Star Date: 09/30/22

Awoke to sunshine, on the rood early.  Only into the 70’s today.  We are traveling I-29 to I-80 east.  Today, we are passing through three states, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois. We cross the Missouri River at the South Dakota and Iowa border one more time and finally say good-by as we travel east and it winds its way to the Mississippi River.  We see multiple Wind Mill farms through Iowa. The traffic gets heavy as we move east toward Chicago along I-80.  The terrain changes to looking more like Ohio with rolling hills and lots of farms including barns.   Cross the Mississippi River at the border of Iowa and Illinois.  We have one more time change tomorrow, bringing us back to Eastern Standard Time at home.  At least 13 degrees cooler today but sun is still hot and not much fall color change yet.  Staying at a Fairfield Inn in Peru, Ill.  Ate dinner at Red Lobster, haven’t been in one in many years.  Cheddar biscuits are still the best.

Long day of driving tomorrow but we will be in our own beds tomorrow night.

Looking forward to catching up with everyone.

Nightly night.

Miles Driven today: 554

Total Miles Driven: 5093

Star Date: 09/29/22

Awoke early to rising dawn, another clear sunny and very warm day ahead.  The room was very comfortable and they even had travel snack bags for us on leaving.  We leave Buffalo, WY, and head directly east on I-90.  We cross the weird rock landscape with cattle and crops among the sage brush.  The Big Horn Mountains we had crossed the day before is one of the isolated mountain ranges east of the Rocky Mountain spine that runs north to south.  In between these ranges are broad valleys where most of the population live.  Wyoming may have even less population than Alaska at this time, 500k or so.  We are thrilled to be able to see Devil’s Tower in the distance, a lone high cone of an old volcano.  We visited there some years ago and loved it.  It is where Close Encounters of the Third Kind was filmed.  We cross over the Missouri River, again.  At this point it is even wider and more plagues about Lewis and Clark Expedition.  WY has one Native Reservation.  We pass by the Badlands which we enjoyed on our way to Ak and can see Prairie Dogs along the roadside.

We cross into South Dakota and now we are in Central Time, one hour from home, three hours from AK.  First area is the Black Hills, so named for the thick growth of dark green pines on the low rolling hills.  There are a couple peaks in here around 5k feet, but this will be the last of high elevations as we travel east.  This is where Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse Mountain carvings are that we have visited in the past.  We pass Sturgis where during height of Covid the Gov allowed the annual motor cycle rally to take place.  Thousands of bikers come annually to this little town for a week of partying and close encounters.  Wonder what the Covid rate was for visitors and town people.

South Dakota is not a populous state and there are several Native American Reservations in the state.  The landscape is becoming more prairie grasslands; once an ancient area of tall grass and microcosm of animals, now plowed and grazed.  The feds have reserved a few areas of the ancient grasslands for prosperity.  The prairie winds start out from the west, pushing us forward but turn from the south and now we must struggle to hold the car in the lane.   The giant windmills are turning like crazy.  This is Little House on the Prairie location where the stories came from.  Lots of crops, interestingly, lots of seed corn.  The land is mostly flat and not very interesting along the highway.   We got up to 88 degrees but near end of the drive going east we dropped to 77 degrees.  It looks like we will be more in the 60’s by the time we get home.  Ohio has had a cooling period.  And we are ready for it.  We are staying at the Fairfield Inn in Sioux Falls, SD.  Dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  It is full of travelers.  We have seen license plates from all over making the trek east.

Talked to Seth today.  He has a work function all week in Pittsburgh.  All is well.

Tomorrow, we drop south on I-29 and pick up I-80 going east into Iowa.  I-90 takes a northern turn and is further driving.  Eventually 90 and 80 will join up around Chicago and carry us to Hudson, separating from 90 and ending on 80 turnpike.

Big day of driving tomorrow again. 

