Canadian Rockies Day 13

Left Fargo at 6:30 am (mountain time).

ETA home: 11:30 pm (Eastern time).

CanadianRockies Day 12

Left hotel around 8 am. Now driving through prairie. Entered North Dakota - my 48th state!

Stopped at Theodore Roosevelt National Park and drove the 36 mile loop through the badlands. Many prairie dog towns. Saw one buffalo close-up and a herd. J liked the horse ranch.

Spent the night in a hotel in Fargo, ND.

Canadian Rockies Day 11

Saw a grizzly bear when we were leaving Waterton, also saw a cougar cross Chief Noonday Road between Waterton and Glacier. Drove to Glacier and drove the Going to the Sun Road through the middle of the park. B & M enjoyed the Weeping Wall where I got water poured in my window.

Spent the night at hotel in Great Falls, MT. Kids swam in pool and we had supper at Pizza Hut.

Canadian Rockies Day 10

Took 9:00 ferry to Crypt Lake Trailhead. Hiked 10.7 miles round-trip. Up, then down. Near the top of the hike was a steel ladder to a tunnel through the mountain. This was the kids' favorite part. The goal was Crypt Lake, which is surrounded by mountains and right on the border of the US. Many huge waterfalls on this route, too.

Kids were troopers, but tired by the end. We made the 4:00 ferry with about 5 minutes to spare.

Came back to camp to clean up and rest, then had a great supper at Zum's in Waterton.

Canadian Rockies Day 9

A little blue sky! The sun is peeking out through the clouds and all seems much better. Hung out towels and tent to dry as we packed the car and headed out to Waterton Lakes.

Stopped in Canmore for a taste of civilization: McD's and a grocery store. Stocked up on food for a couple more days of camping and mailed our postcards. Nice town with everything you need in a gorgeous setting in the mountains.

Arrived at Waterton Lakes Townsite Campground late afternoon. It's right in town and it's nice to be close to services again. Campsite is large and has a great view of the lake and surrounded by mountains. Campsite is full of ground squirrels (prairie dog) holes and many deer are wandering around. It's super windy her. Good thing we could stake down the tent because it's like a big kite trying to fly away.

We set up camp and made spaghetti for dinner and grilled up some Italian garlic bread. Yummy! Then we walked into town and skipped stones by the marina and ate ice cream.

The kids and M played soccer on our campsite, then read for awhile in the tent. It's quite windy here, but nice to be dry and warm again.

Canadian Rockies Day 8

Still raining. We stayed pretty dry overnight, but it was very cold.

Scrapped plans to hike Iceline Trail, which M really wanted to do. Stayed in the tent for breakfast, then got a short reprieve where it was just sprinkling, so we drove up to Takkakaw Falls and hiked up the falls a bit.

Decided to use our rainy day for souvenir shopping, so drove to town of Banff. B got a hockey jersey, J a stuffed horse she named Jasper, and I got a t-shirt.

Had a late lunch at Tommy's Neighborhood Pub (had to talk the kids out of McDonalds) and visited many shops. Could've spent more time in town, but it was raining pretty hard, so we headed out. Stopped in Field on the way home for a hat for M, bread and postcards.

Eventually stopped raining enough to coax a fire going and cook some pancakes and sausage for dinner. Smores also greatly improved my mood. Looking forward to better weather, which is forecasted for tomorrow.

Canadian Rockies Day 7

Rained hard overnight and tent was a little wet, but everyone got a good night's sleep. Left camp around 9:30 for Inverness, BC, where we rafted Toby Creek  through Kootenay River Runners. Saw young black bear on the drive in. Rafted with guide, Danny, and the kids loved the Class III rapids - especially "The Cheese Grater." Blake fell into the raft once, but no one fell out. There was a father and son in our raft, too, named Bryce and Hunter from Calgary (originally New Zealand). Raft ride was around an hour and we could've gone longer. Very fun.

Saw mother moose and calf on our way to the raft put-in.

After rafting we went to Radium Hot Springs and soaked in the hot pool (supposedly 104 degrees, but felt to us around 100). It was the warmest pool by far that we'd ever been in. While we soaked we watched a skit about the history of the hot springs. The kids swam in the cool pool (84 degrees) too.

We ate ice cream cones at the hot springs, then headed back toward our campground. It had started to rain, so we stopped at a lodge for fish and chips (grown-ups) and pizza (kids). We were pleasantly surprised by the tasty food and figured it would be better than cooking in the rain.

We stopped by the Spiral Tunnels near our campground. We learned that the railroad grade was too steep, so they designed a spiral track through the mountains to increase safety. Kinda cool.

