New territory and adventures in the central part of Montana

We drove over to Great Falls and ran into some rather stormy weather so headed off to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. This was an extremely interesting site operated by the Park Service. Learned lots in our two hours there. Then on to our stay at the Collins Mansion B&B.

Saturday – still rainy in the morning so we started out at the C M Russell museum. He made Great Falls his home for a number of years and was quite a prolific painter, writer and sculptor. We set a record at this museum, stayed for three hours (normally two hours is about tops). Really interesting.

Bison painted as part of a fundraiser

Montana countryside

After lunch we drove out to the First Peoples buffalo jump where we learned all one might want to know about how Indians prior to introductions of horses (by the Spanish in the 1500’s) drove herds of buffalo over cliffs two or three times a year to resupply the store of needed goods. After they got horses they found it much easier to use bow and arrow to kill their prey from horseback. And of course we learned at these various sites how the herds were decimated in the 1800’s which did a real number on the Indians and their ability to survive as nomadic people.

Top of the cliff where bison were driven off

A drive down to Great Springs State Park led to a fish hatchery and a pleasant walk along the Missouri River.

Last of the 5 Great Falls

Back at our B&B where it seems we’re the only ones here who aren’t part of the wedding that was supposed to be outside, but was driven in by the rain. Nothing like walking through the middle of a reception in zip-offs, carrying your ice chest.

We did learn that Montana has been quite dry this summer (unlike the province of Alberta to the north). Just happened upon Great Falls during the stormy weather. Well anyway, our next stop was Billings with a nice drive through some interesting countryside on our way there.

Why Billings? Because it seemed to be a good location to stay prior to heading over to the Little Big Horn site on Monday.

But first, our story of lodging for the next few nights. We had planned to stay in Glendive following the Custer battlefield visit, but a search of lodging showed nothing available in this good sized city. And very little in Miles City an hour or so west of Glendive. Why, we wondered? This was supposed to be a trip where we could kind of decide as we drove along where to stay. Then a read of the Billings newspaper gave us the story. The oil industry is active big time in NW North Dakota and surrounding areas. Which has resulted in available motel rooms for 100+ miles around being booked for months to come. We have altered our plans for North Dakota; will stay an extra day in Bismarck.

The Little Big Horn Monument was very interesting to visit. A ranger started on a presentation just after we got there; 35 minutes of fascinating story about the battle. This chap used to be a school teacher and did an excellent job.

On to Miles City; tomorrow we head over to ND and a visit to the south part of Teddy Roosevelt National Park.

Alberta to Montana

It should be noted that the green fields we experienced along the Cowboy Trail are not normal. This has been an extremely wet spring and summer for Alberta; usually by early August the fields are brown. Great for us, not so good for the farmers as the grain crops have suffered; too wet to plow and plant during the normal spring planting season.

Our drive from Pincher Creek into Waterton was uneventful, giving us the whole day to do some hiking and exploring about the small and un-crowded town.

Where the mountains meet the prairies

Red Rock Falls

Upper Waterton Lake

Lots of deer in the town area and they are a major pest to the residents, eating flowers, bothering local dogs, etc. Very tame.

We enjoyed an evening cruise on the lake which took us to the south end into American waters, where we stopped at a dock and camping area for hikers. Our boat the Independence which sails out of Waterton is actually of American flag; it is wintered on the US end of the lake.

US Canada Border

US end of the lake - border crossing open 10-5

On to Glacier Park; customs was easy except for seeing several heavily armed border guards. They have been on the lookout for some bad guys last sighted in the Yellowstone area a few days ago. Our travel on the Going to the Sun highway over Logan pass was very pleasant. They are redoing quite a stretch of the highway using some Federal stimulus funds, which meant that on a few occasions we had to wait for awhile to pass through the one lane sections of construction. Not so bad, as it turned out, as we had time to get out of the car and view the sights. There are not very many pull-outs along this rather narrow highway.

The highlight of the day was during our stop at Logan Pass, the high point of the highway at 6684’.We saw a number of mountain sheep which decided to cross the highway and give us incredible close up looks at these animals.

