Going To The Sun Road (Glacier MT)

If you get to Glacier, you need to take what is known as Going-To-The-Sun Road. It is a 50 mile road that goes from the west side of the park to the east side. But believe me, it is special because basically it has you driving on the frigging edge of the mountains. There is only ONE switch back. The original was planned to have something like 16. And there are two tunnels. At one point while we drove, there may have been about 3" of room where our mirror came very close to the wall of the mountain as we passed another car--the other driver was scared s**tless because he was driving on the very edge of the mountain's drop off. How cool is that?

Beautiful scenery will have you wanting to stop and snap photos. There is nothing like it that I've ever seen in my travels--as yet. St. Marry's Lake is absolutely the color of the ocean. It's aqua, I kid you not, this is a photo I snapped of Dennis standing at a drop off with the lake behind him. This is the actual color of the lake!






As you can see the mountains, and the very namesake--glaciers--rise from it like ancient gods frozen in ice and granite.

The little tiny island out there is called Goose Island. We love taking pictures of it. This is only one picture.
This next picture is me standing beside our truck with more of the mountains behind us.
And this on is from another spot further into the mountains. There's a falls to the left of the picture in this.

The Lodge: View and dinner 5- Star!

View out our room at Glacier Park Lodge. I don't think we could get a better room, do you?

Like I may have mentioned, there is no TV. Who needs it?

Dinner was excellent. I had rainbow trout--split open with tail and head still on (I'm not at all bothered by that), over the baked potato and these spring veggies we learned were shipped fresh from southern Calif. every day. Our waiter was all business, very efficient, but not too terribly friendly. Dennis had smoked prime rib--unusual, but very delicious. The meal put us back, but well worth it. I had a white zin that was excellent. Dennis went with beer. Nothing could beat that view, as we were seated at the large windows over-looking these mountains?

After we ate, we had to walk it off. And we explored the very bowels of this hotel, odd rooms, a stage in one, and there were lavatories down there too, so we had the excuse to go down there. Dennis was having lots of fun. I don't often get to see him let go and become silly like he did, and that was wonderful!

My only disappointment was the bed was narrow, and hard. The shower was just too small. The bathroom wasn't very large either. But, for a 99 year old lodge it was worth the experience.

The next morning, we were the first ones up. It was so quiet, we could hear any ghosts that may have been walking around. You see these pillars? These are actual sequoia tree trunks hauled in 100 years ago by train, then used mules to haul them from the train to the spot. The Blackfeet Indians set up their camp around the site to watch with fascination how the white man was going to get this thing up.

We waited around for something to open up so that we could have some coffee. A little snack shop opened up at 6 a.m., and we got two muffins and coffees and sat out on the breezeway gazing up at those mountains. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning. The quiet was great. Once people began to mull around, some of them workers in the hotel, we got scooting ourselves. We wanted to hit To The Sun Road, to see the glaciers up close, and the beautiful lakes!

Journal Entry ~ Day 4

Leaving well before 7 am. Sun is shining down on the sprawling town of Butte. When we stepped outside it was 40 degrees. Beautiful. Rocky out-croppings reminds us of Colorado. Steam rises from ponds and waterways.

As you may recall our last stop, yesterday was Pompey's Pillar. It was raining and so we couldn't get up close to it. So, we went on to arrive in Butte. The sun came out as we moved on. That was promising. The motel, Days Inn, was a much nicer place, and Papa Johns was right around the corner. Even though we'd had pizza the night before (Pizza Hut), this was much better. Besides, their garlic sauce rocks!

The next morning we had a very good breakfast, so we got out the door in record time!

Montana is nothing if it isn't big. Big enough to have plenty of farm land and room for lots of rugged mountains, buttes and flat-topped mountains, and endless roads.

I make notes along the way of several sites to stop for. We try and stop for lunch, but they weren't serving when we were hungry. Why does it have to be 11:30? We walked out, and the woman stopped us and said they'd be willing to fry up a hamburger.

Hamburgers, and sub sandwiches have been our fare for days, now. Not interested. Sorry.

We continue on, and eventually reach Browning. This is an Indian Reservation. It shouldn't surprise me, therefore, that a lot of horses in pastures.

We reach a bridge that is being re done. A major operation, let me tell you! So, we take the road that has always been in used, going beside the newer bridge.

Because I had gone on-line and had figured out the lodge was not within the park itself, I knew that it had to be coming up soon. We soon came to a small town (East Glacier), and Dennis sailed through. We saw the sign, which was large enough, and it wasn't exactly saying TURN HERE or OOPS, YOU MISSED IT, DUMMY, TURN BACK!!!

I knew we had to turn somewhere and got my mule--er--husband to turn around and go back.

We had to go through this archway, and there it was. OMG! Exactly like I had seen it on their site, but these are OUR pictures:

We were early. And I mean about 3 hours early. They were not going to check us in (or give us our room number) until 3 pm.

We went and had lunch, I had a scrumptious chicken sandwich on flat bread. Our view out the window, looking at the mountains was the kicker that made our lunch perfect. We made it! I could have been eating cardboard, for all it mattered, we had so many upsets, a few times not really thinking we'd be able to go, and then Dennis' back problems...

Tomorrow, or Friday will be continuation of the trip.

You know It's Hot When...

... I stand in front of a fan to dry my hair instead of a blow dryer.

... I drink beer instead of wine (beer placed in freezer for aprox. 15 min. is ideal)

How you all doing today?

I hope that this crazy weather is not affecting you as much as it is us. At this time, the corn in the fields is probably going to be chopped down. You might as well look forward to prices of anything that uses corn in any way, shape or form, to go up.

Suggest eating rice and wheat for duration.

My husband and I decided that we need to get away. And not just a few hundred miles, this time. This time it will have to be over 1,000 miles.

I knew we were looking at Montana, because at this report, they are not in floods or fire danger, so I think we'll be safe.

I didn't know that my husband was going to do this, but he actually booked us a room at Glacier Park Lodge. He wanted to get St. Mary's but it was booked. In fact, this one was too. He didn't even think he'd get the night he wanted. He gave them some dates, and lo and behold! They had one room for one night left!

He came into my office to announce "We're going to be staying in Glacier Park Lodge on the 5th of August!"

I was so excited and surprised tears burst to my eyes. He isn't one to make arrangements like this. He had to prod himself into doing it, and he was doubtful about even getting a room. So, good for him for getting up the courage to calling and talking to them. The woman said that they were having rain when he called. Ah! Rain! What is that????

So, I've got 9 more days to drive, and hopefully someone will take the remainder of my runs so I don't have to worry. I've been envisioning us on a long journey. I knew it was going to happen. We both like those long interstate road trips, winding up in a new state by night fall, and possibly 3 states away from Illinois on the first night.

Oh, here's a picture of the pool:

Hope you're Monday went well!