Glacier Park. Day 1

Last night there was an almost full moon.  It was nice and relaxing sit outside after the sun went down and have a glass of wine and watch the moon come up over the mountains.

This morning we wert to the Welcome Center just inside the park as and got some information. We decided to try some hiking at Logan Devide. During our two hikes we saw mountain goats, big horn sheep, a distant brown bear, and some marlotts. Not bad for our first time out into the wilds. a

I have included some pictures that pretty much speak for themselves. Tomorrow we may go to the Canadian side of the park.

Bozeman, Montana to Saint Mary, Montana

We drove through Bozeman pass which was our first high elevation over 5750 feet.  Impressive.  Bozeman the town looked like a fun place to spend some shopping time.  We had to drive through the Main Street area to get to our camping site.  It was a Friday night and many people were out and about. Shops were opened.  Many restaurants and eateries with outside seating were filled with customers.  But, we had bought some fish and Frank was going to make fish tacos for dinner.  We could of gone to the nearby hot springs but it was late and we needed to get up early to be our way for the final leg of the destination.

Soon after leaving Bozeman today we exited the interstate for the first time since we started our trip.  Being on a two-way highway creates a whole new experience.  Suddenly you are closer to the scenery. It engulfs you where before it kept its distance somewhat.   We are heading farther and farther north.  I saw an antelope this morning loping across a dry field leaving a trail of dust.   Otherwise, the land looks green and gold.  Have seen a couple Magpies flying over the ditches.  Lots of wildflowers which I am not familiar with.

White Charolais cattle juxtaposed against white cumulus clouds makes a striking picture.  I will see if I can get a decent photo of it.

Passed a grass fire that several fire trucks were putting out.  Fire danger is high right now.  Very dry air which feels pretty good after leaving the high humidity of Iowa earlier this week. 

Had a precarious six mile stretch of road construction.  I am glad it is Saturday and the crews are not working.  Road construction has not been bad overall.

We must be getting closer to Canada.  There is definitely a French influence in the names of the towns.  Dupuyer.  Choteau.  As we drive on this plains area which is flat and prairie like, the mountains are constantly to our right. There are fields of cattle which are grazing and some irrigated hayfields.

Just so everyone knows, we did arrive at our destination of Saint Mary, Montana at about 4:00.  Tomorrow we will venture into Glacier National Park to the welcome center and get our bearings. It was hot until the sun went behind the mountains and then the temperature dropped quickly about 8:00.  At that time everyone came out of their campers and tents and started cooking. 

Adventures start tomorrow.

BigHorn Mountains

Spearfish, South Dakota to Bozeman, Montana

Had a difficult time getting going once again this morning. Thinking about the long day ahead makes it hard to roll out of bed. However, the countryside has changed considerably into grass covered rolling hills with pine trees and cottonwoods. There are lots of ravines and vast skyscapes. I suppose that is why it is called Big Sky country. We drive through through Wyoming for sometime until we head into Montana on Interstate 90. Frank is doing a wonderful job driving up and down these hills...and these are not the mountains. Starting to spot sagebrush. I may have to get out my orange cowboy hat today. It is fun to imagine the cattle drives that went through this area in the 1880s from Texas . I can envision many western movies being filmed out here. Wonder where they filmed the Lone Ranger? I can see galloping down these hills on a white horse. 11:00. Coming to the BigHorn Mountain range. There is snow on top of several of the mountains. Frank and daughter LeAnn rode through the BigHorns on their bikes eight years ago. Becky and I went as the sag wagon and drove the popup camper. Stopped at the Buffalo, Wyoming Welcome Center and visited with an old teacher from Orange City, Iowa. He was now the Welcome Center welcomer. He was very friendly and was Dutch which makes sense being from Orange City. I took the photo of the bronze sculpture of the cowboy on the horse, called "cool water" at that location. We passed the Little Bighorn site on the Crow Indian Reservation. We had toured this years before when the girls were little.

Lake Mills to Spearfish

We left Lake Mills at 7:30 a.m. Originally. We're leaving at 6:00. Unfortunately, our block out curtains did their job and we slept in. So, a later start than we anticipated. Going to try and get to Spearfish, South Dakota by evening. 10 hours on the road. It was hard to leave home as usual. So many details to attend to. What to take along..what is excessive ...what is necessary...what is a maybe. Do I need to bring along the cowboy hat that I haven't worn for three years because I am going to Montana and what better place to wear a cowboy hat? Or, will the hat just take up space and I will feel foolish wearing it being a Midwestern Iowan trying to emulate a westerner?Weighty decisions. I left Rondo with Becky to take care of. We were going to take him but you can't take dogs on the National Park trails. So, it would be long days just sitting in the camper. I will miss him. We have bonded from my last 10 day trip to Grand Rapids, MN.

3:00. Miles of billboards and hay-bails, bug splats and 99 degree temperatures. Hot, windy but much drier air than I left in Iowa this morning. Very few crops. The rolling hills meet the puffy clouds at the horizon. Cows graze on pasture land. Many billboards advertising Wall Drug, Badlands and the Petrified Gardens. I forgot how beautiful the Black Hills are. Unfortunately we will be leaving tomorrow for central Montana. Frank and I are going to return soon for an extended stay here. Staying at a KOA tonight. No reservations for tomorrow. Living on the edge. Te sun is down, it is cooling off, the time has changed to an hour earlier somewhere by Wall Drug.

Lazy Sunday afternoon with the pets.

Painting in progress

Another oil painting on stretched canvas. Not finished yet. But, you can see where it is going. Need more detail/texture in the meadow area. Took this photo outside Keister, MN last fall, 2011.