Day 91

Glacier National Park

Aug 5, 2013, 5:15 PM

What a day!! We started out by going to the Huckleberry Patch, for huckleberry pancakes for breakfast. This place was just so cute and the pancakes were very good. Then we went to Glacier National Park. As we drove in we wanted to get Spanky's picture at the sign and there was a line. By the time we were done getting Spanky's picture there was a freaking parade coming in the entrance. We had a heck of a time just getting back in the line of traffic. When we get up to the gate to pay we are stopped for a few minutes then the rangers are just waving everyone in. Nobody paid as far as we could see. We never did hear what that was about, but hey, it was freebie day at the park. Again all around us was the most breath taking scenery I have ever seen. WE EVEN SAW WILDLIFE, and some of it tried to attack. We stopped at an overlook and it was a spot where you could see the gap, there were glaciers to see, and waterfalls, and it was so pretty, but I kept hearing this peeping sound. It sounded like it was just down the slope from where I was standing. I looked but I didn't see anything, but I kept hearing it. I took some pictures, still hearing this peeping and then I saw what was making the noise. There was a little critter down there making a sound almost like a bird. He was the cutest thing. I just happened to have some almonds in my pocket, I've been prepared for chipmunks, so I tossed one toward him and this little guy scurried up the slope to grab it. He was so cute, he looked like a squirrel but not quite. Not quite a chipmunk, not a prairie dog either. We have no idea what it was, but he was so friendly and he brought a couple other guys with him. He didn't want to believe me that I was out of almonds either, he kept checking my hand and jumped into my lap.

On our way to the Logan Pass we saw some Mountain Goats. They were so cute. The Logan Pas Visitor's Center was crazy busy. You couldn't even get parking to go into the visitor's center. Of course after a few passes through the parking lot, Steve was done. We went on! We went past mountain after mountain. The road wound up so high we actually were able to see some of the snow/ice on the edge of the road. 

We road out of the park and were on our way home when the traffic ahead of us stopped dead. From my seat I could see a bike down and the legs of the biker. So we ran over to see if we could help. There was another biker and he was the husband of the woman that was on the ground. He ran over to her and she wasn't responding. I ran to get our emergency kit and a blanket out of the trunk. By the time I got back to the woman she was moving around and a guy came up and said he was a physician, he asked her some questions, and determined she was OK. When we first got there she was out cold. Her husband was shaking her and she didn't respond at all. We watched her get back on the bike. She was riding with no helmet. Steve offered to ride the bike for her and I said she could ride in the car with me, but no she wanted back on the bike. Pretty stupid if you ask me, the roads were not for the timid, but what can you do. 

We got home and had a wonderful dinner and I downloaded photos and so now I have to figure out how to whittle down the photos to put on the blog. I'm not sure it can be done. Steve is pouring over maps and brochures to see what he wants to do tomorrow. So good night all, I'll talk to you tomorrow. 

Day 90

Three Months On The Road

Aug 4, 2013, 12:08 PM

I can't get over the fact that we have been on the go for three months. We are again driving with some amazing vistas. I feel sorry for Steve cause while I can wrench my neck looking this way and that and just be awe struck, he's stuck just watching the road. We are driving through the Flathead Indian Reservation and all of the brown signs that mark sites of interest and some of the green signs are bilingual. We are assuming the second language is an Indian language. The characters are crazy and there is no attempting to pronounce the words. I am hoping I can get a photo to share. 

We are going to have to get some cherries while we are in this area. You couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting a cherry stand on our way in. We drove past cherry orchards and you could see the trees just loaded with cherries. The closer we got to Hungry Horse the more we saw huckleberry references. Places selling huckleberry jams and jellies. We may have to see what's up with that too. 

Aug 4, 2013, 7:55 PM

We are settled in for the night. We are at a nice little campground. It is wooded and the people here seem very nice. Tomorrow we are going to go to Glacier National Park. The book I have says the daily fee to get in would be $25 again and just like at Yellowstone we can use Steve's pass to get in free. I just can't wait to see that. Sorry no photos were gotten of the Indian on the signs, but we will be in this area four nights so maybe I'll see that again and be in a better position to stop. Good night all!! I'll be talking to you again tomorrow. 

