Blue Moon

Tonight I am drinking a Blue Moon while watching the blue moon. Can you guess where we are by this picture?

We are in Washington State in a town called Oak Harbor. For some reason, there is a replica of a windmill in the city park, and our campsite is right next to it.

Tomorrow we will drive to Coupeville, WA and take the 3:30 ferry to Port Townsend. Then, onto Olympic National Park!

A Few Bumps

The last two days have been traveling days. Our goal is to get to Olympic National Park in northwestern Washington. Tuesday night we found a place to camp that afforded us with amazing sunset views as we sat on the shore of Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho.

Last night we ended up on another lake, Lake Roosevelt, which was formed by the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam. We stayed at the Spring Canyon Campground, run by the National Park Service; it is beautifully maintained with lots of recreational opportunities.

Although most of our travels have been smooth, there were a few bumps on the road lately. Our comfy air mattress has sprung a leak, so we have been trying to sleep in the other areas of the RV. None are as nice as our pull out sofa, so we looked into getting a new mattress, which is under warranty. Unfortunately, it would take 7-10 days to ship it to a city out here that has a Winnebago dealer…and those cities are not exactly where we want to go! So, we bit the bullet and bought a new air mattress at Cabela’s yesterday. I’d like to tell you that we had a great night’s sleep on it last night, but user error (Bill’s, of course) prevented the air mattress from being functional. After reading the directions in a more sober light this morning, Bill thinks we will be sleeping in comfort this evening.

Another “bump” occurred yesterday when a piece of gravel shot at our windshield and put a bullet sized chip in it. Using my indispensable iPhone, I located Jacob’s Auto Glass Company, which provided us with great and speedy service.

Today we will travel another 200 miles...here's hoping to a smooth ride!

Koocanusa

This weekend we camped on Lake Koocanusa, which is a reservoir in northwestern Montana. Our motorhome was parked a few yards off the lake and the only other vehicle we could see was our friends’ camper next to us. Bill and Wayne kayaked each afternoon, and we enjoyed dinners and toasted marshmellows by the fire each evening. 

This has been one of my favorite campsites so far. This morning I was looking out at the lake as I was drinking my coffee, and a bald eagle flew by, low enough for me to see its majestic beauty. It was awesome! Although Wayne and Shirley had to go back to work today, Bill and I will stay in the area and continue to enjoy Big Sky Montana.

Catch-Up

Well, the joy I experienced having my phone back was short-lived. Its seems the area of Montana where our friends live does not have phone nor Internet service. To prevent another meltdown, my dear husband has driven me to a place "in town" where I can get my technology fix.

Here are more photos from our trip to Canada.

Takakkaw Falls, one of the highest falls in Canada (278'), is in Yoho National Park. It is fed by a glacier, which is turn is fed by an icefield. One can see and hear the falls from quite a ways away, but a trail leads you so close, you can feel the mist and be overwhelmed by the powerful waters.



As we were driving down the road, Bill pulled over so we could get a closer look at some Rocky Mountain Sheep. This guy wanted a closer look at us!

Even though Athabasca Glacier, which is along the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper National Parks, has been receding each year, it’s still the “size of Vancouver”.

One of my favorite places in Jasper National Park was Maligne (mah-leen) Canyon. There is an interpretive trail and 6 bridges that allowed us to view the swirling, churning water rushing over and through the limestone rocks and walls from many spots.

We were lucky enough to meet up again with our friends Jack and Judy. It was so much fun hiking with them! We walked a trail called Old Fort Point where you overlooked the Athabasca River.

On a different hike, Bill and I saw yet another beautiful waterfall...Athabasca Falls:

When we were in Jasper National Park, Jack and Judy kindly had us over for dinner in their "chalet" a couple of times...sorry, I forgot my camera. But when we were in Banff National Park, we dined in our luxury camper:)

Alas, Jack and Judy had to go back to Maryland, but we so enjoyed our time with them! Now we are fortunate enough to spend a few days with our friends, Wayne and Shirley, who live near Troy, Montana. Here is the stunning view from their back deck:

I'm not sure when I'll be able to get online again, but I am sure we will continue to have a great time in Montana!



Search and Seizure

Sixteen days ago we crossed the border to Canada by showing Border Patrol our passports and answering simple questions such as “Where are you going?” “Why are you going there?” “How long will you be in Canada?”. Today, when we wanted to enter back into our country, it was a bit more involved. The U.S. Border Patrol wanted to know what we bought in Canada, specifically what food we were bringing over the border. I rattled off the few things I remembered we still had in the refrigerator, such as lettuce, an orange, some broccoli slaw, a few onions and an avacado. We were then asked to pull over so some special agent could inspect our RV. After looking in all of our cabinets, the freezer and the refrigerator, the gentleman had in his hands the orange, the avacado and a few small red potatoes. He then informed us he could fine us $300 because we failed to tell him we had the potatoes. Good grief. He didn’t fine us, but did give us a stern “talkin to” about the responsibilities we have about knowing what is in our “giant suitcase” as he called our motorhome, and what are not allowed over the border...which apparently includes oranges, avacados and potatoes! Lesson learned.

