GA Gypsies – Fulltiming

It was good to get back and sleep in my bed. Washing clothes, packing some, getting ready to start the journey back south on Wednesday. We are rethinking our route home – may skip Moab and heading south, through all the fires and instead head east – away from the fires and the smoke. Lot’s to get done today and tomorrow. Can’t wait to get home and see my babies. It is going to be strange to get home and not go “home” to our old house.

Whoo – tired! Late check out, then headed back to Bigfork. About  a 6 hour ride. Smoke, smoke, smoke. The fire in Eureka had flared up over the weekend, the fires below Missoula and Seeley Lake and increased. All the locals were saying they had never seen the fires or smoke like this – ever. Fire in Glacier that we rode up to see last week burned the historic Sperry Chalet – such an iconic landmark of Glacier. Hurricanes in the south and east, fires like crazy in the west. The sky with all the smoke blocking out the sun was so eerie – surreal. So many people have lost their homes, ranches, businesses. Pray for snow out here – it’s the only thing that will stop the fires.

We decided to stay another night so we could go to Lake Moraine also, so we checked out of Invermere and had a reservation in Golden, BC – a bit to the north and west of us, but closer to Lake Louise. We didn’t go until later in the afternoon – you had to take the shuttle between 7:30 AM and 6:30 PM because of limited parking. Well, everybody else had that idea – it took about 45 minutes to go the last 1/2 mile. People were coming out, which opened up some parking, but many, many people disregarded the “No Parking” signs and parked 1/2 on the shoulder and 1/2 on the road, which caused those in the lane going up to have to drive partially in the lane going down. It was a big mess. And once in line, you were stuck. We finally made it, got a parking place and walked down to the lake. Absolutely beautiful, but the self-centered, arrogant people who thought the rules didn’t apply to them made it not as much fun as it should have been. Children running wild – in those mountains and on that lake, the canoe rental was closed, but there were some children untying the canoes and getting in them – park officials had to come and just sit on the dock to keep people from getting in the canoes (with NO paddles) and the wind blowing like crazy. When we got back to hotel, there were a couple of firefighters who came in with their gear still on – all sooty – but both of them stopped at the door and took off their boots before going to their rooms.

God sure knows what He’s doing when He creates beautiful mountains and lakes. Don’t think Heaven can be prettier than this.

Our 38th anniversary. Headed to the Lake Louise ski area. We rode the ski lift up to the top and had lunch in the restaurant – outdoors. Great view of one of the glaciers. Very windy up there.

We could see Lake Louise from the deck of the restaurant. You can barely see the glacier in the picture on the deck.  Headed to the actual lake. It was like being in a different country – so many different nationalities. It was very crowded, but beautiful. The water really is aquamaring blue – it is called “flour” from the grinding of the sand from the glaciers.

Those two huge buildings are hotels – you couldn’t even go in them unless you were a guest staying there.

Restful night in Invermere. Headed to the village of Banff, but first went to the village of Canmore, about 20 miles away and just outside the park. I looked in a quilt store and Tony toured the Farmer’s Market with all the food vendors in the middle of the town – the main 2 blocks were roped off and vendors set up. We ate lunch on the sidewalk of a little cafe,

then headed back to Banff town. It was very, very crowded. Parking was horrible – we didn’t even get out. We rode down the Bow Parkway heading back to Invermere. No animals. Smoky. Turned in for an early night so we could get an early start to the Lake Louise area tomorrow.

 

Got an early start this morning. I got up at 7 AM! Did I tell you where we were going? Banff National Park in Canada. Reservations at the Copper Point Resort in Invemere, which is just outside of Kootenay National Park, which runs into Banff Park. Part of the park is in British Columbia and part is in Alberta. The drive was beautiful. There are some B I G mountans out here.

There are also some active fires. We watched helicopters carrying water across the road to the fires. We took a side turn (imagine that) and went through the small towns of Cranbrook and Kimberly. Went through the border check and we always get checked. They had us pull up the truck, get out, and they searched under seats, in our bags, but nothing in the back of the truck. They asked us where the camper was. Gee – do we look like criminals? Finally on our way again. Kept looking for animals. Just outside of Invemere, I saw black movement in the top of some huckleberry bushes and I yelled “Bear!” My husband asked me if I was sure. Well, we turned around, got back to where I thought he was,

and there were two (cubs).

And then there were three! There was also a carcass in the ditch in front of the huckleberry bushes. I was trying to see if there were elk antlers, but didn’t see any. I was seriously considering getting them! And about that time, I thought, “Three babies. Where’s Mama Bear?” After watching them for about 4 minutes, guess who stood up, looked at me, and took a big whiff and huffed at me?Yep, that would be Mama Bear.

Then she went back to all four legs and waddled off away from me, making some noises for the little ones to follow. Got to our room about 5:00 PM. I was pooped. The resort is really nice. The flowers are absolutely gorgeous. Petunias – still blooming. Coming up, we saw corn that has not even tassled out yet.

And that about sums up today. Tomorrow, we are off for Banff!

Tony got the truck tuned up, ready for our trip tomorrow and then starting home next week. Washed some clothes, paced for our anniversary trip. We are going to Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada! We are staying outside of the park in Invermere, British Columbia. We are supposed to stay Wed. & Thurs. and come back Fri., but I think we will stay Friday night too. There is so much to see and do – I wish we could stay for a month. Probably won’t post again until we get back. Promise some great pictures!

Never knew two people could be so laid back, relaxed, and chilled. Late morning coffee, read some, Tony piddled around outside some. Did wash some clothes and my Bose machine came. Yeah – I can listen to my music. How funny we are sitting in beautiful Montana and we spent this morning on the computer! Still need that technology! Tweeked our anniversary plans a bit. Leaving Wednesday for . . . . . somewhere in . . . . . Canada! Try to guess.

Didn’t make it to church this morning, just too tired. Slept in late. Sitting around in the afternoon, we decided to go to a movie in Kalispell. We saw Wind River – it was pretty good. And then we decided to drive into the park. Got in about 7 PM, drove to Lake McDonald & the lodge. We could seep the Sprague fire burning, but we did not see one single animal, and we were driving out about dark. Disappointed.

Just a lazy, lazy day. Spent much of the morning planning route home through places we want to go without going through mountains to get to Colorado. Tony is grilling supper and I haven’t even gotten dressed today. Resting for church on Sunday and our trip next week, then the following week we will start home. I am missing my two babies.