The last few days have been great. I got some well-needed rest. I also ran into an old pal, Brian Donovan, the last day or two. Dono was up in the area visiting, and we got together. Awesome guy. A complete "guru" when it comes to hiking, camping, in fact anything to do with the great outdoors.
I stayed at a place I called "The Shining Hotel" in Kalispell, Montana. The place was huge, with vast areas of rooms empty, and the interior really reminded me of that movie. The pictures are on my iPhone, so I don't have them in this set.
Dono came by the hotel on Thursday morning. He had been camping the last few days, so he used the shower in the room. I packed up my stuff and we were on our way to Glacier National Park.
The highlight of Glacier is the fabled Going-to-the-Sun Road, named after a nearby peak originally given the same name by Native Americans. It's an incredible road, hewn into the side of the mountains. I hope the pictures speak for themselves.
All the in-park campgrounds were full, so we ended up camping for the night just outside the park in a private campground. It was good to just hang out by the campfire, eating well, and swapping stories.
Friday morning, Dono was headed south towards Yellowstone and the Tetons. I gave him strict instructions to follow the Beartooth Highway.
I headed north into Canada, and the Waterton Lakes side of the Waterton-Glacier Park. The road sort of passes back through the U.S. side of Glacier again, then you see signs advising of the International Border coming up.
Compared to some of the other "grillings" I've had from the Canada Border Services Agency, this crossing was only a 5 or so (on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 bordering on fascism). I suppose they are just doing their job. I always seem to get singled out for "secondaries" though. A few other people passed through in a minute or two, while I was waiting for the officer to make sure my "stuff checks out." It took about 15 minutes total, then I was on my way again.
The Prince of Wales Hotel, is a famous Canadian Railway hotel, with a distinct difference. It was built by the American Great Northern Railway to lure American's across the border during Prohibition. The hotel was named after the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), and it has a slightly "British" feel to it. It is famous for it's afternoon tea service, of which I availed. A German girl called Deborah looked after me, and we ended up chatting quite a bit.
I took a few photos outside the hotel - its is a truly magnificent establishment in a World Heritage Site location. Simply breathtaking.
I decided to take the flat/prarie route up towards Banff. I nearly ran out if gas....well, not quite...I thought I might though. I had 100 miles on the clock, and there was a sign, "Next gas 137 km." I did a quick calculation and figured I'd be okay - turned out I was fine.
I bumped into a guy at the gas station though - they're a friendly bunch up here - and he directed me to Alberta Highway 40 towards Banff. I didn't know about this route, and neither GPS routing had me going that way. "The most scenic drive in Canada' he promised me. He wasn't joking either.
Again, I hope the pictures do it justice. Is it "better" than Going-to-the-Sun, or the Icefields Parkway, which I'll be doing again tomorrow after being here two years ago? I don't know, but Alberta 40 is up there with all the great drives I've done (and I've done a few).
I got into Banff, checked into the Inn. I met some Chinese people visiting and we all played a form of water polo in the swimming pool here. Good fun and cool people!
I ran out and got a quick burger as these photos were uploading. I got some great video from the iPhone mounted on the bike, but unfortunately YouTube and the iPhone don't like each other right now. I'll try and get some video up later.
The Icefields Parkway tomorrow. Can't wait!
Onwards!
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