Day 6 - Glacier National Park, Going to the Sun

I slept pretty well once I stopped sweating last night.  My motel room did not have A/C but I still liked it.  I got up early, packed Red Velvet and headed off to Glacier.  It was 61F when I left and the weather was perfect, Big Sky country it was.  After about 30 minutes I saw a small restaurant called Junction Cafe and had the best eggs, sausage and flapjack.  Flapjacks,  I like saying that better than pancakes, they just sound more macho.  When did central Ohio get away from saying flapjack?

After that, I rode hard and fast straight to the mountains and took many pictures.  Every time I went around a corner, the scene was better than the last.

Then I saw this and had to stop for a picture.

It is impressive to see the pride of the Indians.  After about 45 minutes of riding hard, I finally arrived at Glacier Park, and as Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty says, I was Happy, Happy, Happy!

Well the picture does not show it, but you know, ha!  I met a really nice park ranger and gave me advice to get where I wanted and it turns out she was stationed in Misawa, Japan...which is where I was born.  A nice USAF retired lady.  So I road US 49 to 89 to get to East Gacier.  Wow, US 49 is a really cool road, drive or ride it if you can. Then I was finally on the famous Going To The Sun Road.  Google it to learn more and make yourself a note to drive, ride or travel it.  It is simply spectacular.

Red Velvet looking good.

Red Velvet took this great shot.  I wish I did not block out the view.  We had lunch on this ledge and at the advice of my son Zach, I meditated.  I forgot about everything and was one with the mountains, then I woke up and made sure I did not fall.  It was about 1,000 feet down. 

We then rode up to the famous Logan's Pass, I think 6,800 feet.  

I filled my water bottle up at this waterfall.  There are tons of waterfalls in the park.  The water was ice cold and very tasty.

Everything about the park and Going To The Sun Road is spectacular and just confirms how beautiful the parks are of our nation.  All of you should promise yourself to visit them more.

So around 4 pm, I decided to make a break for the border.  I had an itch to get to Canada, a step closer to Alaska.  It took me 4 hours to get to Calgary.  You might ask why I was in a rush?  Well Red Velvet has an appointment in the morning to be shod with new shoes (new tires) and an oil change.  I put on some Rush, Neil Young and just a bit of White Stripes on my headphones and crossed the border with no worries.  The metric system messed with me for about an hour then I got used to it.  Canada has very efficient small signs with strange hyroglifics.  I will need to study their meanings.  I saw a lot of cows and actually finally saw the machine that creates those giant rolls of hay.  The machine kind of worked like a Pez dispenser.  I bet the cows look at it the same way we do Pez candy.  

So I finally got to Calgary and checked to a Motel 8 for the tune of $179 per night. I was reluctant but signed on the dotted line. I go to the room to shower and noticed the room was hot and the A/C not working...not good.  I asked the front desk if the could check into it while I was at dinner.  I ate here and had an awesome steak and salad.

While at dinner, Chase texted me asking about a charge at the Super 8 and it was $400 or so.  Geez, I went back to the hotel, my room was hot, about 85F.  I went to the desk and complained and the manager said it was standard protocol and I told him I was leaving.  I packed Red Velvet and we went on a late night stroll looking for a room.  We got lucky and found a room after checking four places out.  I am at a Holiday Inn for the first time in 25+years and I like it and it is only $169 a night, take that Motel 8!

One good thing did come out of the Motel 8 nightmare.  I got this picture of this car and posted because I know my friend Dave Clark would appreciate it.  

I need to get some horns for Red Velvet.  Good Night my friends, enjoy.