Two more days, home on Saturday.  We will have our very own toilets and not have to suffer strange toilets, many of them pit.  Don’t have to get up early and face a long day of driving.  Can run around the house in pj’s all day if we want.  Such a luxury.  Looking forward to catching up with friends and family.

Thankful for travel mercies and kind people.

Nighty night. 

miles driven today: 562

Total miles driven: 4539

Star Date: 09/28/22

Awoke in the dark getting out early as dawn breaks.   Leave our great hotel and head back into the Park in order to get to the other side to get to the route we need.  27 degrees in the park.  Full sun, don’t see any different animals, but dodging lone bison bulls on the road.  Have never been through the east gate and what a surprise.  We climb into 8000 ft pass leaving Lake YELL behind and full view of the distant pointy Grand Teton Mountains.  The area we travel through has seen a big fire and now recovering.  We see a few deer and they are pretty tiny.  The trip downward is full of tight turns but the views are incredible of high fir covered peaks in this tight valley.  We travel on into Wyoming.  It is an understatement that this is the most diverse topography with rock shapes, colors, types of rock, it changes every few minutes.  The valley of the Shoshone River allows crop and cattle farming with irrigation.  But wherever the water doesn’t reach it is barren soil that sage brush wont’ even grow.  We pass through town of Cody, home of the largest in the world rodeo stampede.  Population around 10k and looks very affluent.  More touristy by the history of Wild Buffalo Bill Cody whose home is here and museum and other attractions.  Onward through the various rock formations there is fracking and drilling going on in the Big Horn Valley.  This is a geologist and paleontologist dream.  Pre-historic animal bones and tracks are plentiful here and well-studied ongoing.   There is mining for various minerals; just looking at the rocks you can pick them out.  There are signs identifying some of the rock formations.  One is 5 billion years old; most others are in the hundreds of millions of years old.  We climb into the Big Horn mountains.  The pass is 9666 feet above sea level, the highest mountains are 11-13k.  Again, the rock formations are formidable and constantly changing.

The temperature drops 25 degrees from the hot valley and as we descend it rises.  Up and down the pass are hairpin turns and big elevation changes.  They have places for trucks to safely ‘crash’ if their breaks fail.  We pull into Buffalo, WY and check into the Hilton, which is pretty new.  It is 82 degrees.  We have dinner at Bozeman Steak.  A very western themed place where locals and tourists alike go.  Lots of log and heads on the wall décor.  Big American flag hanging from the ceiling and another flag with some saying on it.  We know why Liz Cheney got kicked out.  We eat the local beef; rib steak and smoked brisket.  Good flavor but Wyoming beef have a tough life and their meat is a little that way.  I asked a young hostess on the way out about the weather.  She said, enough with the heat.  Let’s move on.  So, we’re not the only ones to notice it.

Heard from Brenna, lots of illness, health issues for them.  The germs are relentless.  We hope they feel better soon.  Got a message from Chugach electric and our apartment power was out for three hours but it should be okay.  Not much in the frig, freezer is packed and no one opening the doors.

Long days of driving ahead but it is straight controlled access highway so will go fast.  Saying good-by to wilderness, parks and secondary roads with all their strange character, scenery and local folk.

Three days to go.

Nighty night.

 

Miles driven today: 344

Total Miles Driven:  3977

Star Date: 09/27/22

Awoke around 6AM with sun coming over the mountains.  Want to get out early today to complete our tour of YELL and get back early to get ready for early tomorrow.  We have a very long day of travel.  We have to pass through the center of the park to get to the east entrance and then take secondary roads to Buffalo, Wyoming for the night.  From there it’s a short trip to I90 and that will carry us home, straight controlled access 70 MPH.  Didn’t know, tourists have 24-hour access to the park.  Would be fantastic to view stars but don’t want another night of dodging bison on the road in the dark.   And it is dark, no light whatsoever and many animals like coming out at night.  Camping would be the answer inside the park.

