It’s Saturday at Glacier in the Fall 

Today we followed the river from Columbia falls and down Blankenship road to west glacier we stopped where the 3 forks of Flathead river meet. People were on dinghies down there

Vince spotted a snake it was thin black grey about 2 foot 

We followed the road to west entrance and stopped at Agpar village at the end of McDonald lake 

It was lovely to sit in the autumn sun and chill out with an ice cream and Montana  coffee.

There were kayakers and people swimming it looked so pleasant and relaxing 

Next west glacier to McDonald lake

We saw loads of butterflies today mostly orange ones and dragon flies. I’m trying to photograph the ideal forest picture… very hard

We stopped up above the McDonald falls

then headed back to white fish

Hungry fish reservoir going to the sun road and glacier Logan loop visitor centre

Friday at glacier n p

First stop to buy deet fly repellent then cooper mountain coffee from a coffee shack drive through. I got bitten yesterday 😎

Next stop flathead reservoir dam at hungry horse town and the lake below

We saw a red dragonfly, humming birds and other tiny birds 

Hungry horse lake was pretty

We entered the west side of glacier 

The going to the sun road  today was more enjoyable as we knew what to expect and not so fearful

First we stopped at McDonald lake . The water was so still and perfect reflections

Then the climb up zigzagged roads….

At the magnificent summit we were able to get to the visitors centre and explore the paths up there. 

We saw many wild flowers and the views were out of this world.

This time we did not travel to the east but returned down the going to the sun road 

On the way back to apartment we both felt the world is a beautiful place 

Road to the sun glacier national park 

We managed to get a pass to the park last night and so we were allowed in the west side today

We stopped at the viewing points and got loads of photos of McDonald’s lake and the famous coloured pebbles

McDonald falls was fabulous. Vince went down to be at the waters edge. Not me!

We stopped at Logan’s peek and saw the steep loop trail 

After climbing a short way we stopped at angels peek

Then heavens view

We were almost at the top 

Next we still climbed and then got to the visitor centre. It was a full car park so we we sadly moved on

At the next available stop we seemed to be behind the that mountain and looking at fresh scenes. Vince truly had driven me to the top of the world.

Heavy runner mountain 8610ft 

At the top the views were immense I don’t think my photos show the scale and depth

It was wonderful a huge amphitheatre

And down we went descending into st Mary’s lake and the great divide

Wild goose island is a tiny island within the lake. The water is so deep navy blue in colour. Then a long but easy drive back to our mountain apartment 

Hope you like the photos….

Glacier park east and entrance two medicine lake 

Looking good today, a nice autumn feel and the sun is shining 

As we couldn’t manage to get a  pass last night with all the events we weren’t able to enter the west side of the park and so we headed east 

We stopped at a few places to admire the views along the river. The aspen trees are turning golden quickly now 

Izaac Walton lodge is an historic famous train stop for hikers. We explored here and had coffee and danish pastries 

Next stop bear creek 

Now onto two medicine lake.  The temp was 64*f but sitting in the sunshine on a grassy bank was perfect just relaxing by the lake.

The towering mountains are dominating the landscape and this is the continental divide. We are coming here again tomorrow and taking the higher road further along. It was nice to have a lazy day

Travelling from Cody Wyoming to Kalispell Montana

We laughed as the country song that came on was “Hey good looking what you got a cooking how’s about cooking something up for me” we both spontaneously started singing it! Funny what you have stored up your memory 

We left in a warm very windy day and a gorgeous sunrise. Saw two bald headed eagles on a dead tree . The road to Billings was flat and easy driving apart from the wind gusting….

then the wind abruptly dropped.

Once we got to Billings we picked up the freeway 90 and sat nav said turn left in 256 miles 😏

We passed by masses of fuel wagons on the train lines going on for ever!

Past Bozeman the road rambles on across plains of grasslands

Montana is in the mountains, the Rockies and the freeway climbs through rocky out crops with high mountains in the distance 

We went through smoke and thunder and eventually we left the highway to get to kalispell now only 2 hours to go .

Long story short after 7 hours travelling we got to our hotel and……

Found it burnt down in April. 

So on booking.com we found an apartment in the ski village up a mountain.

After great difficulties we got a code to enter and we are here for 6 nights.

More news tomorrow 😩😩our apartment is lovely so don’t worry xx

A Day in Yellowstone NP 

Our last full day today and we explored the buffalo bills state park

and then into Yellowstone via the east entrance on the sylvan pass following the Shoshone river 

We stopped at the lakes above at 8530 ft. 

It was nice and cool up there. We wondered where the bears were. The ranger told us it was too hot for them and to come back 7pm time

Now we were about to descend and stopped at an outlook over the great yellowstone lake. A lot of recent burnt tree damage here 

I got talking to a man who told me his father , when he was alive , had all the lenses and camera gear. I asked him if he had been a photographer and he said…. 

