Day 9 - Down Time

Today was a day to relax, not drive too much, and get rested for the big drive to Yellowstone.  It is only 3:00 pm and I'm writing this blog.   We have been moving at a easy pace today.  After breakfast, we drove to the park to some souvenir shopping and take a last drive around Lake McDonald.  We also stopped at the usual tourist traps and filled up with gas before we hook up the camper tomorrow. Gas at West Glacier was $3.88 a gallon but we paid our highest so far of $4.17 on the east side of the park yesterday.  Since today is a quiet blog day, I need to get in some info about what we did yesterday.  So here goes, turn the calendar back one day to Sunday, September 23.

Because we couldn't cross directly through the park because the only road is closed from West Glacier to Logan Pass, we drove 100 miles around the south end of the park to St Mary's east entrance and took the "Going to the Sun Road" to Logan Pass.  Actually, it turned out to be a blessing because we had never been on that road and discovered that it was very beautiful.  We took US Highway 2 to state highway 49.  Highway 49 was 12 miles of two-lane, twists and turns.  There were some curves that required slowing down to 20MPH.  It was also open cattle range so we had to watch out for a cow or cows here and there wandering along the road with the cars.  We both spent a lot of time rubbernecking because it was so beautiful.  On the way back, I realized how near the road was to the edge of the mountain because that was the side I was on.  I was nervous but even more so when I thought about the earlier trip on this mountain.  It is true that ignorance is bliss, because I sure wasn't blissful on the second time on the road.

We got to the park and drove from the east entrance to Logan's Pass.  What more can I say, except it was beautiful beyond words.  We also drove the Many Glacier Road near the Canadian border.  There  we saw Grinnel Glacier.   This park is famous for the Rocky Mountain sheep but we didn't see any.  We stopped for a late lunch at St. Mary's.  There wasn't even a Mcdonalds or Subway to be seen so we brought sandwiches and chips at a food mart and ate in the truck.  We were fortunate enough to be serenaded by an old man playing a trumpet (and he played it quite well, I should add.).  He had a long white beard and a trumpet and ram's horn.  He walked to the edge of the road near the intersection and began to play his ram's horn, then he played "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" .  From that song, he played The Marine Corps and The Army songs.  The last song we heard was The Air Force song.  If we had stayed longer he probably would have played Anchors Away, as well.  It was an interesting way to have music with our meal!

We got back to camp around 6:00pm and because I was tired, I only posted pictures.   Tomorrow we plan to drive to Yellowstone which is approximately 400 miles, about half of which will be two lane roads.  We are sad to leave here both because of the beauty we see all around us and because of this super great KOA.  I know we will see beauty at Yellowstone but we aren't sure that our next campground can compare to this one.
Next post will be from Yellowstone.

One of the many beautiful views in the park.

A man who loves Glacier National Park.

Rocky tops above the tree line.

Old sign over the road on an entrance to the road headed to the eastern entrance to park.

Our lunchtime serenade born man.

Day 8 - A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

We have had a long day of driving and enjoying all the beauty around us.  Since I have heard that "a picture is worth a thousand words" I'm going to let the pictures be my words tonight.

This is Glacier National Park!

Day 7 - Riding the Red Bus

We got up at 7:00 a.m. To a cool morning.  It got down to 41 degrees last night calling for the electric blanket to be turned on.  It was overcast and the mountains looked very hazy as you will be able to tell from the pictures.  There has been a big fire that is still smoldering and it is putting off enough smoke to cloud the mountains.  I actually fixed breakfast this morning which was a first on this trip.

We were told to wear layers because it would be cold early on the trip but that it would warm up later.  It didn't warm up until we got back to the campground.  The Red Bus picked up at the KOA at 9:00 a.m.   It was a nice trip of about 5 and a half hours.  We didn't realize it but the Going to the Sun road on the west side is closed for major rebuilding and resurfacing.  That road is the only road which transverses the park over the mountains to the east side of the park.  Now if we want to go the the top of the road at the Continental Divide, we will have to drive 100 miles around the south end of the park and drive up from the east side of the park.  We decided that we will do that tomorrow.  From the tour we saw what we could on the west side so to totally see Glacier, we will drive to the east side and go up to the top.