Day 89

Happy Birthday Steve

Aug 3, 2013, 7:54 PM

Today was a relaxing day. We had nothing planned and that is pretty much exactly what we did. Steve slept in, which I'm sure he loved, since it's his birthday he get's his wish. I did a little cleaning and wash and sitting on my butt. Oh it was a nice day!! I did make my birthday boy the dinner of his choosing. I did a chicken in the crockpot and baked macaroni and cheese. 

On another issue we are having one heck of a time getting reservations for the Northwestern Washington leg of our trip. Everywhere and I do mean everywhere is booked solid. I have one guy that is going to call me back on Monday. He has a couple that is having work done on their RV and they don't think they will have it back before the 15th and he might be able to do some juggling and fit us in. If not we might just have to change our plans. And I was so looking forward to being able to go into British Columbia. I'm not going to worry about it till I absolutely need to. 

Tomorrow we are on our way to Hungry Horse, Montana. We will be able to go to Glacier National Park from there. So there will be tales to tell, I'm sure. So good night all, I'll be talking to you again tomorrow. 

Day 88

Watch Out Missoula Here We Come

Aug 2, 2013, 11:16 AM

I have to be honest and admit I have mixed feelings about leaving the Yellowstone area. My God the scenery was so beautiful and I could have spent many more days exploring the park. I so much wanted to walk up to one of those bison and just give him a little scratch behind the ears. They are so freaking adorable. The bear was irresistible too. Poor Steve gets very worried that I MIGHT actually try, but I resist temptation, sadly to say.  

Oh well, no looking back, we have other areas to conquer. Missoula is really just a stopping point on our way to White Fish, Montana. From White Fish we will be going to Glacier National Park. That one is supposed to be wonderful too. I can't wait to see it for myself. 

We got to the prettiest little campground. There are flower beds, it's just adorable. We got the RV all hooked up and then went to Walmart to get a few things. Well this Walmart in Missoula, Montana is the one that is where they get all the pictures for www.peopleofwalmart.com. OH MY GOD!, there were some freaky people there. We had the super big in clothes that were four sizes too small, crack that rivaled the Grand Canyon, a hooker, oh and it just went down hill from there. We almost had another Walmart stalker, but we RAN. We are lucky to have escaped with our lives. 

There is never a dull moment with us. We are safe and sound in the RV again. Have a good night guys. We'll be in touch again tomorrow. 

Day 87

AUGUST 1st

Aug 1, 2013, 9:08 PM

I can not believe it is August. How did this happen? Where has the time gone? I guess we are rounding the corner on the half way point in our trip. Steve planned out our route for the next month, this afternoon. I am so excited about the upcoming leg of our journey. We may even be able to make it into British Columbia. That will be cool, and this time I will make sure we get our passports stamped. I wonder if we need to have our passports to get into California? God knows that's like a whole different country. 

It was a lazy day today. I did some wash, Steve got things ready to go outside. The last couple have just done us in. So since there is really nothing to report I will just leave you with the photos from yesterday. I hope you all have a wonderful night. I'll have more for you from the road tomorrow. We will be in the move again. Good night!!

Day 86

Yellowstone Part Duex

Jul 31, 2013, 7:02 PM

The things we have seen and the places we've been. We started off early this morning again and I'm so glad we did. The weather was on the cool side and we stopped and saw beautiful scenery every chance we got and let me tell you, in Yellowstone there are a lot of chances. At one place we watched a man on a Harley get off his bike in the middle of the road. Steve said to me "this guy must be nuts, he's going to get killed". Well don't you know he had a part fall off. Then, God love him, he limped his bike into the lookout and Steve helped him put his gear shifter back on the bike. This poor guy stuttered so badly, my heart really went out to him. He was full of smiles and he thanked Steve profusely for the help and we waited to see that he was on the move again. Gotta love those Harleys!! Would you believe there were other bikers that went around him and didn't even bother to stop! That is a no, no in my book!