As we enter the super geyser areas they make dense fog in the 34 degree temperature.  It makes travel slow; once past its sunshine and clear skies.  We are making our way to Lake Yellowstone.   The road in this loop is not very good and there is construction and it mainly follows the continental divide at 8800 ft elevation; they need to move it; snow is around the corner.  We stop at Grant Visitor’s center near the southern gate.  It is located on Lake YELL and very beautiful.  It is not too far to Grand Teton Park outside this entrance.  We move on to the West Thumb portion of the lake.  This is the result of a huge historic volcanic explosion and is very deep.  This area still has active geysers, some are right along the shore.  The really big geyser is blocked off from tourists.  They found a human foot in there a few months ago and a police investigation is ongoing.  We wish them luck.  Some of the shoreline is very sheer rising up out of the water leftover from the volcano, looks like the sides of a bowl.

Driving on along the shore and it opens into Lake YELL, surrounded by mountains and very blue.  The YELL River has its headwaters from the lake.  We stop at Hotel Lake Yellowstone.  Incredibly beautiful turn of the last century; huge multi story with lots of trim white and painted a bright yellow.  We tour around the inside and it is just as beautiful as outside, many windows line the walls for full view of the lake and mountains.  A huge fireplace is surrounded by handcrafted ceramic tiles, lots of dark wood but still a light airy and elegant huge space and baby grand piano that is played nightly.  Have no idea what it costs to stay here but guess it’s a lot.

On around the shore to Fishing Bridge, a campground and large general store with food and souvenirs, built in the 1930’s but playing Janis Joplin?

We head north to the Hayden Valley where the YELL river runs through.  It is known for many different wildlife sightings.  We can only see bison on both sides.  We were told this is big mating area; thankfully the rut was July and August; the trees show signs of rutting bulls punching them. At one stop there is a car from Richland County in Ohio, but they get away before can find out who they are.  They are bound to know the Jarvis’s, especially Cheryl Jarvis.

As we drive out of the park some rangers have trucks partially blocking the road.  At first, we see about 5, 2–3-year-old bison walking together and then the line goes on and on.  Calves, cows, bulls all migrating to another area of the park.  They stay in an orderly line following the leader; appears to be about 100 animals.  We are able to carefully drive along side of them as they are a bit off the road.  The rangers were monitoring their movements, if they crossed the road it would have to be temporarily closed.

Arrive in town of West YELL and finally get the car washed.  Didn’t do a great job but dirt, dust and grime are mostly gone.  Don’t even ask about the interior.  CSI could use it for teaching classes.  Stop in one shop, owner says the summer has been very hit and miss, not happy about it.  With all the souvenir shops etc. and we only go to one!  But manage to investigate the shops inside the park.  On the way to our hotel, we can just see the pointy peaks of the Grand Teton Mountains in the distance.  It’s hot at 76 degrees.  Back at our hotel we walk to dinner across the river at Café Sabor, Mexican food, and have a nightcap on the hotel patio as the sun sets.   Someone boogey boards past us and another one is fishing; the trout are thick in this water.  Our hotel is exceptional so good respite in last travel days. The next days will be demanding and no sightseeing.  Arriving home will require adjustment to our reality with rest and time. NOT!  October calendar is already filling.

Four days to go. 

Nighty night.

Miles Driven Today:  190

Total Miles Driven: 3633

Views Today

Star Date: 09/26/22

Awoke to full sun and finally get to see the surroundings of our hotel.  We are sitting on the Henry River, good trout fishing.  And the patio site slightly above the slow-moving river, we can see fish surfacing and a heron trying to fish.  Later in the evening fly fishers will be in front of us trying their luck.  The breakfast was very good.  We think they are busy due to weekend but will see.  Leave for the northern park ring.