We did see a couple of lodges, Lake MacDonald, and some small waterfalls.  We were only able to see one glacier from a distance.  There are 27 glaciers in the park.  We should be able to see some of the others from the eastern side.  Our guide, Benny, told us that to be considered a glacier, the snowpack has to be moving and 100 feet deep.  People who study glaciers say that they are melting and in only 8 more years, some of them will not be considered glaciers.  He said there is a controversy among scientists as to whether it is caused by global warming and temperatures being warmer or just a temperature change cycle that occurs regularly.  I guess we will have to wait and see.  This park will still be beautiful without the glaciers.

I was glad that I had put supper in the crockpot so that when we got back from the tour at 3:00 we were able to eat and relax, and that is just what we are doing.  We aren't sure if we will go to Yellowstone on Tuesday or spend one more day here.  We will make that decision tomorrow evening.  We are loving this campground and our spot so we may just stay one more day!

A cold, cold river carrying melted snow from the many glaciers in the park

Our first view of the mountains and lakes that make up Glacier National Park, Montana.

One of the many glacier-fed waterfalls.

Day 6 - We made it!

Wow! Wow! Wow!  This day was one of seeing beautiful scenery and ending the day in the best campsite ever!   We were on the road by 7:00 a.m.  From the time we pulled onto the interstate, our eyes couldn't take it all in.  Around every turn or up over every hill was something beautiful to see.

The truck chugged up to the Continental Divide and then the camper pushed us down the other side.  That is the way it was on I-90W for most of the way.  I shot a lot of video because my still camera had trouble focusing as we were driving.   At Missoula, MT we turned off the interstate onto US Highway 83 north to Kalispell.  Again there was beautiful scenery.  We drove through the Flathead Indiana Reservation.  Some of their signs were written in both English and whatever their native language.  I have never seen a language like that.  The words contained letters, symbols, and letters written above the rest of the other letters as well as on the normal line of letters.  Again, I wanted to get a picture but was not able to.  They even had a bridge/tunnel across the road with nothing but grass and bushes on it.  It was a bridge for animals to cross over instead of trying to cross the highway.

The road followed the entire western side of Flathead Lake which is the largest fresh water lake this side of the Mississippi River.  It was the bluest, cleanest water I had ever seen.  With the mountains surrounding the lake, it was so beautiful.  I did get a picture of the lake and will post if it looks good enough.

We pulled into West Glacier KOA around 2:30 p.m.  Because we are staying 3 days, the third day is free.  I like that!  We had made reservations for what they call a "patio" site.  It is wonderful.  We have a large concrete pad, level spot to put the camper, patio table with umbrella and 6 chairs, a gas grill, a separate fire ring with benches and is landscaped with bushes and trees and cedar chips.  And if that wasn't enough, the view of the mountains is to die for.  Needless to see, that put the icing on the cake for this day.  The temperature is perfect...mid 70's.  According to the Weather Channel, it is suppose to be just like day for the next few days.  God is smiling on us!
Enjoy the pictures, but they don't do the scenery we saw justice.  Tomorrow we go into the park.

View from our campsite.   One taken in the afternoon of our arrival and the other near evening.

Our campsite at West Glacier KOA, Montana

Flathead Lake, Montana

Day 5 - Are we there yet?

No we aren't there yet but maybe tomorrow.  Because we didn't unhook the camper last night, we were able to get on the road by 7:00 a.m.   We had to turn on the electric blanket last night but we love sleeping when it is cooler.  It did warm up to nearly 80 today.  We drove 450 miles today  finally getting to a KOA in Bozeman, MT.  Whoever checked us in had an attitude problem so we will definitely be happy to get on the road tomorrow.  We didn't unhook today, so we should be able to be on the road as early as yesterday.

The landscape was varied but all pretty in its own way.  Northeastern Wyoming was rolling hills and some rock outcroppings.  As we got closer to Montana, we began to see mountains in a distance with snow on them.  We saw lots of pronghorn antelope in Wyoning only.  I guess they know the statelines and don't cross them.  We saw lots of cattle and some sheep.  I-25 is not as heavily traveled but we went up and down many hills.  Sometimes the truck was only able to go 45 MPH.  A time or two, I thought I would have to get out and push.

When we got into Montana, we saw rolling hills of cut hay.  There must have been 100's of acres of what had been hay.  The landscape changed to mountains with pine trees and large rock-strewn areas.  Unfortunately, it was hazy and my pictures don't do the mountains justice.

For most of the day, we didn't even listen to the radio.  We just drove soaking in God's beautiful world.  We think it is about 300 miles from here to Glacier or about a six hour drive.  Hopefully, we will get out of here early so we can get set up by early afternoon.  We plan to stay at Glacier for two or three days.  It will be a treat to stay in one place for a little while.

