"Going-to-the-Sun" road...video extravaganza
Trip Start
Jul 26, 2009
1
7
13
Trip End
Aug 05, 2009
Cut Bank, Montana, United States
Friday, July 31, 2009
We started our day in White Fish, Montana. We ended our day in Cut Bank, Montana. In between, we experienced an amazing day of riding and hiking and yes, even some swimming.
From White Fish we went to Hungry Horse. What a great name for a town. Apparently, it is literally named for a horse which wandered wild for 30 days and ultimately made its way back to its owner, bedraggled and starving.
Into the park, and we stopped at the side of a lake. I met Dana and her dog, Voodoo. What a *great* name for a dog. This guy was a helluva swimmer, and Dana and her husband Harry apparently live on a river, and VooDoo actually swims, fishes for, and *catches* Carp in the river! But apparently he has his doggy "sport-fishing" license, because according to Dana he practices "catch-and-release" style fishing.
We took some time to drink a champagne toast to our crazy adventure, and then headed back on the road. Dana, Harry, (and VooDoo), i hope you tracked down my blog! :-) Let me know if you ever get up to Ottawa, and we'll go for a drink.
Today, I took a lot of video. I'm going to try to upload the video today. Photos may come later...but I'm getting tired and tomorrow will be a long ride. Let me know if y'all can see the videos ok.
Glacier National Park spans the Montana / Alberta border. Of course, we're in Montana now, and our path through the park kept us in the big-sky state. The road is twisty and turny and enticing for a motorcyclist, but this ride is not about driving, it's about looking at the surrounding land and water. Mountains, valleys, meadows, rivers, water falls...the so-called "Going-To-The-Sun Road" is a feast for the eyes.
We met lots of fun folks along the way too, like Buck and his wife, and their friend Jane. I snuck up behind Buck's wife while Jane was taking her picture...she didn't know I was there, I just put my arm around her and grinned at the camera. Jane laughed and snapped the photo, and then we all introduced ourselves.
At the switchback, we met Maria, the Park Ranger. She was trying to get people to fill out a survey, so I obliged in return for a photo opp :-) Shawn paused for a faux-boudoir photo on a park bench, and some fun-loving ladies from Washington and Idaho starting shouting suggestions to him. lol...
Then we met Buster, and his owner Jane. She was a former biker, and helped us with some suggestions on the best route to take.
Then we stopped at Hidden Lake. Maria had told us that it was a magnificent hike, and if you just stayed the course, most people drop away and the crowd diminishes and you find yourself on a beautiful mountain path. She was bang-on! Luckily, Shawn is as stubborn and crazy as me. It turns out that the trip from the parking lot to Hidden Lake is actually 5km! Of *mountain* trail. So we walked it. Shawn hid a couple of cans of beer in the backpack, and we brought our swimsuits. We saw a mountain goat off in the distance. It was great...so we took some pictures, and kept walking. Then we saw three more. And then more, and more...and then further along the path the goats are cutting across the hiking trail 6 feet in front of you. At one point, Shawn ducked off the trail behind a tree to change into his swimsuit (anticipating Hidden Lake). But there was a goat there, and it almost charged him...funny!
We were amongst the few to go all the way to the lake. Check the video of the cut-throat trout! We put the beer in the water, and after I found a tree to duck behind and change, we took turns jumping into and then right back out of the cold glacier lake. It was !@#$%^&* COLD! I think I could have stayed in there longer, but there would have been a grave risk of muscle seizure and full cardiac arrest from the cold. Holy sh*t it was cold!
I got blisters on my blisters during the hike back...and then we mounted up our trusty metal steeds, and away we went. My head was full of beautiful sights I shall remember for a very long time indeed as we rode out of Glacier National Park an onto the high plains of Montana. They have their own beauty. Rolling hills, ranches, range cattle, horses. A road that runs straight and flat and true forever. We looked ahead, and saw dark clouds, and a rainbow. Check the video. We rolled on some speed, racing the setting sun and the storm in an effort to find safe harbour somewhere. We found Cut Bank, and the Glacier Gateway Inn. A room, and across the road for beer and pizza...only it turns out the menu had BBQ Ribs and BBQ Chicken. Our waitress Brooke recommended the BBQ, and the local beer. We had a choice between (I'm not kidding), Moose Drool or Pig's Ass beer. Um, Shawn, for reasons that will always disturb me, chose the Pig's Ass. I opted for the Moose Drool. Listen, once again, I must stress...these are the real names of these beers. Montana people are funny... :-)
Brooke was great...a sophomore college student studying international business...
We ate, we drank (but not too much...really), and then we walked back across the road to our hotel. Time to sleep now. G'nite folks!
Tomorrow...we will be aiming to make good time on the road. fewer stops, more riding. I'm having a great time...grinning lots!
Be good!
Comments
nice!
Guessing you picked up a new camera or got tired of the blurry BB pics - nice! Loving the commentary - keep it up! I can just picture Shawn getting chased by a goat - they do like the taste of leprechaun meat!
Yes the vide is good
Yes the video is good, but I waste too much of my time cursing you two out as it is, the only really questionable video is the one of your face while riding, like the scenery better. I would really like a video of Shawn being chased by a goat. Why does this sound like a bugs bunny cartoon.
Bill's Summer Vacation
White Fish... Hungry Horse... Moose Drool...run-ins with goats...
What's next?! Attack of the Red-necked grebes of Des Lacs in N Dakota??!!
LOL and vicariously enjoying your blog/pics/video.
Love, Carol