Day 5 Rocky Mountain High

Last night when we checked into the St. Mary Lodge, they advertised free WIFI in the lodge area. After diner I grabbed my laptop and a 6 pack and headed for the hotspot to post my blog. I was successful connecting to their network but couldn’t get on the web. When I asked the front desk for help they told me their service is intermittent because of the remoteness. While we sat around in the lodge finishing our beverages, I noticed one of the front desk clerks bringing print outs of Google maps to one of the guests. I decided to ask about the service once again and got the same answer. I gave her my disappointed face and explained I was a writer that needed to post an article about Glacer Park and the St. Mary’s Lodge and was under a deadline. It was just a small lie but it worked. She invited me into their back office and allowed me to use their office computer and I made my deadline.
Touring the park was on the agenda this morning. Before we crashed last night, Tom and I were worried that when we woke up the weather would be foggy and overcast, but when we awoke it was clear, sunny and about 50 degrees. I decided to wear my Aerostich suit with my heated liners and I’m glad I did because I used the heat off and on all day. The weather constantly changed as we climbed to the different higher altitudes. We had mostly sunny skies all day with those big puffy clouds again and a high of 70.
We were on the road at 7:00 AM. The park entrance was right at the lodge were we stayed. As we drove through the entrance we were disappointed when we found out Going to the Sun Highway was still closed at Logan Pass from the winter but at least we were able to ride the first 15 miles. As Dark Side of the Moon, the song by Pink Floyd was playing on the satellite radio, I motored up the mountain and now know what they mean by a rocky mountain high. The mountain scenery was unbelievable. The air smelled so clean and fresh. The east coast has nothing to compare with this natural beauty.
We toured a few other areas of the park including Manny Glacer and then headed west on rt. 2 towards western Glacer NP and Kalispell. At Kalispell we turned south on rt. 35 and drove along a scenic lake that was formed from the glacers many years ago. At Polson, MT we turned onto rt. 93 which took us on some nice mountain roads at the foothills of the Rockies. From there we reached I90 in Missoula and headed east through Butte and into Bozeman were we’re staying tonight.
Today Tom led most of the way when we were traveling on the mountain roads. Once we got on the interstate I took the lead and set the cruise control at the 75 MPH speed limit or close to it.
We decided to eat dinner at Famous Dave’s BBQ which was right up the street from the Motel 8 were we’re staying. We both ordered ribs and I gotta tell you they were nothing like the ribs at Stanley’s. Tom managed to force his down, but I couldn’t. I ordered some shrimp then asked to speak to the restaurant manager. We were very diplomatic and told him this was our first visit to the franchise and how one just opened in Wilmington and then proceeded to tell him our boots would have tasted better. He was very nice and comped the whole meal, but I still will never eat there again.
Tomorrow it’s off to Yellowstone. We are only about a 100 miles from the NW entrance.
Renee, hope your feeling better.
Ken, any better?

Life is good!

Total miles: 535 Butt factor: 3