The Hagarstream is on the road

[Smartstream]

We headed to Lake Louise.



The Lake is actually a few miles up a pretty steep grade with warning signs saying not recommended for large vehicles. The the top of the grade is the Fairmont Chateau.



It was a Sunday afternoon and the placed was packed. Cars were parked along side the road almost all the way down the hill.



We drove down the hill to the Visitor Center. Again no place to park so we found a spot a couple of blocks away and walked back. We found an ice cream shop and then Irene and Rascal checked out one of the old skyline gondolas.

[Smartstream]

We did ask if we could drive through the campground at Lake Louise just to check it out. It is at the bottom of the hill so 3 or 4 miles from the lake. We went back to our site at Mosquito Creek.



We thought it was a pretty nice spot.



Looking across Mosquito Creek.



We didn't have hook-ups but they did have potable water and a very pleasant setting.

[Smartstream]

The next day we headed toward Banff. We went by this lake and just had to take a few pictures.

[Smartstream]

We took a quick drive through Banff.



We have been here before so we didn't spend much time, it's a big, busy, tourist type town. This is the Visitor Center.



This is the main drag.



The Masonic Lodge.

[Smartstream]

As you leave the National parks you get into farm area which is fine except the RV parks get scarce. We found one on the edge of Cochrane.



We had been here several years ago on an antique car tour. We were amazed how much the town had grown. There were new housing developments everywhere.



The next morning we headed toward the boarder. We skirted the outskirts of Calgary and went by the ski jumps built for the Olympics.





You can just barely see the bobsled run in the upper center of the picture.



Looking the other way you see the hazy skyline of Calgary.

[Smartstream]

South of Calgary we went by the Nanton Air Museum. We always see the old American by-planes and war planes but when you visit a Canadian air museum you find they were designing and building the same kinds of planes.



Next we passed through Fort Macleod. A lot of character driving through downtown.

[Smartstream]

We made it through the boarder crossing with ease. A few questions about food and booze and then the guard started telling us about his friend's Great Dane. Then he waved us through wishing us a nice day. The crossing is pretty much out in the middle of nowhere so there is a housing compound for the guards. Right out front was a nice log house.





As we approached the East entrance to Glacier National Park we passed Lower Lake Saint Mary.



Here is one of the tour busses that will take you across the Going To The Sun Highway.

[Smartstream]

We stayed just outside the park At Johnson's RV Park, Cabins and Motel. It is an old family run park that is kind of terraced up the hill. We had a beautiful view of the park.



Rascal couldn't get in the café so we got dinner to go. I have to recommend the huckleberry ice cream cake. It is delicious and so big it took Irene and I two nights to eat one piece.



A storm blew in that night with rain, lightening and thunder.



Next morning was nice and sunny.

[Smartstream]

On the east side of Glacier National Park vehicles longer than 21' can only drive into the park about 6 or 7 miles because of the small winding road. We drove in as far as we could just to have a look around.

[Smartstream]

Leaving the park we headed around the south side. Unfortunately we hit another section of road with size restriction so we had to drive nearly all the way to Browning and back adding about 30 miles to the trip. We did see a herd of buffalo.



An interesting railroad bridge passes by a farm.



We crossed the Continental Divide for the last time and entered West Glacier.



We stopped by the Visitor Center and then checked into our campground which was just outside the park. On the west side of the park you can drive a large vehicle in about 17 miles so the next day we headed in. We went as far as the Lodge at Lake McDonald. we drove along the lake but the road is cut through the trees so you really can't see much of the lake. We did pull into a couple of turnouts and then decided to check out the rest of the area.

[Smartstream]

By now the vibration that started several days ago was getting worse and bothering me so I started looking around for shops. I found trans shop in Kalispell that could take a look at it so we headed out. Turned out to be a bad u-joint that they changed and in about two hours we were on our way. We drove through the old downtown area. Notice the guys scaling the second story walls.



This guy looks like he is getting read to wash the window.



I guess the outdoors and mountaineering are big in the area.



The Flathead County Veterans Memorial.

[Smartstream]

We camped in Columbia Falls and this was at the front of the park.



After checking in we drove to Whitefish which was only a few miles away.



The downtown was packed with people so we decided to try again tomorrow.



When we got back to the park we met our new neighbors, Jack and Dottie. They picked this up as a repo and this was their first trip. We had a nice visit talking aluminum.

[Smartstream]

The next day we drove back to Whitefish and actually found a parking place. We wondered around town and Rascal mingled with more of his fans. Irene found these windows.





We found the ice cream shop and then drove by Whitefish Lake which is only a few blocks away.



This is the city beach.

[Smartstream]

As we left Columbia Falls we passed by this Trading Post we had to stop and take a look. The guy had an amazing assortment of mounts, hides, antlers and other interesting stuff. We left with a pair of very large moose antlers and a small black bear rug.



We drove up the west side of Flathead Lake.



Flathead Lake is the largest lake west of the Mississippi River.



On the outskirts of Polson we came across a dealer of classic cars.

[Smartstream]

Polson also had a rather interesting transportation museum. I like the old motorhome.



I really liked this car carrier called "Big Boy's Tonka Toy."



An interesting Model T Boat Tail Racer.



This I believe is about a 1923-25 Model T Roadster. Notice the flying saucer on the roof behind the car.

[Smartstream]

We took a drive out to the Kerr Dam.



We drove around the back side to power plant that houses three generators.



We then took a ride to the top side. The dam is 204' high.



This is looking back to where we were outside the power plant.

[Smartstream]

We stayed at Jim and Mary's RV Park on the out skirts of Missoula. It was a very nice park with lots of trees and grass around all the spaces. We had dinner with Dave and Jeri, Airstream friends we met at a rally a few years ago. Dave picked us up at the park and we had a great dinner and met their daughter Emily and Dave's 94 year old mother. Emily fell in love with Rascal and after dinner took Rascal for a walk around the neighborhood. It was a wonderful evening.

Next we headed toward Coeur D'Alene. How many people do you know who have their own off ramp? This is ours.



We have a bridge too and fishing.



The bridge in the background is the Cyr Bridge.



It's actually pretty tired. If you look closely the far end of the railings are breaking up.

[Smartstream]

We crossed into Idaho.



We stopped at Wallace, an old mining town.



Lots of antique stores and interesting shops. Naturally Rascal met more of his fans and we found a pizza and ice cream shop for our afternoon sustenance.



We found a spot to park in front of the old city hall and fire station.

[Smartstream]

We continued to Coeur D'Alene and stayed at a park a few miles north of town. A few hours later SuEllyn and Brian pulled in with Fred and Ethel towing Lucy. We had been crossing each others paths for a few days and finally met up. We had a nice visit over beverages and snacks.

The next day we took a ride around the east side of Coeur D'Alene Lake.



The highway goes around and over the lake. Very scenic indeed.



It is a large lake with many beautiful homes on the shoreline.



This looks like a nice weekend get away.

[Smartstream]

We made it to the little town of Hamilton and stopped for our afternoon ice cream and then drove east by Swan Lake and Care Lake.



We came across this herd of elk enjoying the afternoon.



On the way back to the park we passed this lot full of vintage trailers.



Several of them were Airstreams.



After dinner we had another nice visit with SuEllen and Brian.