First stop is Norris Geyser field.  A lengthy board walk and forest trail take us through many types of activity.  The Steamboat geyser is here, much more explosive and greater volume.  Parking lot says if it throws water on our cars it can ruin paint jobs.  However, it infrequently erupts, last time on 18^th, and not likely today.  The ranger says YELL has 1000-3000 earthquakes a month and are monitored by scientists.  The last 3.9 quake coincided with Steamboat’s eruption.  The air is cook and sun is hot, the cool air intensifies the steam coming off the geyser field.  Further up the road we stop at Mammoth Springs, a slow weeping huge terrace geyser with limestone making white travertine stair steps.  This is the site of the old park headquarters; the housing and admin buildings from early 20^th century.  A large bull elk rests under a tree in the heat.  Much of the park services are closed for the season offering very little in food but gift shops are open.

Northward we get into higher elevations with incredible views; we are in wolf and grizzly territory.  We take a road less traveled hoping it would help us see more wildlife.  6 miles of narrow one-way road full of potholes and washboard.  Didn’t see a thing except a sign warning hikers to stay out of the area due to bear activity.  We take a short drive further up the north road into the Lamar Valley, known for wolf pack.  We can only go 6 miles because road is closed for construction being done to repair damage from the spring flood. Not sure what food sources they would find in this high arid elevation.  And then we see a herd of bison and a rutting antelope chasing a female.  Looks like dinner!  We didn’t see wolves but it is very warm and there is a lot of large side tipping trucks coming into the closed highway and disturbing this remote area.  This area of the park has less geyser activity and not visited by as many tourists.  The roads are in good shape but often hug the mountain side with no rails.  They say there are moose here but we only see one area they might remotely like, so we think they are rare.

We drive further down the northern loop to Canyon Village, lodge and visitor’s center for Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon.  We watch a movie on earthquakes and geysers.  Follow the rim trails to see the upper and lower Yellowstone River pass through a tight canyon with high falls, walls of bare yellow and multi colored rock and strange carved out shapes.  It is 400 plus feet deep and 2 ½ miles wide at points.  Once again YELL doesn’t fail to impress with even more natural wonders.  The park requires some backtracking to get in and out of it and we are ready for a rest.  Drive through West Yellowstone and back to our hotel.  We have dinner on the patio and the fire pit is lit.  A heron is fishing as well as 3 fishers, one is very successful, but catches and releases.  We have one more day here and nice not to have to pack up every morning as we have and will do again.

We have a very rigorous travel plan once we leave here, traveling long distances on I 90 east to get home by Oct 1.  Our trip as been such a whirl wind of travel experiences and long days but we have missed the grandkids every day, especially after spending so much time with them.  Seth seems happy to have us coming home.   He and Carrie will be off house watch duty.

Thankful for travel mercies and kindness of others.

Six days to go.

Nighty night.

 Miles Driven Today: 194

Total Miles Driven: 3443

Yellowstone Sites Seen Today

Views from our Hotel

Star Date: 09/25/22

Awoke to beautiful dawn sky colors over the river.  Hard to leave our little oasis.  Breakfast at the hotel included and left the latest so far at 9AM.  Heading south to Yellowstone.  We continue on the high plain of cattle and crops and follow along the Missouri River.  We pass through an area of ancient violent volcanoes, canyons of strange volcanic rock shapes.  This was a huge active field going on for hundreds of miles.  Montana is a geologist’s dream.  Even though we rise and fall on the road we are always 3000 plus feet above sea level.  We bypass the state capitol of Helena where they have dammed the river to make a huge lake.  Further south we are just a few miles west of the Missouri headwaters.  The mountain peaks that impact the flow are 10-11,000 feet in elevation.  We enter another high plains valley of the Madison River.  Cattle ranching and can see cowboys on horseback herding them.  The plain’s grasses are a bright amber gold in contrast with barren tumble weed open range and dark green pines.  We pass through the small town of Ennis known for fly-fishing.  From this point up to and inside Yellowstone fisher people are out in huge numbers trying to catch trout.  We have high peaks around us with light new snow.  No glaciers here and no snow pack left from last winter.  Snow pack is important to the arid land in order to live and irrigate.  The mountains do not look that tall as we are always over 3ooo feet above sea level.  We are in low 70’s with light prairie wind (which can blow hard; seeing drift fencing in some areas and chain up places for trucks).  The sun is hot.  The town along the way are tiny crossroads.  Montana only has 1.6 million population.

