GOING-TO-THE-SUN ROAD!!!

We arrived in Montana a few weeks ago, and I hate to complain in paradise...but....

In the last 2+ weeks we have fixed the refrigerator, 3times; replaced the ice maker, 2 times; installed a new fresh water hose, only 1 time; ate/cooked food out of a cooler and someone else's freezer for 10 days (at least) and wound up flat on my back for 3 days thanks to a pair of arthritic hips. In the middle, and certainly not the least, my dad had several falls and is now nicely recovering from a hospital stay of 4 days. So we have been in the towns of Helena, Polson, and Kalispell with little to share in the way of a tourism report. We can tell you about some helpful folks and good repairmen, however.

So, today we made a short 20 mile trip to Coram, MT, which is just 7 miles west of the west entrance of Glacier Natl. Park. Nice drive, great RV park, more glorious weather, all systems still working, attitudes nicely adjusted.

We were set up before noon in perfect time for an easy at-home lunch and then a drive to Glacier. The Crown of the Continent is well named! The rugged glacial-shaped peaks really do resemble a crown climbing to the continental divide at Logan Pass. The famed Going-To-The-Sun Road is open every summer, between the end of June and early to late September if there are no avalanches or mudslides. This is a narrow window! One we missed several years ago, in fact the road never completely opened that year. Going-To-The-Sun Road is a 50 mile climb and descent from the town of West Glacier and St. Mary's on the east side. It bisects the American portion of the International park. There are less than 10 drivable entrances to the 1800 square mile expanse. Only 1 road connects two sides. All others are an in and out situation, at best. There are countless places to hike in and out for as long as the body and terrain allow. For me, that is a very limited proposition.

I only took 75 pictures today! Russell took a few also. Our drive started in West Glacier, along the south side of McDonald Lake and then climbing up from the Flathead River into the "Crown" of the Rockie Mountains. Wildflowers, Alpine meadows, craggy mountain ridges, waterfalls, more waterfalls, and glaciers. We stopped at the visitor center at Logan Pass for a walk around. The drive up included a 30 minute delay waiting for our turn on a 1-lane road due to construction. It was nearing 4:00, long time since lunch, long drive back. So we headed west. We will leave early another day to make the full 100 mile round trip.

As we neared town I read really good reviews of a local pizza restaurant. They were right! We had a fabulous BBQ chicken pizza with pineapple and onion. Home by 6:00 with a sip of wine in the shade and breeze of the evening. What a nice day!