No he was just a simple farmer who liked to goof around!

So that’s what me and grandad/vince are doing with our cameras! Just goofing around as we travel 😂

We stopped by steamboat point. Ugh sulphur smells coming from the lakeside below.

Mosquitoes are biting me today, only me no one else! I have fly repellent on but still being bitten.

We saw loads of dragonflies flying around and the autumn colours are appearing now. 

We returned the same way, (as to do a huge circle was too many miles and we have a long journey tomorrow.)

We have found out the thick haze we keep finding since Idaho falls is smoke in the atmosphere, we should have realised. This is why we are getting deep sunsets.

Well today’s blog has been more like a chat to you all with a few pics thrown in . 

Hope you enjoyed reading it 

I will enjoy my last breakfast here tomorrow surrounded by lions rhinoceros antelope zebra warthog panther crocodile and a huge elephant head! Bizarre…..

So here are some of my images of the rodeo. We had a brilliant time there!

because it was so dark and the lit stadium my photos are not competiton standard …very grainy…

but hope you enjoy…

Chief Joseph highway bear tooth and Yellowstone 

(Wow the rodeo last night was brilliant. I’m going to make an extra page tonight just for the rodeo )

Today we travelled along scenic highways 

First chief Joseph’s scenic highway. It starts 20 minutes drive away  from Cody

We soon started climbing again we met the thick haze and not good visibility 

We reached the peak and saw where the Americans and First Nations had a stand off. We Read the info of this sad story

We met the couple we sat next to at the rodeo last night up there! In

Next we met a couple from Switzerland v who left home in may and don’t plan to return until October. She seemed older than us and they had a hired campervan they had been all round Canada Yukon and Alaska now doing USA. Lovely lady !

So we found a gorge and took pics from the bridge overhead

This road is so panoramic 

We turned steeply towards bear tooth pass and the sun began to break through the haze 

Bear tooth highway is very high in these mountains up to “the top of the word cafe” at 11000+ ft

Bear tooth lake was stunning. Last time we saw it it was frozen in may 2015

We turned back to go towards Yellowstone np entrance.

We have met so many chatty friendly people today.

We stopped for a sandwich at Cooke city.

We entered by the north east gate into Yellowstone to the Lamar valley.

In the Lamar valley we saw many bison in big herds all along the valley 

It was right to see them in their proper environment it made your heart feel good.

 

Back to Cody before sunset 

Unexpected trip Cody to Billings Montana 

Annoyingly we had to make a 100mile trip to Billings Montana to the airport to exchange our rental car at Avis in the airport. (Poor tyre tread and warning light on dashboard for no airbags. To be safe we agreed to pick up another car at Billings )

The drive was very easy and satnav helped us find the way. We crossed very neat organised arable farms. 

At roadsides you could buy corn, peaches,tomatoes, apples and huckleberries. All the hay and silage was stacked ready for winter. Everywhere was golden and yellow and green 

We are back at the hotel now and I should explain what an unusual place it is 

The entrance is full of taxidermy jungle animals and huge thigh bones all engraved and African artifacts displayed on all the walls and bannisters. 

I ate my breakfast with a huge elephants head behind me 😂 you can’t get round to some tables easily as a lion tiger and crocodile are in the way. You don’t believe me? I shall take some photos on my phone to prove the extraordinary entrance dining area.

Tonight we are going to a rodeo. It is their last one of the season so we are lucky to get tickets they finish aug31!

I’ve never been to one before and feel I should have cowgirl boots and a cowgirl hat….. I’ll let you know later how we get on. 

We went through 3 states today. Idaho, Montana and now Wyoming.

Idaho falls to Cody Wyoming

Another early start as we continue our travelling to Cody. The land heading north is fertile and farming land we were following the route on highway 20  via west entrance to yellow stone np

Then through the Targhee national forest.

We were now in the giant caldera that is Yellowstone. One day this whole area will erupt .

We stopped at Ernie’s cafe for a fab breakfast this is 2 days running!

So into Montana through west entrance of Yellowstone np and into Wyoming.

We were doing so well then kept stopping for the views of Madison river. The water was so clear and the temperature was morning coolness. So perfect ….

We headed towards Norris and stopped by hot springs. There were dragon flies and steam floating from the pools.

The river gibbon meanders over a plateau 

The water is warm from hot springs a man was fishing. 

We were up on the top now

A little further on we saw bison 

One crossed the road towards us so we had to move back! The one across the river was safer to take 🤣 there was a herd of them further along.

Now we reached the Yellowstone River 

Another stop for coffee and then on to Cody via sylvan pass very steeply out of the east entrance of Yellowstone 

 

Buffalo bill state park and a huge reservoir greeted us before a tunnel through the rocks and out to see Cody town

Sorry all the photos are at the end I’m a bit tired after the journey to sort them!