We are having a great time.  I will try to post a picture or two that I took from the truck.  If the pictures look good, they will be of Montana.

Somewhere in Wyoming

Day 4 - Goodbye Nebraska, Hello Wyoming

Got a slow start this morning.  I guess relaxing these past two days got us into slow gear.  Finally at 9:00 a.m. We left Windmill Park and headed west on I-80.  The landscape at first looked like Central Illinois but as we continued west, it changed to low rolling hills and low mesa-like rocky outcrops.  It is very dry out here so everything is brown but still pretty.

The worse part of the final miles through Nebraska was the bumpy road and strong winds.  For about 10-20 miles it felt like we were on a washboard.  Everything in the truck shook and rattled.  I wanted to get off but where would we go so we had to keep going.  Then the winds kicked in and Carol was gripping the wheel with both hands to keep the truck and camper on the road.  A couple of times, I thought we were not going to be able to stay on the road.  The winds were blowing from the north and hitting against the side of the camper.

Finally we made it to I-25 at Cheyenne, WY and turned north and the winds calmed down.  We lost an hour when we got into Mountain Time.  At the end of the day, we had driven 462 miles.  We are camped at a KOA at Douglas, Wyoming.  It is very nice but small.  There are 70 spots that are rented out by the month and they have a waiting list for those.  This is a big coal mining area.  We met several large trains loaded with coal.  The drive up from Cheyenne was very pretty and we could see the mountains west of the road.  This is pronghorn antelope country.  They are in herds as big as some cattle herds.  In the campground we met and talked to a couple from Ohio who have been coming to this KOA for the last 18 years to hunt antelope.  We drove eight hours today and probably will tomorrow.  We didn't unhook the camper, hoping we can get out of here earlier tomorrow.

I am going to post a picture or two that I took from the truck as we traveled.  I don't know good they will be, but maybe you can get the idea of the landscape around here.

Tomorrow we should be camping in Montana.

Somewhere along the road in Wyoming

Day 3 - Cranes, Trains, and Other Things

CRANES:  although we haven't seen any cranes, we are told that in late February to early April, 80 percent of all sandhill cranes stop at the Platte River for a layover and rest before they continue north.  It is something I would like to see.  You see advertisements and information everywhere so it is a really big deal to Kearney, NE folks.

TRAINS:  another really big deal in Nebraska and I think the western part of the country.    When we drove through Lincoln on Sunday, we crossed over one of the biggest rail yards we had ever seen.  There are train tracks and trains moving stuff everywhere.  Most of the towns (even the smaller ones) have overpasses to accommodate auto traffic. Decatur could learn a thing or two about how to accommodate autos inspite of trains.

OTHER THINGS:   Where to begin??    I have to write about some things because I want to keep them in my journal so here goes.  We have had a series of minor problems beginning with the flat tire on Friday, followed by a blown fuse on Saturday, and an indicator light on the truck showing "low collant.". Naturally, we were concerned and stopped at a large truck stop to buy some.  When we opened the hood, the collant level was fine.  We are hoping that the indicator light is in error because we haven't had a problem since.  Then last night we lost all electric power to the camper.  Carol checked everything he could think of and nothing worked.  We were able to have some light from the battery but when the battery got low, the refrigerator stopped working.  Finally we went to bed at 8:30 under three blankets and waited until morning when we could call the place we pruchased the camper for help.  When we talked to them, they told Carol about another set of fuses he should check that we didn't know about.  Of course, we didn't have that fuse size so we had to go to three different places to find the correct size.   We were very glad to get those fuses in and even more glad when the power came back on.  We are hoping and praying that these things are behind us for the rest of the trip.

We did see some neat things today.  We went to Ft Kearney which was a fort from 1831 until 1871.  Since we love history, we enjoyed walking the grounds of the fort and learning about it's history.  Then we went to the Great Platte River Road Archway which is the only museum built across an  interstate highway.  We had seen it others times when we drove west on I-80 but had never stopped.  Again, we enjoyed it.  It told the history of road travel on the roads west from early settlers to present day.  Interstate 80 was the first interstate built.  Then we hiked a trail that was an old railroad bed with a railroad bridge that crossed both the south and north branches of the Platte River.  The trail was about four miles.  All in all, after we got the electrical problem fixed, a great day.  Tomorrow we pack up and continue to head west.

Archway over I-80 near Kearney, NE

E

The Platte River

The trail to the river.