When we got back to camp, we found that Yoho had a huge thunderstorm. Our tent had moved (!) and was soaked inside and out. Fortunately we had taken most of our stuff with us, but all of our bedding was wet. We took it all to a lodge in Field to use their dryers. It took 45 minutes and three twonies ($6) to dry everything enough to (hopefully) survive the night.

Canadian Rockies Day 6

Broke camp fairly leisurely and headed to Yoho National Park - only about 30 minutes. First time for all in British Columbia!

Kicking Horse Campground is first-come/first served and they're the only full-service campground in Yoho, but we got a gorgeous site right on the river with mountain and waterfall views. Very nice.

Had lunch, then went to Emerald Lake and walked the 3.5 km route around the lake, partly in the rain. Beautiful wildflowers and mountain views. Great little resort up there, too. Returned to campsite to chill out and have supper. Our day of rest.

Canadian Rockies Day 5

Got up at 7:15 and broke camp early. It sprinkled while we packed up, but not too badly. Headed south toward ice fields and stopped at Sumwapta Falls on the way.

Had 11:00 Ice Cubes Tour with Bernard Faure. He looked like a French-Canadian Grandpa F. and had been giving outdoor tours for most of his life. There was a couple from Pennsylvania and a family from Ottawa also in our group.

We climbed up the glacier and learned a lot about it. The glacial streams down the ice were cold and clear. (And tasted good, according to M and the kids.) We also got to look down a deep mill well. The tour lasted over 3 hours and it was a lot of walking uphill on icy, snow-like conditions. The kids were real troopers and we were glad we had our fleeces and full rain gear and starburst candies. :)

After the ice tour we were all bushed. We ate a picnic lunch by the ice field visitor center, then we drove to Lake Louise to see the lake. Beautiful.

After a campground supper, we drove to Moraine Lake and climbed the big rock pile for a great view of the lake. Returned to the campground, which was packed full and had a lot of train activity. This is also the campground with the electric bear fence.

Canadian Rockies Day 4

Ate breakfast at hotel, then drove approximately 4 hours to Jasper National Park. Beautiful! Saw mountain goats right away, then saw a grey wolf.

Arrived at Jasper Tramway around 12:15 and got tickets for 12:36 tram. Ate a quick pb lunch in parking lot, then took tram to top of Whistlers Mountain (named after sound made by hoary marmots). Hiked from tramway station to summit (1.5 km). Steep in many places, but the kids were troopers. They had picked out a treat at the gas station to enjoy at the top. It was a clear day and we had spectacular views. Saw a marmot at the top. Hiked and took tram back down, then headed to Wabasso Campground. It was nice, but fairly rustic and not too full.

Saw a mother bear and two cubs!

Cooked an ealry supper (hot dogs), then headed out to explore the Maligne Canyon. Hiked from visitors center to bridge 4. Spectacular example of water's ability to carve into rock.

Drove to town of Jasper  and walked around and got ice cream, then drove to Athabasca Falls.

Went back to campsite and finished setting up camp. M and kids played down by Athabasca River smashing rocks. ("9 out of 10 rangers would not approve.") Stayed up late because it didn't get dark until around 11:30 pm. Slept well - it rained a little overnight.

Canadian Rockies Day 3

Had breakfast at hotel and left by 8 am. Uneventful drive through Manitoba (Yellowhead Hwy). Lots of beautiful farmland including canola fields (bright yellow flowers).

Ate at Wendy's in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Arrived at Comfort Inn in Edmonton at 9:30. Kids took a quick dip in the pool (closed at 10 pm) and each enjoyed their own bed, since we were updgraded to a room with a king, double and pull-out couch. Slept well and had breakfast at hotel, then left around 8 am.

Canadian Rockies Day 1-2

Left home at 6pm. Supper at McD's in Reed City. Drove until 2 am (White River, ON), then took a roadside nap until 5 am. Took off again and enjoyed beautiful scenery of northern shore of Lake Superior. Very rocky and gorgeous pines and birches. Ate breakfast at the Hoito in Thunder Bay. Arrived in Winnipeg at 6 pm and ate supper at Subway. Kids loved pizza sub. Stayed at Quality Inn.

Deep South Day 8

We had Arch tickets for 9:40, but they let us in early. Fun ride up and great views at the top. Today was much less busy than yesterday. B liked see Busch Stadium (Cardinals) from the Arch and watching the cars below.

Left St. Louis at 10:30 central time. ETA home is 6:12 Eastern.

Deep South Day 7

Went to the Arch first thing, but tickets weren't available until later in the day, so we bought tickets for tomorrow morning. Explored the Western Expansion Museum and the baseball display.

