the last time when they didn't ask for ID or even ask our names to one time when they used dogs to search us and our truck. This time it was pretty straightforward. The Border guard asked where we were going, how much alcohol we had. He asked if we had any guns. When Duke said no, he said, You left them at home? I think they assume that every American owns guns.

 

Tomorrow we have a long drive to Moose Jaw, Saskachewan. I'm read for a rest/drive day!

 

Today we drove just 121 miles from from Missoula, Montana to Kalispell, Montana. We had hoped to do a hike today but it was raining off and on all day. We took the 17 mile drive through the national Bison Range. We were almost the only people there and it was beautiful country. The bison were spread out but I bet we saw 200!

We found a covered picnic table for lunch.

In Kalispell they were having a Taste of Kalispell fund raiser for the museum with food and drink from local merchants. We had dinner there. It was wet but fun. And we looked through the museum.

 

Today was a day to visit friends and family. We started out the day in Bozeman having coffee with our friend Jean who just moved to Bozeman last week it was fun to see her new place.

Then we drove to Helena and toured the state Capitol. Duke and I like to check out state capitols when we can. This was our 25th! We had a picnic on the lawn of the Capitol and then toured the State Museum. The picture below is Duke in the Charles Russell Gallery.

 

This afternoon we visited with my Dad's cousin Shirley and her husband Karl. I think it has been 30 years since I have seen her.

 

Tonight we are in Missoula, Montana. It was smokey today for the first time on this trip. It isn't too bad so I hope it doesn't get worse!

 

 

Duke and I are on day 3 of our 2015 Road Trip. Today we headed north from Idaho into Montana.

Our first stop was at Big Springs in Island Park, Idaho. It is one of the 40 largest springs in the world and produces 120 millions gallons of water each day. We saw ducks, fish, a moose and a muskrat! The water is 52 degrees year round.

 

We took a tour of Johnny's cabin on the edge of the springs. Johnny Sack built the cabin mainly with hand tools starting in 1929. He also built all the furniture in the cabin. He used split bark veneer to decorate. In the pictures you can see his craftsmanship.

We crossed the continental divide into Montana and stopped at Earthquake Lake Geologic Area. In 1959 a 7.5 earthquake caused the whole side of the mountain to collapse into the valley and dam up the Madison River to create a new lake. 28 people were killed. Duke and I were 7 years old when the disaster occurred but neither of us remembers hearing about it. I guess we were too young. In one picture below you can see where the land slide occurred and in the other you can see the new Earthquake lake.

That is Duke in front of our car!

A bit farther up the valley is Hebgen Dam which luckily didn't fail when the earthquake happened. We had a picnic lunch beside Hebgen Lake.

Tonight we are in Bozeman, Montana.