In the national forest, separate from Yellowstone, there is an area left from 1959 earthquake.  It released tons of rock over a campground, 28 people were never recovered and are buried under massive piles of rock slide.  The slide blocked the river and created a lake, dead trees lining it show how far it rose.  Yellowstone and the area surrounding it is very quake active and the steep mountain sides are loaded with loose eroded rock.  It will happen again.

We reach West Yellowstone, a small town outside the gate to the park.  It is the oldest national park in US and millions of visitors from all over the world come here.  We talk with a ranger and get a road map for the next two days.  the park mostly sits at 5000-8000 feet above sea level.  As we are mid afternoon we decide to take in some of the park.  It’s a huge park with two lane narrow roads.  We stop for views of Firehole River canyon and it is impressive views.  There are a lot of visitors today but manageable, different from summer.  On to two major stops for geyser fields.  Scary steam and bubbling, sometimes shooting scalding water and sulfur vapor. Some are mud pots, some are prismatic colors.  We see bison roaming in the distance.  There are brown and black bears, elk and a wolf pack in the north park.  We go as far as the Old Faithful geyser.  The iconic old stick structure lodge is still there but they have added a new lodge, a big building with cafeteria, gift shop and amenities complete with rocking chairs surrounding it.  There is a new beautiful Education Center.  OF is on it’s one and half hour eruption schedule.  Cue the lone bison feeding on grass in front of it posing for pics.  Aware but not bothered by the distanced crowd.  OF erupts into a huge, high fountain of scalding water and vapors.  It never fails in timing or to impress.  Same OF Pat saw 60 years ago on family vacation.  The bison had moved on, they know when it blows.

Leave the park on our same route.  Huge bison herd is gathered along the road, cows, calves and bulls.  Some are only about 50 feet away.  It is hard to stop taking pics and watching them.  Then they all line up and forge the river to get to their night spot.

Dusk is falling and we want to get off the road before dark, it is narrow and the animals come out.  We get stuck in a few places trying to negotiate the narrow road with lone male bison, trying to pass and not make them mad.  We haven’t seen signs of rut.  Can’t believe the park would even allow visitors in during that dangerous time; the bison wander wherever they want.

Leaving the park It is very dark on the road to our hotel. We are staying at another Springhill Suite 20 miles away.  It is brand new and very grand stone entrance.  The lobby is huge with high ceiling and a long table with lighted fall décor.  We can see a burning fire pit through the windows to outdoor patio.  Our room is decorated same as Great Falls but without the beautiful balcony view.  We order a late dinner from the bar and eat in the room.  Long day of driving, sightseeing and driving around bison.  We have the northern loop planned for tomorrow and it will take a day to do.  We are hoping to see some of the famous Yellowstone wolf pack.  Unfortunately, if they get out of the park boundary they will be shot.

So far, clear, warm weather and the huge volcanic caldera that is Yellowstone Park has so far not blown up into a cataclysmic explosion as it will someday.  But not tomorrow.  We have only had one day of light spitting rain so far, not sure that will last for the whole trip.

Seven days to go

Nighty night

Miles Driven Today:  398

Total Miles Driven:  3249

Sunrise over the Missouri River

Enroute to Yellowstone

Earthquake Lake

Yellowstone

Star Date: 09/24/22

We awoke to sunshine coming up over the mountains.  Not a cloud in the sky.  We leave our nice room and head for the border.  The highway into Calgary is 6 lanes and as we move south east the mountains begin to slide off into the west.  By the time we get to Calgary they are taunting us in the distance.  Calgary traffic is insane, home of the Calgary Stampede (big rodeo event) and expert ski jump area left over from earlier winter Olympics.  Calgary sits on a high plain about 3000 feet elevation.  All the amenities and issues of any metropolis.  We continue on the plains with huge ranches of wheat, horses and cattle; 1000 acre ranches.  We continue to see ghost mountains in the west, a continuation of the Rocky Mountains into the US and we will meet again.  Fun fact, the wild rose is the official flower of Alberta Canada.

