West Coast Adventure - Day 7

It's picture day! I decided to spend a day not heading west so that I could tour one of our great national parks. I got up early, hit the road at 7:30AM, and headed back east to the western entrance of Glacier National Park.

Sun keeping me warm as I head to Glacier National Park

Lake McDonald as the haze obscures the mountains at the northeast end of the lake

The only blemish on the day was this woman, who felt it was appropriate to stand at the edge of the lake, talking loudly into her cell phone, swearing like a drunken sailor, completely oblivious to the wonderful setting she was ruining.

Rushing waters

Small waterfall

Lake McDonald, without the cursing woman :)

Me, at "the loop" with Heaven's Peak in the background

The is the a shot from the east entrance of the park, I got out just before the rain came over the mountains

Me and Black Max at the east entrance to the park

View of the park from US-89, after the rain had passed

Stopped at the Glacier Village Restaurant & Gift Shop for some refreshing beverages

One thing I noticed on the trip today was that most of the bicyclists were traveling from east to west. I only remember passing a couple of bikes heading from west to east. I have a feeling the ride from east to west has more "downhill" to it than the trip from west to east.

This unscheduled stop was a great distraction from just heading down the highway. I got enough of a taste to know that it would be fun to come back here for a longer vacation and actually see more of the park and do some hiking to see some of the glaciers.

Today was the first day, since day 2, that rain was in the forecast. I managed to stay dry the whole day, even when a significant cloudburst followed me out of the park and slammed the east side while I ate lunch at the lodge just outside the park. It poured for a good 10 to 20 minutes and then the sun came back out again, allowing me to travel back to Kalispell without getting more than a few sprinkles on me. :)

All in all, it was a fun day. If one were to plan it well, and weather was not an issue, riding from West Glacier to East Glacier via the Going-To-The-Sun road, US-89, and Montana 49 and then turning around and ride the same way back to West Glacier would make a long but fun day.

212 miles there and back again

I almost forgot to add these scenic Glacier National Park panoramas to the blog. Good thing the day isn't over yet. :)















Tomorrow is another day and another road. :)