Going to the Sun and Beyonddddd

Being behind in the Random musings blog and having managed to lose what was a wonderfully well written (well I thought it was OK) blog on the Oregon section of our trip I’m going to do what I did in 2012. BLOG DAILY!!!!

Tipi sleeping was supposed to be comfortable and quiet and dark and we expected to be rewarded with a great night’s sleep. The former and latter were true but unfortunately Glacier Under Canvas was situated adjacent to the Burlington and Santa Fe (BNSF) railway line so we were regularly reminded of just how busy train traffic still is in the North West of the USA.

Clickety clacks not withstanding we did enjoy the single sleeping bag stretcher accommodation and we were ready for an early start of what was a LOOOONG drive! Going to the Sun Road is an apt name for a highlight after highlight journey. Eighty kilometres (50 miles) took us 3 hours but we probably took less time than it deserved! And this is why!!!

Grizzly bear signs and warnings are everywhere throughout Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks but Ursus arctos horibilis had eluded us all the way but! In the words of Paul Roos “there it is”!!!

Our grizzly was cute. Not sure it will remain that way but it (not certain whether is was a boy or a girl) was cute for the time being and as the “bear jam” showed she/he was certainly popular.

A quick in and out of Swift Current and Many Glacier showed us a perhaps stop on our way back east and we were out of the aptly named for now Glacier National Park. They will be hoping that Tony rAbbott is right and there is no global warming after all because research is showing the demise of the glaciers in the park by 2050.

Crossed the border at Chief Mountain Border Crossing and we almost sang O Canada when the very cheery border gate official greeted us so warmly!

Driving through a series of very productive Alberta ranches with hay being raked and baled everywhere in many cases they were complete with busy apiaries (surrounded by bear fences) we headed west on Highway 3. By the way, Highway 3 will take us all the way to Vancouver!

Entering British Columbia at the Crows Nest pass we started travelling through country lacking the dramatic scenery of the past 2 weeks. We were heading for our friends Debbie and Peter at Fruitvale for the night. The long drive was worth it, a great night with lovely hosts who had prepared a sumptuous feast of salmon and fresh seasonal vegetables. And a desert that needs to be seen to be believed!

Good places, good people, good times!!!