Glacier NP

The 1520 mile trip through 5 states to Glacier National Park went well. Stops were made for gas or lunch or overnight at Wisconsin Dells, Menominee WI, Avon MN, Moorhead MN, Fargo ND, Dickinson ND, Malta MT, Chester MT, Shelby MT and Hungry Horse MT among others. We crossed countless rivers, including the Mississippi, Saint Croix, Red, Missouri and Yellowstone. The only tough day was Saturday as we crossed ND and fought a 25 mph head wind; had to stop twice for gas as the truck was only giving us 8 mpg under those wind conditions and the AC running.

 

We did make a quick stop at Theodore Roosevelt NP in ND and snapped a shot of Painted Canyon. And the hotel we stayed at in Malta, MT had a sign from the 1960's that we couldn't resist photographing. Dickinson had a great dinosaur museum which we toured. Ronna took some pictures there but I don't have copies of those yet to post.

 

Arriving at Glacier Campground on Labor Day we set up camp, had a great dinner at the Glacier Grill in Hungry Horse and hit the hay.

On Tuesday we did the Red Bus Crown of the Continent tour. This 9 hour drive in a vintage, 17 passenger bus, started at Apgar Transit Center at the west end of the park and followed Going to the Sun Road to Many Glacier Hotel at the east end of the park and back. Stops were made at various points along the way including McDonald Lake Lodge, Logan Pass Visitor Center and Many Glacier Hotel where we had lunch. These convertible coaches were built by the White Motor Company between 1936 and 1939 and the canvas roof can be rolled back to allow a great view during the ride. Heavy wool blankets are available if the weather chills, which it did for us. We had an overcast day with intermittent rain, so the top was on, then off, then on, then off ……. But I did manage a few pictures when the driver stopped for a photo opportunity and we did get a quick look at a black bear feeding on berries near the road. He didn’t stick around long and I couldn’t get a photo. 

If you haven’t traveled the 52 mile Going to the Sun Road you might want to consider putting it on your bucket list. The experience of being on the side of a mountain with high and wide vistas is dizzying and exhilarating. Check out Youtube for clips of this famous roadway.

We got back to Apgar Transit Center at 530pm, ate dinner at the West Glacier Café and called it a day. Below are some pics from our trip to Glacier and from the Red Bus tour.

 

 

 

Wednesday turned out to be a beautiful day, sunny and warm. We wanted to hike Hidden Lake tail and that meant driving up to Logan Pass. The vehicle size limit on Going to the Sun Road is 10 feet high, 8 feet wide, and 21 feet long. My truck is 8 feet wide, and 20 feet 10 inches long. I have to admit there was some “white knuckle” driving. Scattered here and there were the plastic remnants of tail lights and side view mirrors.  I even removed my tie-downs to gain an extra inch or two. But we made it up and back without a scratch.

 

Before we started out we stopped at Glacier Café and picked up sack lunches to take with us. Of course there were stops along the way for picture taking and we didn’t get to Logan pass till almost 1pm. Hiking the Hidden Lake trail we caught a glimpse of 2 Mountain Goats and a female Bighorn sheep. The overview at Hidden Lake is just beautiful as is the alpine meadows. Everywhere you turn is another beautiful picture. 

On our return to the west side of the park we stopped at Eddies in Apgar Village for dinner, sorry to say I can’t recommend the place. Wednesday's movie was Charlie Chan at the Circus.

 

Here are Wednesday's pics:

 

 

Thursday we decided to take the Camas Road to the Outside North Fork Road up to Polebridge and then on to Bowman Lake. The road to Polebridge isn’t all that bad as it’s paved for more than half the way and because we had rain early in the morning there wasn’t any dust. But the truck had a half inch of mud on the runners by the time we arrived. The drive also allowed us to photograph 2 Mule Deer bucks along the way.

We thought we would have lunch at the Northern Lights Saloon but found they didn’t open till 4pm. Lucky that Polebridge Mercantile is well known for its baked goods and we dined on a turkey, cranberry and cream cheese pasty, with a huckleberry fruit fritter for desert.

Now the road to Bowman Lake is another story; 6 miles of pot holed, gravel, narrow, winding, steep road. It’s only about 1 and a half lanes wide and passing oncoming vehicles is a challenge. Lucky that every time we met we were at, or near, a spot we could pull over a bit. But I have to say that all the drivers we met on this road were very courteous and tried their best to make room for us. As you can see from the picture, Bowman Lake is just beautiful. But that 6 miles took almost 45 minutes to drive.

Back at West Glacier we dined at Belton Chalet. Not someplace I would eat on a regular basis due to its expensive menu, but the food and the service is top notch. I couldn’t resist ordering the Elk. Thursday's movie was To Have and Have Not, with Bogie and Bacall.