After that we took a 6 mile dirt road turn off that we thought for sure would be full of wildlife. Now this road I think was designed by someone that had been in the war and he was used to driving on roads that had been bombed. Some of the holes nearly swallowed the car, oh and by the way, we saw no wildlife. Oh my gosh, this is getting to be a trend with us.  I'm starting to think I might sell our services. . . Are you having a problem with unwanted critters, well just have Steve and Ruth anne's critter service out and you won't see a critter again, EVER!!!!!! Yes that's right folks, we are guaranteed to rid you of friendly cute and adorable animals. 

We had a good lunch at Roosevelt's Lodge, and something must have happened at lunch cause after that our luck changed!!!!! We pull out of the lodge and we are stopped by a lady with a road work sign. She tells us it's going to be about twenty minutes till we can pass, road work. What are you going to do. We waited!! It really wasn't bad, there was a wonderful breeze and it wasn't hot so no biggie. Then on to the falls, but the best is yet to come. We are leaving the falls and the road is completely stopped. There are cars on the shoulder, if you can call it a shoulder. There are people just jumping out of there cars in the line of traffic, so I figured what the heck. I grabbed the cameras. Well right off the side of the road, and I do mean right off, there was a grizzly bear. Oh he was having a good old time eating grass and bugs and whatever else strikes the fancy of a grizzly bear. Now this is where you are going to think this takes a turn for the ridiculous, oh but friends I do not lie and there is no need to embellish. People are so freaking close to this bear they were nearly in touching distance. Not only that but they have their kids getting out of the car and getting pictures with their kids in front of the bear. Now Mrs. Jones, how was it again you lost little Johnny on vacation last year? Oh you want to see the pictures, I had 5x7's made. Hey I'll tell you what, I didn't worry about being too close, I knew I could out run a six year old. You don't have to be the fastest, you just don't want to be the slowest. CRAZY!! 

At the next lookout we saw a couple and she was still so excited about the bear and she was asking if we'd seen it, that was fun. So that was cool and I was riding high for a while, but then we came around a corner and, you guessed it, dead stopped in front of us again, oh boy, am I lucky or what. Well this time there was nowhere to get out of the car but as we got closer we saw a bison just asleep on the side of the road. Hell if you didn't pull out a little you'd clip the bugger. But wait, there's more, a little further on there was another bison and he was just out for a stroll. We watched him for a while and I was satisfied, we got back in the car and drove on. We came around a bend and I could have cried, there in the field just off to the right there was a herd, or flock, or pack, den, whatever the heck they are called when almost a hundred gather. Oh my God it was a sight to see. They were running and there were babies and some were just kicking up dust and they were making this most wonderful sound. It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. They were beautiful and huge and ridiculous and sweet and majestic and if I'd been struck dead right then and there I could have gone with a smile on my face. It was so perfect. 

We went further in search of moose, but at 6:00 PM, we really needed to call it and head home. We were at the furthest point now on the loop and we just didn't see any. There was one close sighting, we went to the West Thumb, where we saw a big elk just lounging in the grass off the parking lot. When we walked by the lake on the boardwalk as we were making the loop I saw something ahead of us. We thought it might be a moose cow or baby. It really looked like it in the face. There were two kids running on the boardwalk toward us and we stopped them to make sure they got to see it. We walked closer, still staying on the boardwalk and another couple came up and even they thought it was a small moose. I decided since I saw it first it was my call, and I called it a moose, then the flipping thing stood up and it was an elk. I was really pissed and as long as I don't show you the pictures of her standing you can just take my word for it that WE SAW A MOOSE!!!!!

Jul 31, 2013, 7:51 PM

Now it's nearly 8:00 PM and we are still 76 miles from home, hell we are still in the park about 30 miles from the entrance, but who cares. I've had a wonderful day, life is good, I have a wonderful husband, we are on the trip of a lifetime, it just doesn't get any better than this. Given the hour of our return home and the fact that I will possibly have 1,000 (or more) pictures to go through, I'm uploading the blog, but the photos will come tomorrow. Sorry guys, you'll just have to wait.