Montana: Big Sky Country

We spent a couple of weeks in Kalispell, Montana. Our RV spot was generous with beautiful views. The location was great, between Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake

Grillin' and chillin'

Our park had a swim platform in Spring Creek

Lakes and Rivers are everywhere. From this view of Whitefish Lake you can see the ski runs on Big Mountain.

We spent an afternoon at City Beach on Whitefish Lake.

Huckleberry everything is the special in the area. That and local breweries of course.

This is a countertop at the Amtrak Station. 

There are about half dozen homes within the National Park. This homestead has been in the family since they moved here from Illinois in 1906.

I was fortunate to go fly fishing for the first time ever. These ominous clouds turned into a rain and hail storm and cut our fishing time short.

We drove out of the Park to the local saloon to wait it out.

Thank you Elaine and your nephew Mike for a great day. This is the way to wait out a storm before returning to fish.

Before you know it, the flash flooding subsided and we were back in the Park and bear country.

So we went off again to catch some fish. I really enjoyed the feeling of casting the line and moving along the river. The four of us linked arms to cross rivers, scrambled over fallen trees, slipped on rocks, slopped through mud, and caught fish too! Yes, even I caught a nice little 10 inch trout.

Since we are inside the Park it was catch and release. 

Big Prairie, Glacier National Park

Tim found this great T-Shirt

Glorious Glacier National Park, Montana

Visiting Glacier National Park entails travelling the Going-To-The-Sun road. Vehicle length and width restrictions are posted as well no bicycle use during peak hours. Our first day we took a drive to get a "lay of the land" and decide what was important to revisit.

The road hugs the side of sheer rock mountains. I can't comprehend the fearlessness of workers who completed this endeavor in 1932

Around every corner there is breathtaking beauty

Many, many waterfalls from snowmelt

A "Weeping Wall" that showers your car

Meadows filled with bear grass.

In 1850 Glacier National Park boasted over 150 glaciers. Now there are 25 and are mostly on the eastern side of the park. Here is one.

We traveled from west to east. This is St Mary's Lake near the East Glacier entrance

We could see the damage done by the July 2015 fire along St Mary's Lake. Going-To-The-Sun road was closed until mid-August

We stood in line to take the park shuttle. Due to vehicle size restrictions, each shuttle that goes to Logan Pass only holds 8 passengers. Being that the Park is in full season, the wait was crazy long and there is just not enough shuttles. So we jumped out of line and into the car. Now we can't get a parking spot at the top and it is prior to 10am. Note to self: Leave even earlier in the morning!

If you don't want to drive or take the park shuttle, the Red Bus Tour comes highly recommended. I wish we would have done it. Everyone said it was great! 

These look like so much fun. The top rolls back so the ride is open air. Four passengers in each row. I call shotgun!

Two days later and an hour earlier we drove to Logan Pass and didn't waste time waiting in line for a shuttle. A marmot greeted us at Logan Pass.

Logan Pass is at the Continental Divide and the starting point for the hike we took to Hidden Lake Viewpoint. There was a boardwalk at the beginning, then some snow to traverse.

Hidden Lake viewpoint where we saw mountain goats who are part of a current study

Their collars are programmed to fall off in three years so the mountain goats won't have to bothered for removal.

McDonald Creek at Red Rock. The color of the water is several shades of amazing blue. The river rocks are smooth and colorful.

This is the sound of a rushing river, not rushing traffic.

Inside of Glacier Park are a few privately owned homesteads. We heard some stories from the great-granddaughter of a homesteader near Polebridge. Tim had worked with her husband and we met up for dinner. they told us to stop at the "Merc" for a pastry. I had a huckleberry bears claw. 

I guess not everyone could keep up their property.

Hungry Horse Dam on the Flathead River

Flathead Lake south of Kalispell

T-Town & The Emerald City

Sometimes you just have to be a tourist in your own town. Dale Chihuly's Bridge of Glass is colorful and free to all to experience in downtown Tacoma

Rock Candy and the Hot Shop at the Museum of Glass

Ceiling art on the Bridge

Daniel and Evie began their visit at Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor

A walk around Chambers Bay

Stadium High School and it's football field

Zog's on Fox Island

All this and more at Zog's!!

Dinner at El Pueblito.....

...just wouldn't be complete without a round of shots compliments of Daniel.

Melissa and her Dad

Best friends Kendyl & Kaela came over for ceviche. They look like they could be sisters.

We took the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle

Original Starbucks with a line a mile long of foreigners.

This creative drain could use some new plants. Yes, she stuck gum on the gum wall. Ewww

Pike Place Market was slamming busy

Six beers are always better than one

Bruce & Brandon Lee's tombstone and the Fremont Troll

 The Space Needle. 

Daniel and Evie were here for 5 days and never saw "the mountain" except from the plane when they left. Mount Rainier reappeared the next day.

My good friend Bernice turned 90 July 10th. This handsome photo was taken in the 1940's. You just know her shoes and purse matched. She is still very stylish. And a huge Seahawk fan! She's had season tickets since the beginning and goes to the games with her grandson.

This is what the Albertson's grocery store looks like. Go Hawks!

I took a side trip to Italy with Marleen, Debbie and Marie.

Actually it was to Mossimo's in Purdy.

Steve and Carrie hosted Dennis and Jackie and us before we left the Puget Sound area.

One final outing with Brian and Barb

At Puerto Vallarta's you can pull your own beer at your booth. What will they think of next?

Time has flown by, as it always does when you're with your girls and besties. After all that decadence we need some down time, healthy eating, exercise, and non-alcoholic hydration. It's time to get back on the road and experience something new

Lake Coeur d'Alene as seen from the Moho on I-90. We stopped there last year, so we pass by.

We are at a lovely park in Missoula, Montana

The city is very clean and friendly.

People are active, family oriented, love beer, bicycling, and bands!

As my dad used to say "It's time to hit the road, so let's have one for the road".