On the way down we saw a bear crossing the road in front of us; appeared to be a grizzly cub which the tour bus operator in the opposite lane explained was now an orphan cub.

After ice cream cones in West Glacier (Dave had a huckleberry cone; a big deal in these parts as huckleberries are now in season), we headed on to our very nice B&B north of Whitefish.

A breakfast of corn pancakes topped with a smoked trout cake and a poached egg started our day. If only they’d had decent coffee. But the local Safeway had a Starbucks, so the morning was excellent. Back to Glacier Park for the day, a few threatening clouds. We went on a nature walk in Avalanche Creek, and Dave headed up to Avalanche Lake while Chris continued down the trail and enjoyed a nice hour plus sitting by the creek.

Fortunately the rain today confined itself to when we were driving. Nice.

An excellent dinner tonight – purported to be the best restaurant in town directly across the street.

New territory and adventures tomorrow.

California to Alberta

We’re off on another adventure! After blasting up highway 5, we arrived in Washington for some good time with family. We enjoyed spending time at the Anderson/Syre picnic NE of Bellingham near the Canadian border on the Syre farm. Rico has posted a picture from that picnic on Facebook.

Joanne & Kirsten

Fred, Chris & Dave

Dave & Margit

We also enjoyed some excellent times at Shirley’s. Thank you Shirley!

Then on Monday August 2 we headed off into the Okanagan Valley in BC. To be met by smoke from the 400 some forest fires burning in BC; the result of dry lightning strikes. As we were out for a walk, we watched as one of the fires started! We enjoyed visiting wineries in this rich valley area on our way through Kelowna and on up to Jasper. Where the smoke finally cleared out for us on Wednesday – but not for the folks in BC. As of the 9th they are still fighting forest fires in that province, although Chris’ cousin in the Okanagan Valley says the winds have shifted and the smoke is not too bad.

Ice field Highway. We enjoyed our drive down near to Banff, seeing bears, glaciers, lakes and many other cool sights on Thursday. Following are some shots taken from the Icefield Parkway:

We stayed at the Johnston Canyon Lodge, which although the room was quaint, the surroundings were wonderful. A 2+ km hike up the canyon allowed us to see six or so waterfalls and some very interesting walkways built out from the canyon walls. An excellent construction job by the parks’ folks.

Friday found us in Yoho Park in BC, then spending most of the day at Lake Louise. A bit damp at times but we had a wonderful late lunch in the grand hotel there with a table smack in front of tall windows looking out over the lake and the glaciers beyond. On a sunny day that table would have been deadly from the sun, but on a cloudy day it was great.

Saturday we drove down to Banff. On the way we saw a huge elk on the roadside. As he walked past our car, Chris could almost reach out and touch him.

The day was spent learning about Grizzly bears at a museum, walking about and enjoying a drink at the luxurious lodge outside of town. No free lunch there; parking was $3 per hour in surrounding parking lots. As we were paying another couple came up and the man had a major problem paying. His wife was walking toward the hotel and he said “I’m leaving.” So he kind of drove off and his wife walked ahead toward the hotel. We don’t walk fast as Chris is using a cane. By the time we got to the main hotel entrance a man in a car was honking at the curb making a ruckus; the bellman ran over and asked him to knock it off. Apparently he asked the bellman to flag down his wife who was near to the entrance door – he did and she said “I have never seen that man in my life”. A spat of sorts. So he tore off down the street and we later saw her wandering about in the bar. Such is life!

Saw lots of weddings in Lake Louise and Banff, seems the apots for destination weddings. At our short time in the Cascade gardens in Banff, we saw 3 wedding parties!

Sunday on to Rocky Mountain House to learn about the fur trading business in the early 1800’s, then on Cochrane. Monday we drove the southern part of the Cowboy Trail (Hiway 22) and learned about the history of settlements in the western part of Alberta in the late 1800’s. At the Bar U ranch. Very interesting. Cowboy country. In Longview we bought an Ian Tyson CD. He’s the Ian of Ian & Sylvia and the song “Four Strong Winds.” So we drove through cowboy country listening to cowboy music.

Tomorrow, off to Waterton National Park, the Canadian Half of Glacier NP in Montana (Canada has their own Glacier Park in BC.)