Going-to-the-Sun

The latest leash

We purchased a new leash in Helena to replace the one Peyton chewed through.  We had barely left the city limits of Helena, on our way to Glacier National Park, when we discovered that the little beaver had chewed through the new leash!! Aghhhhh!!  He is so sneaky about it.  He’ll have a chew toy close by, so you think he is chewing on the toy, until all of a sudden he is loose and out the door of the coach.  Sure hope this chewing phase ends soon!

On the way to our RV park we drove through the Flathead Indian Reservation and on the east side of Flathead Lake, the largest fresh water lake west of the Mississippi.  The drive was pretty and there were cherry orchards all along the lake. 

Dinosaur Footprints?? Glacier National Park

McDonald River, Glacier National Park

On Wednesday we got up and drove the 10 miles from our RV park in Hungry Horse, MT to Glacier National Park.  At the gates we were told that there had been landslides (10 of them!) on the main road through the park (Going-to-the-Sun Road).  As a result, only 16 miles of the 50 mile drive was open.  We made this drive, mostly along the shore of McDonald Lake up to a point called Avalanche.  It was pretty, but not spectacular.  The side opposite the lake had been hit hard with wildfires in 2003.  We had great lunch at a restaurant in Hungry Horse, including a piece of delicious huckleberry/peach pie.  Then we went back to the coach, found a Laundromat, and did laundry. 

Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park

 

Buffalo on the road to Saint Mary, MT

Glacier and run-off, Glacier National Park

Small herd of mountain goats, Glacier National Park

Mountain goat, Glacier National Park

The next day we found out that the road was still closed, so we drove around to the other side of the park (about 85 miles) and saw the first real buffalo we have seen on the trip.  

We started up Going-to-the-Sun Road from the eastern end.  We took a picnic lunch this time.  We got to Logan’s Pass (about 18 miles), where the road was blocked.  While we were looking around at that site, they opened the road!  We are so glad they did.  The scenery from that pass back to Avalanche was spectacular!  You could see lots of snow, glaciers, deep valleys, and tree covered mountains.  There were waterfalls everywhere, apparently from melting snow or glaciers.  The most exciting thing we saw was a small herd of mountain goats.  One of them crossed the road right in front of us.  So cool!!  We ended the day with huge ice cream cones.  Lannas really likes huckleberry ice cream!

Off to Montana

Well, we are off again!  We left Wichita Falls on Wednesday, July 11 headed northwest.  The first day Lannas drove over 500 miles, only stopping for gas, lunch and a few potty breaks.  We stayed at a wonderful KOA south of Pueblo, Colorado.  They had good dog runs, lots of beautiful grass, trees, and a fitness center (which I did use!). 

Railroad Station in Cheyenne

The next day we drove 240 miles to Cheyenne, Wyoming.  It is an interesting town… established in 1867 to be the home of the Union Pacific Railroad, it is the largest city in the state (around 60,000 people) and the capital.  It is also home to the largest outdoor rodeo in the US – Cheyenne Frontier Days.  The rodeo is scheduled to begin on July 23, so one of the museums we wanted to go see was closed due to a Cheyenne Frontier Days committee meeting.   However, we did go to the old railroad station, the capitol (lovely), the Botanical Gardens, and took a trolley tour of the city.  Lannas grilled steaks and we had a great dinner!  

Wyoming Capitol in Cheyenne

Botanical Gardens in Cheyenne

After two nights in Cheyenne, we left Saturday morning and drove to Sheridan, Wyoming.  It is right on the northern border of Wyoming.  This KOA did not have cable and trees on our narrow site prevented us from getting satellite reception…. so, we read and surfed the internet.  We left the next morning headed for Helena, Montana. 

Northern Wyoming and southern Montana is beautiful….wide, rolling hills as far as the eye can see.  Along the way we stopped at the Little Bighorn Battlefield.  You will probably remember that this is where Custer made his last stand against several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors.  It is also a National Cemetery.  Interesting and moving site. 

Monument to Soldiers Who Died at Little Big Horn

Monument to Indians Who Died at Little Big Horn

National Cemetery at Little Big Horn

Along the way Peyton managed to chew through another leash!  He had lots of chew toys, but I guess the leash was handy and he needed a chew. 

Today we took a trolley tour of Helena with a delightful young woman as our guide.  They have some beautiful old homes here.  She said at one time in the distant past they had more millionaires based on population than any city in the country… I think Wichita Falls had that distinction at another time in the distant past. J  We visited the capitol and had a late lunch at a lovely little bistro recommended by our tour guide.

Statue of Early Territorial Governor of Montana

Capitol of Montana

Inside the Capitol Dome