Drove to the Budweiser Factory and took tour (free!). J saw her beloved Clydesdales and bought a plush one. She did not like the smell of hops that permeated the first half of the tour. B liked the packaging plant. M & I liked the "hospitality room" - 2 free beers, pretzels and pop. J could watch the horses from here so she liked it too.

Lunch at Steak and Shake, then headed to the Zoo. One entrance was closed, so parking was crazy. M dropped us off at the entrance, but soon found us again after he parked.
Zoo was great. The kids especially liked the big cats, hippos, penguins and monkey house (lemurs!). B bought a plush lemur that he's been wearing around his neck.

Went back to hotel to relax for a little while and enjoy our nice big room. Then we took a scenic tour to see St. Charles Sand (where M shoots fireworks for 4th of July) and ate at Applebees. Stopped at Cabela's on the way back to the hotel.

Deep South Day 6

Mississippi is a looooong state. The only highlight of the drive so far was taking the long bridge across Lake Ponchartrain, and that was right at the beginning of our trip. Mississippi has been mostly wooded. Pretty, but monotonous. Arrived at hotel in St. Louis and kids went swimming.

Deep South Day 5

Starting to rain in Orange Beach as we leave. Stop at a store for souvenirs and to replace M's sunglasses that were consumed by the Gulf.

Arrive at Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours in Slidell, LA at 1:30. Swamp tour was great with Capt. Cousins. A lot of Louisiana history, culture and wildlife info. Saw a small alligator sunning on someone's dock. Saw two adult alligators and got great pictures. They were right alongside the boat. Also saw some rare birds (swallowtailed kites) and toured the swamp, a flooded forest. Very cool.

Found the apartment building where our cat, Bailey, came from! It was still damaged from the hurricane - the whole neighborhood has not been fixed up. The building is like a home divided into apartments in a neighborhood of similar buildings. We didn't see any cats.

Checked into hotel and headed to French Quarter for supper. Ate shrimp po'boys at Crescent City Brewhouse on Decatur Ave. Live jazz.

Bought B a Saints hat at a souvenir shop and walked up and down Decatur. Crossed the railroad tracks and kids and M touched the Mississippi River.

Deep South Day 4

Drove to Pensacola, Florida (30+ minutes) to watch Blue Angels practice at the Naval Aviation Museum at 8:30 am. Also saw many old military aircraft.

Drove back to hotel and spent the rest of the morning at the pool and beach. After lunch we drove to the Tanger Outlet Mall where I shopped and the kids ate ice cream.

Back to the hotel for more swimming. Very windy today and cooler.

Went to supper at Lambert's Cafe - home of the "throwed rolls." J caught 2 rolls, M & B each caught one. (J yelled, "Hey, roll guy!" to get her second.) The kids were offered possum for dinner, but ate chicken strips and grilled cheese. We also tried southern dishes like fried okra, cabbage and fried potatoes and onions.

Deep South Day 3

Drove to Orange Beach, AL. Arrived around 3:00. Checked in to our ocean-front room at the Holiday Inn Express. Swam in ocean and pool. Beautiful and sunny. Sand is white and very fine. Good waves.

Drove into Gulf Shores looking for a Pizza Hut and finally found one. It was buffet night and kids eat free. Yum!

Deep South Day 2

Got up and had breafast at the hotel. Drove 10 minutes to Mammoth Cave National Park. Took 8:45 Historic Tour through the natural opening. Liked squeezing through "Fat Man's Misery" and "Tall Man's Agony." Experienced total darkness 300 feet below ground level. Tour took 2 hours, but it went quickly. Kids were nervous at first, but they were excited, too.

After the tour, we picnicked under a pavillion and the kids and I chilled in the shade while M explored a trail to the Green River.

Our next tour was the New Entrance Tour at 1:00. We took a shuttle from the Visitors Center to the entrance, which looks like a cement phone booth on the edge of a sinkhole. The entrance is impressive inside - very narrow, twisty and tons of steps. It was hard to imagine visitors in the 1920's navigating down on ropes! Our guide was Jerry Brandsford, whose great-great...Grandfather was a slave who was leased out as a cave guide in the mid-1800's.

The kids were on the lookout for bats, but we never saw any - we only saw one huge spidery-bug thing. Creepy.

Left Mammoth and headed toward Alabama. B lost a tooth in the car, just north of the Tennessee border.

Checked in to hotel (Quality Inn) in Athens, Alabama. Were told that there's not much to do in Athens, but Huntsville is nearby. We had supper at Logan's Roadouse, complete with peanut fight in the parking lot.

Went back to hotel and watched Duke beat Butler in NCAA basketball championship.

Deep South Day 1

Lef home after Easter service, around 1:00 pm. Arrived in Cave City, KY around 9:30 and stayed at Comfort Inn.