Before we left the USA we decided to pop our Wal-Mart cherry, finally try a five layered dip and treat Fred to four new tyres (cheaper than in Canada) .
The overnight stay in Wal-Mart wasn’t looking too wise (near a busy, noisy road and a very unfriendly neighbour with his dog) but then we got talking to a couple of Kiwis and the beer started flowing. We were joined by two Canadians and were having a great laugh, then suddenly it was 12.30 – oops! After that we heard no traffic and slept like babies through a thunderstorm. What a great night!
The five layer dip did not disappoint either. It was a good job we left it till the end of our stay in the USA or we’d be buying one every week!
The tyres took a lot longer than expected to be fitted but we got there in the end. It also gave Pete chance to swap his brake levers around on his brand new Wal-Mart bike. His previous forks were moving so much he was worried that they were going to snap …… so he took it back to Wal-Mart, with the receipt, and they agreed to swap it as it was less than 90 days. Can you believe it?
So new tyres, new bike, lots of groceries and a few stashed bottles of wine and we were off. We stayed near Seeley Lake and then in Lolo National Foest, by West Glacier, on the way and instantly were glad of our mosquito proof window coverings we fashioned from screen material and magnets – thank you Karen for the idea.
Glacier National Park was very busy but we managed to stop at some lovely spots. Unlike the kids on tour with their selfie sticks and sunroofs.
First was Lake McDonald with its multi-coloured pebble shore. I could have jumped in for a swim right there.
The drive along McDonald Creek and up The Loop was pretty spectacular.
At Logan Pass we were entertained during our packed lunch by a cute marmot gathering for her nest or young.
You could really see the U shaped valley from the glacial erosion from the Highline Walk.
And then we walked, partly through snow, to Hidden Lake Overlook. We were greeted by quite a few mountain goats.
A quick stop at St Mary lake and then just as we were leaving the park, we saw a young black bear close enough for a zoomed photo. Amazing!
We stayed the night in the Blackfeet Indian Reservation at a campground called Chewing Black Bones – luckily the view of Lower St Mary Lake made the campground much nicer than the name suggests. The tippees were cool too.
Unfortunately a long thunderstorm put pay to my keeness to rent a SUP for the evening.
And now to Canada!!!! After quite a few serious questions at the Canadian border we were asked “So if I wanted to go to the IOM for the TT, how do I find out where to stay and where to watch?”. We were in!!!!
We crossed to the other side of the park, the Canadian side is called Waterton Lakes National Park. This park suffered a big fire in 2017 which wiped out over 1/3 of all the area so much of it is still closed for restoration. Luckily the fire didn’t touch the amazing Prince of Wales Hotel.
The road to Red Rock Parkway is currently closed to vehicles but not bicycles so we headed up the valley on our bikes. We were surrounded by so many wild flowers – possibly more than usual with the lack of tree cover.
We got back to the van which we’d parked at Middle Waterton Lake and there was only one thing to cool down. I quickly changed into my bikini and jumped off the boat dock. My it was very chilly but very refreshing! Pete dangled his feet in, like the other sensible people around us.
So for our first night in Canada we tried a private campground, but there were no non-serviced sites available. The guy recommended a parks owned site at Payne Lake -oh wow! So glad his site was full. Our lakeside spot for $24 was just amazing and the sunset across the lake was breathtaking.
Welcome to Canada!!!!!!