Beside that little incident, today was a happy day for me. First of all, I could use my phone again! Oh, how I missed my iPhone and the way it connects me to my friends and family! I immediately texted the kids and Claire’s response was, “So glad you made it back…what were you thinking picking up hitchhikers?!” Another reason it’s a happy day…for the first time in 37 years, I will not be reporting back to HCPS as teachers did today. It was a long time coming, and as you can tell, I’m making the most of retirement!

We are now in Montana and will spend some time with our friends Wayne and Shirley. The Internet connection is slow, so I will try again in a few days to send some pictures of the last week we spent in Canada.

 

Canadian Beauty

Yesterday we took two hikes for a total of 11 miles. Bill says we shouldn't count the first 3 miles since it was a relatively flat stroll around a lake, but I'm counting them! Our walk around Emerald Lake started out very chilly (37°), but by the time we finished, it was close to 60°. As its name suggests, Emerald Lake is a gorgeous shade of green…much prettier than my pictures can show.

In contrast, here's a picture of some strange fungi we noticed on our second hike.

Our afternoon hike was challenging for me. We had to negotiate large tree roots which protruded their knobby arms every which way. I was a tired camper after that 8 mile walk! But let me put it all in perspective. We recently picked up some more hitchhikers, this time from the USA, and they are amazing! Sye, Jellybean, and Alex are in the process of hiking a portion of the Continental Divide. When they finish this feat, they will have walked close to 700 miles! So far, they've averaged 16.5 miles a day!

The gals needed a ride to a town to stock up on food for the next leg of their journey. It was very interesting talking with the trio. In order to take this 2-month hike, they quit their jobs as social worker, truck driver, and barista. This isn't their first hike; in fact, they met hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Bill and I are so impressed with how they are pursuing their passion.

Today we are in Jasper National Park, where our friends Judy and Jack are staying. We hope to get together with them tomorrow. Bill literally can't stop gaping at the mountains. He loves them so! Here's a photo of the sunset view from our campsite the other evening.

Time to go start dinner...ribs on the grill...yum!

Wildflowers

I had never heard of Mount Revelstoke National Park, which is in British Columbia, but Bill wanted to venture there, so venture there we did. Our walk yesterday began with a 26 km (16 miles) drive on Meadows in the Sky Parkway, climbing 1600 metres (5,249') to the beautiful subalpine wildflower meadows. August is the peak blooming season for these lovely flowers.

Although common, the Indian Paintbrush is one of my favorites.

Once we parked at the top, we walked various loop trails to enjoy the views. It was a cloudy...the storm clouds were rolling in, but the mountains were as awesome as ever!

As we started the descent on the parkway, we picked up two young hitchhikers. They were "on holiday" from their jobs at a hostel near Vancouver, and were staying in a Revelstoke hostel for a few days. Philip, 19, and Lena, 22, were both from Germany and spoke English very well.

I asked them how many years they studied English, and they informed me that English is one of the 3 major subjects in Germany, along with Math and German, and they have it every year. Philip came to Canada with no job, but soon found the position at the hostel. He has been hired to work in Banff at a ski area, so he will move there in October and work through April. Lena found her job "by the Internet" and will return home next month to go "to university" to study...she hesitated, searching for the English words and came up with "dental medicine". "Dentistry?" I asked. "Oh, yes, that's it! Dentistry!" she replied.

I still can't get over how young they are and what adventures and experiences they will have before going to "university". Well, it's on to Bill's and my adventures...it's never to late to have them!

Hello! Bonjour!

It's been awhile...where was I? Oh, yes, I was having a meltdown due to lack of Internet and reading materials. It's all good, as my friend Jackie likes to say. Once we left Waterton, we found plenty of towns that sold the Calgary Herald and two Canadian national newspapers...all with puzzles within. I bought all three each day, so I'm set for plenty of future morning coffees while Bill sleeps in a bit.

Since Canada has two official languages, I am able to refresh some of the French I studied in high school and college. Every sign and exhibit is written in both English and French, and vendors/park employees must greet you with Hello! Bonjour! so he/she will know which language you prefer. At least I can get my newspapers in all English, thank goodness.

The highlight of the past week was a serendipitous occasion. Although we knew our good friend Judy Dettner and her husband would be vacationing in the Canadian Rockies around now, we figured the elusive Internet connections and lack of cellphone access in Canada would make it difficult, if not impossible, for us to meet up in this vast area. But...as Bill and I were sitting at a table in Lake Louise Village, Bill lifts his arm and points. "There's Judy," he states almost non-chalantly. OMG!! She and Jack were just walking by in search of a soda! I'm sure the bystanders, seeing our incredulous faces, laughter and hugs, thought we were long lost sisters!

Judy and Jack were going to be in the area for a few days, so we got to enjoy their company taking hikes and having dinners together. On Saturday, we took a walk to Lake Louise:

On Sunday, we took the Sunshine Meadows hike, a beautiful 6 mile walk with mountains, lakes, and wildflowers galore!