It is very warm in mid 70s and sun is hot.  Fire danger is high with the dryness.  Not many trees but the prairie grasses and cut wheat and hay can burn.  We cross the border into US; we have to wait in line for an hour.  Many Albertans heading south in big RVs, for the winter?  The agent didn’t really want to know much and passed us right through.  This area of Montana keeps on the high plain but has outcropping of buttes and sometimes weird hills but mostly flat with cattle and crops.  There is a tourist stop call Smash in Buffalo Head Jump, it’s where early natives herded the wild buffalo off cliffs in order to harvest.  Wherever there are no crops tumble weed grows.  They have to irrigate here to have agriculture.

The mountains are now more visible east, south and west in the distance.  We are just east of Glacier National Park.  We arrive in Great Falls, Montana; at first not very impressed.  But our hotel is brand new and landscaping is beautiful and to our surprise it is on the Missouri River.  In fact, they put us in a room with a balcony overlooking a riverside park and the river, very beautiful.  But then there is a refinery upstream and train tracks in front of us.  The geese and gulls on the river are doing a lot of complaining.  Lots of trees here along the water but no fall color.  There are no trees outside the city.  Headwaters of the Missouri River are very close to us.  But the river is already quite wide and impressive.  Learned it is longest river in US over 2300 miles long, ending in the Mississippi River.  No wonder Lewis and Clark loved it and their expedition is mentioned in many tourist stops.

The room is fantastic and the shower/bathroom a real treat.  The guest laundry is on this floor, so easy.  We drive along the river to the Montana Club for dinner.  It is a restaurant and casino combo.  We have seen small casinos along our route.  Montana is known for beef and this is recommended.  Built to look like a ranch house with long veranda it is very busy, it is Saturday night.  We sit on the veranda waiting for our table.  The area is a real mixed bag of businesses, a refinery sits across the street.  The sunset is pink and purple.  Pat gets a 45 day dry aged steak, melts in the mouth.  Chuck gets prime rib and he is happy our treat and only meal for the day.  We didn’t have to worry about dressing for dinner, this crowd is very casual.  We close out the day on the room balcony, it’s dark and lights have come on along the river.  It is cooling fast.  Train tracks sit in front of us and a small train goes through sounding his whistle. Hope there’s not  a lot of that!  We can hear and see a fountain below us in an outdoor common area with fireplace and seating.   A full breakfast is included with our stay.

Driving to west gate at Yellowstone tomorrow.  Have to go in that way as north gate is closed due to flood damage in spring.  Some of the park’s roads will be closed.  After seeing all the tourists in Canada now wondering if the park will be crazy.

Eight days to go.  Nighty night.

 Miles drive today: 398

Total miles Driven: 2911

View From our Hotel Balcony

Star Date: 09/23/22

Awoke to heavy puffy gray cloud cover, it had rained during the night.  They needed it, it is very dry here with moderate fire risk.  These one road towns are in danger when fire spreads as it burns thousands of acres and hard to contain due to remoteness.  We pack and leave by 7:30 from our slummy room.  The sun is still so hot and near it is burning holes in the clouds and we can see snow on these low mountains.  We continue through the flat Robson Valley with the Fraser River running through and lower mountains on each side.  Large ranches with cattle but signs for bear; really wonder how that works for the bear.  Throughout our trip there is very little mention of wolves.  We have been told that true wilderness is defined by wolf pack presence.  Alaska still has the barbaric practice of shooting them from planes, shame on them.  They are protected in the national parks but they don’t know boundary lines and get trapped or shot.

