Day Thirty

Today we spent the day in Glacier National Park. We were disappointed to discover that we couldn't drive the whole Going-to-the-Sun Road due to road repairs after an avalanche. However we were able to take a three mile hike to Johns Lake and the Dancing Waters. We saw mossy woodlands, beautiful birches, fallen trees, wild flowers and of course mountains.

Lake McDonald

birch trees

We were warned to watch for black bear and grizzly bears and a mountain lion that had been seen in the area. We bought a bear bell and spoke loudly to scare off any animals, but didn't run into any trouble.

Johns Lake

Dancing Waters

Beargrass

  Later we walked the Trail of the Cedars and saw another incredible waterfall and a stand of old forest cedars.

A little help from a hiking stick

 One section called Howe Ridge was devasted by a fire in 2003 and still shows the destruction.














 We ate lunch at Lake McDonald Lodge, one of the original  Historic Railroad Hotels in the national parks.

Waterfall next to the Lodge

Day Twenty Nine

We left Canmore today with a little misty rain that soon disappeared and created a beautiful rainbow across the mountains. We traveled through Kootenay National Park. The park had acres of mountains that had been burned in a fire with nothing but dead trees.

We had the best treat of our day when we saw this bear along the side of the road foraging for food.

It was time to say goodbye to Canada and return to the US, crossing into Montana and heading to Glacier Park and our hotel in Hungry Horse.

Day Twenty Eight

From Lake Louise, we drove to our hotel in lovely Canmore, just outside the entrance to Banff National Park. We had beautiful views of the mountains from our balcony.

Lower Falls

We spent a full day in Banff Park on highway 1A. Surrounded by gorgeous mountains, we hiked the lower falls at Johnston Canyon, visited Moraine Lake, Cascades of Time Gardens and the Bow River waterfall. Then we dined in the upscale town of Banff and took a dip in the mineral Upper Hot Springs Pool. A long but wonderful day.

Castle Mountain

Dinner in Banff at the Elk and Oarsman

Banff

Cascades of Time Gardens

Moraine Lake

Morant's Curve used in Canadian Pacific Railway Ads

On our drive we saw elk crossing the road and goats having their dinner.

Day Twenty Seven

Reluctantly we left the Glacier House and started our trek through Rogers Pass in Canada's Glacier Park. After all of the beautiful scenery that we have seen so far, we were amazed at the unbeatable views we saw on this drive. I'm sure our pictures do not do it justice.

Downtown Revelstoke

We crossed into Banff National Park and visited Lake Louise. We couldn't believe the emerald green water and views of the glaciers. The hotel isn't bad either.

Lake Louise

Chateau Lake Louise

We had some drinks and appetizers on the outside patio of the Chateau.

Day Twenty Six

Our week at Birch Bay was over and just in time as some very rowdy and noisy people moved in. Time to start the second half of our trip, headed toward home. We crossed the border into Canada at Sumas and got on the Trans-Canada highway headed to our next stop Revelstoke, British Columbia.

Once again the scenery was breathtaking and we wonder how we will adjust to not seeing snow covered mountains every day when we return to South Carolina.

View of the Glacier from the patio.

We checked into The Glacier House Resort with beautiful patio views of the Begbie Glacier and had the company of several hummingbirds. We're loving the unusually warm and sunny weather.

Glacier House Resort

A ruby throated hummingbird

Day Twenty Five

We wished a sad goodbye to our traveling companions and dropped them off at Seattle-Tacoma airport for their trip back to San Antonio.

Mukilteo Lighthouse

Don and I took a scenic drive to Tidby Island across Deception Pass and into quaint towns stopping at Langley for a tasty Italian lunch and some great bakery treats.

Ferry to Tidby Island

Deception Pass Bridge

Day Twenty Four

We took a drive to explore Birch Bay. We discovered a lovely little state park called Point  Whitehorn Marine Reserve and took a walk down to the beach with views of Canada across the water.

Strait of Georgia

The cleanest port-a-pottie ever!