We parted ways so that we each could continue with our own travel goals, but hope to see them again in a few days in Jasper National Park. Here we are, over 2,400 miles from home, having the good fortune to build new memories with friends from Harford County! It's all good. Il est bien à tous! 

Waterton

Waterton Lakes National Park is the Canadian extension of Glacier National Park. The rugged, yet beautiful Rocky Mountains continued to surround us, and many crystal clear lakes, streams, and waterfalls were as stunning as ever. We spent two nights there in the peaceful campground of Crandell Lake. Yesterday we enjoyed a “moderate hike” (4.8 miles, roundtrip; elevation gain 1,000’) to picturesque Summit Lake.

Nestled in the valley is the small village of Waterton. Although it is a tourist town, there are no gaudy stores or signs, just charming restaurants and shops. From looking at the license plates of other cars and RV’s, it is a popular vacation spot for Canadians who live in other provinces.

With all that said, I couldn’t wait to leave! This is not my vacation; this is my way of life for a couple of months, and….I…need… mental stimulation! I need a newspaper or a Time magazine! I want to be able to use my iPhone! I need a crossword puzzle or play Words with Friends with my sister!! I wanted to talk to my daughter yesterday on her birthday! Even television reception would be nice.

Apparently Verizon doesn’t service Glacier or Waterton, and delivery of newspapers and magazines is non-existent due to the remote areas. Bill, sensing my displeasure (I tried to hide it from him, really, I did!), decided we could cut our visit to Waterton short and head to Banff. On the way to Banff, there is a real city, Calgary! Yeah! Right now, I’m in a Starbucks (first one I’ve seen in 3 weeks) happily online! After I post this blog entry, I am going to search for and purchase every newspaper and magazine I can find. It’s the little things…

Two Medicine

We were fortunate to secure a premier campsite for four days and nights at Two Medicine Campground in Glacier National Park. It afforded gorgeous views from 3 sides. To our west, we saw Mt. Sinopah towering above Two Medicine Lake.

We spotted a bear meandering the mountainsides to our north each evening. He was at a safe distance…we used binoculars to watch him hunt for berries. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights we were in awe as the full moon rose from behind the mountains to our south.

And of course, there was lots of walking…

The trailhead to one of Bill’s favorite hikes was not far from our campsite, and even though it was one of those “strenuous” trails, I agreed to go with him. The hike is called “Scenic Point”, and depending on what sign/book you read, it is either 3.1 miles up the mountain, or 3.8. I go with the 3.8, as it seemed like we would never get there! The elevation increase was 2350’, so it was challenging (for me), but the vistas were amazing. I particularly like the wildflowers that rivaled anything one can see at Longwood Gardens. I even liked the dead trees!

It was very cold and windy at the top, so we donned our jackets and sweatpants there. Look at this view…

Today we will enter Canada, where we believe Internet access and phone service will become even more challenging. No matter what, though, we will find a way to wish our precious daughter a happy birthday tomorrow!

Glacier National Park

We made it to Glacier National Park on Monday afternoon and were suitably awed by the glorious mountains surrounding us! Unfortunately, the campground where we wanted to stay was full. No matter…Bill found a dirt road outside the park and pulled off next to a stream.

One of the nice things about our motorhome is that we need no hook-ups. Our water is heated by propane, so our shower is always ready. We keep a well-stocked refrigerator, and our propane stove is used to make dinner or to heat up water for making coffee in our French press. Usually the only time we need electricity is when I want to blow-dry my hair, and I simply turn on the generator for that.

So here we were, by ourselves in another free campsite. Well, almost by ourselves..there were a few people cooling themselves off in the stream. It was a really hot day…mid 90’s…and no one around here has air conditioning. The nights, even on very hot days, drop down to the 40’s or 50’s. The “warm season” only lasts a few weeks, so installing air conditioning wouldn’t make sense.

I began making a meat sauce for our spaghetti dinner using the last of our 2011 frozen tomatoes (Claire and Brenden are harvesting and freezing the 2012 crop while we’re away. Thank you, dears!). Bill ventured outside to talk to a Native American/Indian (not sure which term is PC) family who was wading in the stream. Before they left the lady picked me a small bouquet of wildflowers called Indian Paintbrush, and the gentleman picked us some serviceberries. He did warn us that bears like serviceberries too. Great.

Tuesday we secured a campsite at Two Medicine Campgrounds inside Glacier National Park. We will stay here until Saturday. There is no Internet access at the campgrounds, though, and we drove to the Glacier Park Lodge so I could catch up with things. The national park inns are stunning, so even if you’re not the camping kind, look into staying at one of the inns/lodges if you'd like to experience these spectacular venues.

And, yes, we’re still hiking. Bill and I hiked around 5 miles yesterday to see Aster Falls. That wasn’t enough for him, though, and up a mountain he went later in the afternoon. These mountains feed his soul…he is certainly in his element…and I am happy to share this time with him.