Finally, we are rising into awesome peaks, some with old and new snow and little patches of glacier.  We enter Mt. Robson Park known for the mountain and mountain goats.  We are treated to a 95% view of this striking mountain and glacier.  On this side it is a steep vertical rise with the characteristic horizontal etching of the Canadian Rockies, the best view in our opinion.  Most of the glacier is on the opposite side of the mountain which we can’t see, but we guess it is a very different view with more glacier.

We then enter Jasper National Park and must be paid at the gate.  Yellowknife HWY runs through it but there are big restrictions on the rigs and they must take an alternate route from the glacier drive.  No doubt these are the Canadian Rockies described as young mountains and distinctive.  Many have the steep rise with horizontal lines.  New snow on higher peaks.  Don’t know if it is type of forest but the fall colors are not very bright or prevalent.  We stop of at the town of Jasper located in the park and its Headquarters.  This is a very trendy international destination with good food, lodging and shopping.   The train runs through all these towns and the old depot is still used.  The town is in flat location but mountains ring it all around; high elevation but not glacier.  Some of the architecture retains the old national park buildings, brown log, shingle roof, cut or cobbled stone and tan stucco.  A small pile of scat (likely black bear) is on the sidewalk; a calling card to say we’re here and looking for easy food.  A beautiful two brothers totem pole sit centrally.  We lunch at Jasper Brewery, the fist and only brewery in a national park.  Good beer and excellent food.

Taking the Promenade des Glaciers hwy south.  This drive is indescribable with mountain and glacier scenery and wide glacial braided rivers.  Each mountain has distinct shape and can have very different geologic make-up.  Some look like ancient volcano.  We climb to 5000 feet at the Athabascan glacier and people are riding on a glacier bus with track wheels out on it.  The drive continues with spectacular views on this narrow two lane road.  There are black and grizzly bears, caribou, moose, elk and deer and don’t see any this day.  Still no mention of wolves.  2.5 million visitors come here and it is still very busy.  The gray clouds wisp around the peaks, it is definitely snowing up there; sunshine breaks through in patches.  It is interesting to note how perspective and views change depending on which way you are traveling, north to south, south to north.

We leave Jasper and enter Banff, still impressive scenery.  The crowfoot and Bow glaciers are still impressive as is blue green Bow Lake.  WE bypass Lake Louise, as we guessed it was full for parking and we have been there other times.  But can still see the Victoria glacier from the road.  We have entered a four lane super hwy but restricted speed.  High fences on either side to prevent animal kills and interesting overhead passages, filled with trees and plants and fenced for them to cross the road.  Stopped in the town of Banff for dinner and it was insane.  They have made the main drag pedestrian walkway.  Another quaint tourist and sport center.  It used to be small and fun, now cramming in buildings.   But they can’t mess with towering Mt Rundle that stands guard over the town.  We do a loop to sightsee and then get out of there; we have stayed and visited in the past so no great loss.

Quickly down the road we stop at Canmore; an up and coming resort town, staying at a Quality Inn.  It sits in a narrow valley surrounded by mountains.  Our room is polar opposite of last night.  We have a two room suite with a fireplace in the bedroom.  The bedroom has its own door that blocks any noise from the hallway.  Don’t use the fireplace, the room is already warm.  Drive into the quaint little tourist town and find a really great place to eat.  It’s down a tight one way street with a little park across from it.  Tavern 1880; renovated old building.  We sit on the deck overlooking the park and towering mountains.  The wind is a little brisk but they put a space heater near us.  The waitstaff are so nice and good food.  Back to the room after great sightseeing but tired.  Besides the international tourism for this area this is the playground for Calgary with its population millions.

We are on Mountain time here and will continue it as we cross the US border into Montana tomorrow.  Two-hour time difference from Alaska and two from Ohio.

Nine days to go.  Grateful for safe travel and kindness of strangers.

Nighty night.

Miles Driven Today: 325

Total Miles Driven: 2513

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