As most of our road trips end, this one does with a visit to Abby and David's and the grandchildren Julia and Ethan.
Since we arrived between their birthdays, Abby decided we all should have a special celebration
Today, we spent some time at Carkeek Park beach on Puget Sound to escape the unseasonably hot Seattle weather...
Today we decided that we couldn't do the drive from Glacier to Seattle in one day. So we planned to spend the night in Spokane which is about halfway. Little did we know that the last weekend In June is Hoopfest! Downtown Spokane is turned into hundreds of little basketball courts, roads are closed and the town is jumping...literally. We intend to leave very early.
We are Roadfood fans and we always try to find a little gem along the road. This evening we had dinner at Franks Diner .... great food.
Saturday morning we leave early and on to Seattle and Abby, David, Julia, and Ethan!
Yesterday we spent our last day at Glacier. We entered the park at the east side of the park, thru St Mary's and took at hike at the St Mary's Falls and Bary Falls area. We saw some lovely sights.
Baring Falls
St Mary's Lake
Blackfoot Glacier
One more shot of wildflowers....
The only drawback to these hikes is that as you enter the hiking trail, there is a sign that says "You are entering Grizzely territory"!
We explored this park about 25 years ago. It certainly is time to see it again. We traveled on the Going to the Sun Road from west to east. Magnificent sights ...
A view from Lake MacDonald
Glaciers of course
Logan Pass at the Continental Divide
We will be spending two full days exploring Glacier National Park. We are staying at the Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, MT midway between East and West Glacier. It is on the Empire Builder, Chicago to Seattle Amtrak rail line. The inn was the hotel where the railroad workers stayed. The tracks needed to be cleared of snow and extra locomotor cars needed to be added to the trains to get them over the pass. The present inn dates from 1937. We are staying a restored BN caboose.
Here's our caboose. The smallest one.... "The Honeymoon Caboose"
Very cozy.
The Izaak Walton Inn by the tracks.
Checking out the rolling stock.
We visited Miriam's daughter Zondra and her husband James, Monday and Tuesday.
Monday, we explored Whitefish, where Zondra is a masseuse at the Grouse Mountain Resort. Tuesday, Zondra and James made a wonderful lunch for us... Direct from their garden...Yummy. I was then treated to a luxurious full body massage by Zondra.
Feeling great after a wonderful meal....
