LAST DAY AT GLACIER

Seems like we have been here a long time, especially since we can't access very much of the park. We were hoping that the road conditions would have changed by now, but it looks like nothing will change until late July.

We have made the best of the situation, and today it my humans were trying to think up something new to do. Unfortunately, Gerry had an emergency trip to the dentist, I'm sure that wasn't fun. Kathy T and her sister Sharon went to the historic town of old Kalispell, and Warren took a long hike all the way to the Apgar Village. 

After a long discussion about another bike ride or a nice easy hike, Kathe Jim and Carol decided to hike to Avalanche Creek on the Trail of the Cedars. Good choice! 

Beautiful ancient cedar trees on an easy path that was a little over a mile long. So quiet and peaceful in the middle of a forest and a bridge across the fast-moving Avalanche Creek.

Tomorrow we will say goodbye to all our friends, and we will travel on to Missoula, Montana with the Taylors. Carol will drive home to Idaho, John and Gerry will continue their vacation and head back to New Jersey, and Sharon will fly back to California. What a great time we had together. 

BIRTHDAY RIDE

Today is Jim's birthday, so, he got to decide what we were going to do today. Of course, he chose a bike ride into the park. With the rain last night, it didn't look too promising this morning, but Kathe, Jim, Carol and Warren were going to ride, rain or shine. Luckily, the sun peeked out and they started out on the bike trail into Glacier. The bike trail was fabulous once they got started. They rode through the forest of ferns and Lodge Pole pines noticing a few piles of bear scat on the trail. Soon, they saw a group of riders quietly standing on the side of the path. Seems there was a black bear about 75 feet into the forest partial hidden by the foliage. In the picture all you can see is a bear butt on the lower left, but it was exciting to see one this close to the bike path.

They rode up to McDonald Lake in a slight drizzle but stopped to take a picture of the mountains across the Lake. It was a really amazing ride, and the most amazing part was that Kathe stayed upright almost the whole ride. There was a tiny little unplanned trip into the bushes, but she didn't fall. All and all a perfect day. 

And it's not over yet, Warren is cooking Jim's favorite dinner tonight, pork chops. Kathe is making the potatoes, and Gerry is baking the beans. There is even apple pie with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

HIKING THE MCDONALD FALLS TRAIL

What a production this morning. Seven humans talking and no one could decide what they wanted to do today. They sat around drinking coffee for a very long time. I sat behind the big chair and listened to the discussion until I finally fell asleep from boredom.

Then at about 11:00 everyone left my house and went in different directions. Jim and Warren went to Kalispell to pick up the tow bar part at the UPS store, and then went to the supermarket. Kathy T, Sharon and Aunt Gerry went souvenir shopping. My Kathe was trying to arrange a hike for the afternoon to show Carol the beauty of Glacier Park.

Finally, after lunch Kathe, Carol, Warren, Jim and Uncle John piled into the Jeep and drove into the park to the trailhead for a hike to McDonald Falls. It was a really spectacular hiking trail right along the fast-moving McDonald Creek. Hard to explain how beautiful it was, but maybe these pictures will help. Another perfect day.

PARTY TIME

Sorry I'm late tonight, but Kathe was partying again, and I don't have the password to start the blog without her.

This morning all of the girls went shopping in Whitefish, Montana. Whitefish is about 30 minutes away with all kinds of nice touristy shops. Kathy T and her sister Sharon bought presents for each other and some really cute pajamas. Gerry bought a few pairs of pretty hand-crafted earrings, and my Kathe bought a hat with an LED in the middle of it. It's embarrassing enough to walk with her in the mornings in her pajamas and slippers, now she's added a ridiculous red hat with a high beam sticking out of her head to the outfit.

While the girls went shopping, Warren, Jim and John went for a long bike ride into the park. They had a great time together and rode all the way to Fish Creek and back on the electric bikes. 

This evening my humans had a party potluck dinner for fourteen. Carol arrived this afternoon from Idaho and Maryn, Roger, Paul and Jean drove over from their campsite in Hungry Horse. Looked like the food was awesome, but I wasn't offered anything. They cooked steaks and hamburgers. There was a whole lot of food and wine served along with the barbecue. After dinner they had a roaring campfire and enjoyed themselves until the mosquitos arrived, sending everyone back home. 

NOT GOING TO THE SUN ROAD

They should but a black X on the T-shirts that say, "Going to the Sun Road", because you can't! Everyone is very disappointed that the road is closed, and you can't past Avalanche Creek. With the road closed, there isn't much to see or do at Glacier. I pity the people that came from other countries for that once in a lifetime experience.

My humans are making the best of the situation. Today they drove up as far as possible and took pictures of the raging waters of McDonald River. They stopped at all of the overlooks and took pictures. They were trying to see if they could book a scenic cruise on McDonald Lake, but that was overbooked because there's nothing else to do except shopping. 

Jim is dying for a bike ride, but it's been raining cats. Kathe made me do outside last night when it was pouring. I got so wet that I ran back into the coach before she could catch me. So much for my nice hairdo, now I look like a drowned rat. And more rain is predicted for tonight.

Right now, Warren is cooking up some beans and barbecued ribs for a Fourth of July feast. John and Gerry are bringing the huckleberry pie, and Kathe made some corn bread and slaw. Sounds good!

MSSED A DAY

I tried and I tried to post my blog last night, but everyone must have had the same idea. There was no way I could get onto the internet.  Our long drive here was really scenic with the snowy mountain in front of us almost the whole way.  We finally we arrived in West Glacier at our beautiful RV Resort in the late afternoon. By the time we got set up, met Uncle John and Aunt Gerry and Kathy T's sister, and ate dinner with everyone it was 10 o'clock. So, after about an hour of trying to get the computer to work, I gave up and went to bed. Today I'm getting an earlier start to let you know what we did today. Don't worry if I miss a day, it's not my fault if Kathe is partying till the wee hours.

After watching it rain for a few hours this morning we finally went outside for a walk around the park between the raindrops. Because of the snow and damage to the Going To The Sun Road much of Glacier Park is closed. And you need a special pass to drive on the parts of the park that are still open. 

Since not all of us had passes today we chose to take both Jeeps up to the Polebridge, Montana, just outside of Glacier. The road was mostly unpaved and very muddy due to the rain. It was a really pretty drive and at the end of the road was the Polebridge Mercantile. Delicious pastries for everyone!

Here is a picture of Jim's Jeep after the drive. It's supposed to be silver, not brown. Now he's trying to find a car wash.

GETTING READY FOR GLACIER

 

A short trip today up the I-15 to the small town of Shelby Montana. Nothing but wheat fields all the way for about 2 hours. Boring! Tonight, we are camped in a very small RV Park on the way to Glacier tomorrow. Not much to do here although there is a casino within walking distance which made the Kathies eyes light up. Keep your paws crossed that they get lucky.

Jim washed the motor home today, a sure bet that it will rain soon. Not too much excitement today, but I did get a dunking in the kitchen sink in preparation for seeing my aunt Gerry and Uncle John tomorrow in Glacier. I look pretty darn good. 

Last night after dinner everyone jumped into the car to search for the Great Falls. Guess what, there really was a Great Falls. Lewis and Clark named it on their Discovery Voyage. At one time it must have been quite a sight. In modern times they built a dam across the falls and that changed everything. Funny, most of the people at the campground didn't even know there was a waterfall here. Kathe took this picture at sunset last night; it was pretty spectacular place. Just imagine what it looked like before they built the dam.