Here are Thursday's pics:

 

 

Friday was a hike on the Trail of Cedars and to Avalanche Lake. Again, wonderful scenery; you just can’t take a bad picture at this park! We had an early dinner at West Glacier Café and then drove along Camas Road at dusk, hoping for a few more wildlife shots. Saw a few Mule Deer but not the bears we were looking for. Friday's movie was Bogie and Bacall with Edward G in Key Largo.

 

Friday's pics:

 

 

On Saturday I took Ronna to Glacier International for her flight back to Chicago and I spent the rest of the day getting ready for my morning departure to the KOA in Townsend MT. I should be in Yellowstone on Monday morning. Saturday's movie was Bogie and Bacall again in Dark Passage. 

 

Have to say that Verizon is paying off. My hot spot has worked at everyplace we stayed!

Hope this update finds everyone happy and healthy!

 

Ready to head west

Not much to post for this update.

The past week has been busy with getting things ready for the trip to Glacier, Yellowstone and the Tetons which will cover 7 states and around 3000 miles.

Had a couple dental appointments, a new heavy duty anti-sway bar installed on the truck, topped off the propane tanks, visited friends in Chicago and Indiana, picked up my 100-400 lens which was in for repair, washed and waxed the truck, cleaned the camper and got the laundry done.

Today Ronna and I spent some time familiarizing ourselves with bear deterrent spray. Hopefully there won’t be any close encounters but we want to be prepared for any circumstances that may arise.

We will be leaving tomorrow morning (Thursday) and should be at West Glacier Campground on Monday afternoon.  It should be a relaxed drive, covering about 300 miles per day and arriving at our nightly stay by 4pm.  Overnights will be near Menominee WI, Moorhead MN, Dickinson ND and Malta MT. After 5 days at Glacier, Ronna will fly back to Chicago and I will continue on to Yellowstone and the Tetons.

I have no idea of how cell and Internet reception will be, or if there will be any at all during various parts of the trip. But I will be in touch whenever possible. Hope to be sending you all some great photos of these iconic National Parks.

We did get a chance to visit James "Pate" Phillip State Park in Bartlett IL during the past week and snap a few pics.

Iowa

Ronna and I had the pleasure of attending our first truck camper rally, which was held in Amana Iowa on August 1^st through the 4^th. We had a total of 21 rigs attend, some from as far away as California and Florida. Although there was more people and activities than I’m used to, I have to say we had a great time meeting fellow truck campers and making new friends. Pot luck dinners were held on Friday and Saturday evening and a communal breakfast on Sunday morning.  Saturday afternoon was an “open house”, with everyone opening the doors of their campers to others for inspection. We managed to view most of the rigs and had many people show a great interest in my camper and truck. Saturday night also featured a raffle. Each attendee was asked to bring a gift representing their home state and gifts were donated by various sponsors as well. Ronna won twice and I once but I don’t think anyone walked away empty handed.

 

 





 

 

The Amana Colonies consist of seven small villages in western Iowa settled in 1856 by a group of mostly Germans, calling themselves The Ebenezer Society or the Community of True Inspiration. Ending in 1932, it was one of the longest surviving communal living environments. It’s also home to the Amana Corporation who invented the Radar Range, now better known as a microwave.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amana_Colonies

On Friday morning we did a driving / walking tour of the Amana Colonies. Guided by a Lanny, a native and historian from the Amana Heritage Society, we made stops at the Heritage Society building in Amana for a short film documenting  the history of the colonies,  the last remaining communal kitchen museum located in Middle Amana, the still operating General Store in High Amana and the Amana Community Church Museum in Homestead.

 

 

The last stop was a tour of the Millstream Brewing Company in Amana, where Ronna and I broke away from the group and headed for Cedar Rock House near Quasqueton Iowa, about an hour’s drive from Amana.

 

Cedar Rock house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Iowa businessman Lowell Walter and his wife Agnes in 1948. It’s a prime example of Wright’s “Usonian” style and unique because not only was the house a Wright design, but the furnishings, dishes, carpets, draperies and  accessories were designed or picked out by Wright himself.  He even decided the furniture / accessory arrangement in the house. On some of his visits to the house after its completion Wright would relocate furniture and knick knacks to their original position after Agnes had re-arranged them.

In August 1981, when Lowell passes away, the house was left to the Iowa Conservation Commission with all the furnishings intact; in fact there are still some of Agnes’s dresses in the closet. The house has been fully restored and the boat house, also designed by Wright, is undergoing renovation. The guided one hour tour allows access to the entire house and maids quarters. You can even sit in one of the Wright designed living room chairs.

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StateParksRecAreas/IowasStateParks/ParkDetails.aspx?ParkID=3

 

 

 

 

Right now I’m at Rock Cut State Park, just north of Rockford IL. Leaving here on the 14^th and headed back to Kettle Moraine State Forest for a week. Leaving for Glacier, Yellowstone and the Tetons in less than 3 weeks so planning is taking up much of my time.

Hope this update finds everyone in good health.