Vacation installment number 2

We left N. Dakota and headed into Montana kind of following the trail of Lewis and Clark.  Not our ancestors but it sounds great.  

 We arrived in Glacier National park after a day and a half of driving.  We arrived too early to check into our room at the park so we went exploring at a nearby lake.  These waterfalls were beautiful to look at.  There were some young kids jumping off the cliffs and enjoying their 'youth'.  Bud and I just watched and enjoyed the beauty of the water and the youthful joy of their jumps.

 We were in 'mountain country'.

 And of course along with the mountains you get a few mountain goats.

 We stayed at one of the old lodges inside the park.  This was one of the views from our balcony.  This was a place to slow down and enjoy the beauty of nature.  Our room was small but nice but no TV or internet and very limited cell phone service.  Maybe sometimes all you need is a great view and a book to read.  We enjoyed both.

 We had heard that the best way to see the park was to go on a tour.  These old 'Red Bus' tours are the traditional way to see the park.  It was a bit rainy when we started out so the top was covered up but as the day progressed the weather improved and they were able to roll back the cover and let the sunshine in.  We were not allowed to stand and look as we were underway but the bus stopped frequently and we had a great driver that gave us all the 'local stories' so it was a good tour.

 We stopped at a number of the old lodges that were built soon after the park was established.  They are very quaint.

 The interior was similar in most of the lodges.  Kind of a rustic look to go along with the landscape.

 Of course the scenery was beautiful  It is hard to capture in a picture but it was stunning.

 The look of mountains and lakes is always an attractive scene.

 This is the interior of the lodge where we spent two nights.  The tall trees were brought from California many years ago.  It was a spectacular place.

Huckleberry grow wild here so we did abandon our diet one morning on our way out of the park and stop for Huckleberry stuffed French toast.  It was a great treat and worth the calories.

After two days in the park we headed out stopping in this little town for lunch.  I even found a couple of quilt shops in Kilespell, just outside the park and around Flathead Lake area.  Bud was very tolerant and waited for me as I explored those shops and managed, of course, to find some treats.  Nothing to unique but I always like to explore quilt shops in different locations.  I did find a nice pattern that fits into my new passion of Art Quilts.  For those of you that are quilters, check out this website  www.Sew-be-it.biz  I liked her work and was inspired by her ideas.

So there you have it, the segment of our trip that included Glacier National Park.  Only a few more installments to go.  I hope you enjoy traveling with us.