Polebridge travelogue # 25

We wanted to show the Haboraks as much of Glacier as we could, and this "town" is Jack's favorite place in the whole world...Polebridge.

This is it....that's all there is.....and the people are just so friendly!

The "restroom" for the town....

And somehow, the folks know when the baked good are done and they flock to town....

Do you recall on an earlier blog I mentioned how hard we worked on our material for our Jr. Ranger status?

We turned in our material, took the pledge and were awarded our badges and special certificates and pins!

You'll have to blow this up...it's our first wolf sighting! Very exciting!

A very memorable day!

We're heading back to Lake Louise and it might take a while for me to blog again...

#24 Logans Pass with the Haboraks

Peg and Bob Haborak arrived Tuesday afternoon after two days of flying...something I wouldn't want to do! P&B are Jack's sister and brother in law-they haven't seen this part of the country and have never been camping...I'm impressed at how well they're adjusting. Peg calls the rig "HOW" -Hilton on Wheels-it's not but that's a nice gesture. Our first full day was going to Glacier to Logans Pass. Glacier began an ambitious project 4 years ago, and close the Going to the Sun Road every night at 9:00pm till 8:00am. Because of the construction there can be as much as 40 min. delays. To help with the traffic they're providing free shuttles from various places in Glacier. We took the shuttle and .,.boy, were we glad! A thunderstorm that produced hail started when we were about the middle of the trip, and the windows were so fogged up we couldn't see anything. Later, Bob said he was glad 'cause if he had seen the dropoff he wouldn't have gotten off the shuttle!

The shuttle kept us informed as to where we were and what time is was.

The weather cleared just as we arrived at the Pass...Breathtaking!

This plaque acknowledges the uniqueness of the Park...

So, here we are!

It seemed bizarre to see flowers amid the snow...

Jack was giving Peg & Bob their first lesson in eating the glacial snow..Cold!

And, of course, it wouldn't be a blog without critters...The big horn sheep were right outside of the shuttle as we started down the Pass....Yes, they were that close!

And a blog would not be complete without a waterfall...

I heard "WOW" a few times from the seat behind me....

It was late and we were tired but more hungry than tired.....So Jack took us to the MacDonald Lodge for dinner..

And after dinner, a quick rest at the fireplace-who can resist a fire like that?

The next day the guys went fishing-this is a stocked pond at the campground we're staying at.

Peg and I went shopping and on the way home she saw a guy selling huckleberries-only the second day of the season, so of course she had to buy some....

Then after dinner Jack announced we had to finish our homework for our Jr. Ranger badges...thought P&Js kids would like to see them working so hard!

From Calgary to Waterton....and on to Kalispell

I had mixed feelings about leaving Calgary-there seemed to be lots of other stuff we wanted to see and do there, but we had to press on....We went to Waterton National Park which is adjacent to Glacier International Park...

And look what we found, wandering in town! Bambi and maybe his girlfriend?

Overlooking the town of Waterton is the Prince of Wales hotel...This magnificent hotel was built to encourage visitors to the National Parks...

So, OK, Jack found new friends..they are very acclimated to people. It's a double edged sword...we're their worst enemy.....

Just outside of town...another beautiful set of falls!

We're doing a critter count...these are Canadian ground squirrels...they look like prairie dogs to me

Then, as we were passing through the other side of town-big horn sheep! Can't wait to come back here....We're going to Kalispell to get the windshield fixed, catch up with business (we have mail waiting for us) and pick up Bob and Peg...WooHooo!!!!

#24 Goodbye Calgary

Today was our last day in Calgary, and we spent the morning getting chores done like laundry and a much needed rig cleaning (after three days of rain and storms, the place was a mess!) It was so bad Tuesday night the Stampede's grandstand show was cancelled! First time ever!

We spent the afternoon at the Olympic Centre-a multi-complex that houses ski jumps, bobsled, gym, and dirt bike riding. They're using the facilities well-and expanding them to have the most up to date facilities.

The ski jump complex is awesome! and high! 4,200', the highest point in Calgary. They put plastic down the two smaller runs and wet it so the jumps can be used in the summer. The 90 meter jump is used for that thing people do attached to a guide wire and swooshing down...

Great info regarding the history of the ski jump....

Jack hopped over some barriers to get this shot of the bobsled run...

And, from this vantage point, a view of the city. I really liked this City and I'm surprised at that. THeir public transportation was great, easy to find and understand, and much cheaper than driving into town and paying for parking! I hope I come back some day....

Travelogue #24 Calgary, Eh?

We finally arrived! Calgary was our only "date" destination...and we're excited to get here. Calgary welcomed us with open arms and sky....

Calgary hosted the Olympics in '88, I think. We're camped very close to the Visitors Centre. I'm getting Canadian....Even spelling like them

The Centre is decorated with the flags from participating countries-but do you see the sky?

I have NEVER been in such a hailstorm in my life! Even Jack said he hadn't seen the hailstones so large....dents in my car and a crack in the windshield. What a welcome!

That night we had tickets for the grandstand show. the temperature had dropped about 20 degrees, so we layered up and prepared for a wet night. Didn't happen-the rain stayed away for the most part.

Opening Ceremonies were touching...

But the Conestoga Wagon race was a thrill! There are four wagons; they have 4 cowboys on horses and that makes up the team. The cowboys are responsible for loading the wagon and steering the horses into position and they must ride the coarse, too. There are 6 heats each evening and each position earns points as well as cash each nite. The top 6 will be in the playoffs next weekend. The teams of four are really close: It's fun to watch and we were right up front...

After the races the grandstand was transformed for the show. WOW! A nonstop action-filled performance-singing, dancing, acrobatics in the air, motorcycles, and......

Fireworks! This is the best show I've ever seen, bar none. The fireworks were even better than DisneyWorld on New Years Eve and I thought I'd never see anything that could top that!

There were hundreds of performers-the children were especially adorable...

Then the next day at the Stampede was Senior Day-we got in free, had coffee and doughnuts and a special commemorative pin, saw the AM show and the acrobatic ice show. We took the LRT-kind of fun!

There were lots of seniors taking advantage in spite of the weather-this is the doughnut line....

There was an indoor ice rink where Elvis Stoijka and the gold metal pairs winners were featured.

Another action-packed show-this is Scott and Tessa.

In another part of the building there were exhibits of all kinds of art. Jack is going for the living artist's jug-and he has a hatchet in his other hand!

I tried to smell the roses....We didn't try to get to the other buildings-it was raining too hard and we both felt we had seen quite a bit. And we were pooped!

Travelogue #23

After a restful night at Sunwapta Lodge we visited the falls-they're really full this time of year....Then we stopped at the Athabasca Glacier again-thought we could get some grub, but breakfast was closed so we headed down the highway 1A. On the way we took a little side trip to Yoho Nat'l Park-and found Lake Ohara! Next day we headed for Canmore which is just outside of Calgary....and of course there's a casino along the way!

Jack made friends with RCMP bear-BFF!

We're at Stoney Casino and Jack found these giant chairs-so we tried them out!

Next blog....the Stampede!!!