On The Meandering Road: June 20, 2014 (60th Day)

2 MONTHS ON THE ROAD!
It seemed like everything happened in a blink of an eye

Finally up early at 5:45 am, but the sun was already up! Left the casino area at 6 am.

First stop was to get coffee, but the store was closed. Went elsewhere to Town n Pump gas station and Erwin went in for coffee.

Driving on 89 toward St. Mary. One deer shot across the road in front of us!

Oh, what a beautiful view of snow capped mountains as we were approaching Glacier National Park.

Temperature started to drop to 53˚ when we reached 5,600 feet in elevation

The ranger station at St. Mary entrance was closed, but the signage on the window said for us to go ahead and enter the park, but only 5 miles of the east part of "Going to the Sun" road was open. The roadblock was at Rising Sun area. There were trucks, cranes, etc working on the road.

Apparently high water took the road out.

Sign not kidding either!

Turned around and headed back to Route 89. Just before we got out of the park Erwin spotted something moving up on the hill, so we pulled over and scanned the area. Sure enough, there were two coyotes prancing around. They must have startled a deer that was laying down nearby. They just stood and watched the deer scrambling about.

We were hungry and decided to have breakfast at Park Cafe in St. Mary.

Coffee and Hot Chocolate!

After breakfast we were anxious to go up to Many Glacier because last year we did not go visit it with Keri Traver and her family. Keri told us how beautiful the place was and that we should make an effort to visit it if there was a chance, So, here we are!

We arrived Many Glacier at 8:50 am. Again, the park entrance was closed, but we still could drive into the park. Road conditions were bad, lots of rough roads. At the ranger station/information center we were advised not to go on hiking trails because many trails were under water. Too muddy and bear activity was noted. We did not have waterproof hiking boots and did not bring bear spray. Only one trail at Apikini Falls was safe enough.

We were on way to check out Many Glacier Hotel and Edith shrieked with excitement when she saw what stood on top of the boulders was a young male bighorn sheep. In a FLASH, Edith grabbed her camera and slipped out of the van like a slippery fish! It was not startled when it saw her approaching. Shoot..shoot..shoot (with a camera, of course). Edith strutted back to the van with a big smile on her face. As we were getting ready to leave the hotel this very same bighorn sheep was seen behind a small building. Of course, Edith had to get out to get a better shot of it. When she was satisfied with the pictures she got, it started to walk toward to road heading for the mountains.

More road construction 2 miles down the road. A deer shot across the road, going past construction crew.

On our way out of Many Glacier we decided to stop by Apikini Falls to hike, but the parking lot was full and there was no spot available for our camper van. :-(

Left Many Glacier at 10:30 am.

Before we continued traveling we pulled over outside of Many Glacier so Edith could email her brother because internet may not be available when we ventured into Canada.

We used Chief Mountain International Highway (17) from 89 N to Waterton Lakes. It was just 14 miles to US/Canada border.

We were blocked by cows and calves when they were crossing
from one side to another.

Entered Canada border at 11:25 am at Chief Mountain Border. We were questioned briefly and when all was good the agent stamped our passports.

It was 66˚ when we stepped onto Canada's soil. The view of the mountains was gorgeous and breathtaking.

Alberta (AB) adopted the wild rose (Rosaacicularis) as its official flower in 1930. The motto on the license tag is Wild Rose Country.

First deer in Canada was spotted and it shot across the road near the Lewis Overthrust - Sofia Mountains.

Two beautiful Trumpeter Swans and two Cygnets were on the lake not far from Sofia Mountains. There was not much shoulder to pull off to to take a picture, but Erwin managed to find a place to stop so Edith can take pictures.

To enter Waterton, AB a National Park Pass is required. We opted to buy the annual pass instead of individual pass because we knew we were going to visit several national park areas across Canada. There was a sign notifying that campgrounds in Waterton and nearby were full. This would mean dry camping tonight. Anyway, we went straight to the visitor's center.

We asked them if they could call several campgrounds to find out if there were any available sites. The lady said there were 5 available sites at Parks Can/Parcs Campground that is a stone's throw away from the center.

After leaving the visitor's center we decided to go to the campground and find out. There was a site available, but it did not have hook-ups which was fine with us. Got site #6 for $27.50

It started to get very warm...

We had a couple hours to do before suppertime. We went on the Akamina Parkway, which is a 16 km (10 mile) scenic highway, to check out Cameron Lake. There were waterfalls, snowcapped mountains, black bear. It was indeed a beautiful drive. There was another drive that we wanted to go on but it was closed due to high water over the roads! (Reason to go back later!)

2 beautiful sights

We do not understand the rationality of some people! This is obviously not a full grown adult bear so very possibly or likely that his mother could be nearby and these stupid people have to try and get really close to get a better close-up shot of the bear! What the HECK were they thinking? Do you think one of us is going to come to their rescue if Mama Bear should come charging? No, we're gonna be running away to save our own butts! It looks like we got close but NO, thanks to Edith's zoom lens we got good shots!

Bear, Bear up a tree
There, There, can you see?

This is in FULL COLOR, weird weather conditions permitted only piece of sky to have color!

After leaving Akamina Parkway we went back to the visitor's center to ask for positive ID on the bear that was in the tree. They identified it as a young black year, probably 3 year old.

We went to check out The Prince of Wales Lodge that is on top of the mountain. While looking for a parking spot we noticed there were several photographers taking pictures of something out in the yard. Of course, Edith brought her camera along and was very curious to find out what was going on. It turned out that there was a fox den and two foxes were seen.