Dry Gulch to Lucerne Lake June 6, 2011

Wow, what majesty!  There is nothing as awesome as the Canadian Rockies!! – except  the One who created them!  This has been a breath-taking day – massive mountains; some with trees, some just rock, lots of snow, and many beautiful waterfalls from the melting snow  – pictures or words cannot describe what we saw!

We were disappointed when we made our first pull-off after leaving our campground to discover we had left our step stool behind.  A big disappointment for Merrills since they had just gotten it before this trip. 

It was the perfect  day for seeing Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in Alberta – sunny & light jacket weather.  Someone told us Moraine Lake was not even open last week – still too much snow.  We stopped often throughout the day to take pictures!  Oh the beauty of Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, Columbia Icefield, Tangle Creek, etc., etc., etc.!!

We did our first Canada gas fill-up today - $167.00!!  During the course of our travels today we saw 3 black bears, 2 grizzly bears, a group of mountain sheep, 2 elk together, a small deer and Stan thinks he saw 2 otters in one of the lakes (through the binoculars).

We entered Pacific Time Zone about 8:30 p.m., having had such a wonderful day but so tired!  Pizza from the freezer seemed to be the easiest supper to prepare as we set up at Lucerne Lake Provincial Park!  The guys were almost overtaken by mosquitoes when they got out of the RV to set up.  A site close to the lake provided a peaceful setting for a good night’s sleep after our 252 miles.

Posted by Mary Jane 6-7-11

Glacier Campground to Dry Gulch in Provincial Park British Columbia, Ca.

This morning (Sunday) after breakfast and we held our own worship service along with our daily devotional before officially starting our day of travel.  While the ladies were preparing to leave Stanley and I went to the campground office so we could access the internet.  We left the campground about 10:00 this morning heading out route 2 and onto to U.S. 93 toward Canada.  It is interesting that the route number stays the same even after we entered into British Columbia.  We were delighted that we were ushered through customs without any problems.  On our travel today we came upon a 250^th year celebration of the explorer who was responsible for mapping out the area around Fort Steele, B.C.  This was a big celebration in the old village of “Fort Steele” where they have old buildings and equipment from the old days.  We stopped and walked through the old town and took pictures.

Our travels today took us 225 miles to a provincial Park approximately five miles south of Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. arriving about 6:30 this evening.  This campground is a primitive campground without hookups and of course no internet access.  Stanley and I were able to assemble our portable grill in time to cook out hamburgers for supper at the camp site.  We enjoyed sitting around a campfire after supper until almost dark and the mosquitoes got too bad.  

Even though I am preparing this narrative while it is fresh on my mind I will have to post it to the blog later.

Posted by Merrill on 6-7-11

Glacier National Park

Today we gave the R.V. a rest from travel and used the car to ride around in Glacier National Park.  It was a very interesting day seeing the Lakes, streams, water falls, and snow capped mountians.  Here are a few photos even though photos simply cannot show all the beauty that is so much a part of this park.

Blog posted by Merrill

Our Camp Site



Entrance to the Park

Snow Capped Mountain in Glacier National Park

Stanley,Mary Jane, Marie, & Merrill

General Store in "Two Medicine" within Glacier National Pk.

Mary Jane Building a Snow Man



More Snow In Glacier National Park



Merrill Walking Back From "Trick Falls"





Bozeman, Mt to Glacier Mt.

Yesterday we woke up to overcast skies and cool temperatures.  We left Bear Canyon Campground about 8:45.  As we traveled along we were amazed at the magnificent terrain of the Big Sky State.  As we were approaching Butt, MT. and nearing the Continental Divide it began to rain.  The rain was a mere drizzle and just as we were crossing the Continental Divide to our amazement we saw snowflakes mixed with the rain. To see snow falling in June was a real treat for us southerners.  As were traveling along U.S. 93 we spotted a road named Detwiler Road so I just had to stop and take a picture.  Near the end of our travel day, as we were driving along the east side of Flathead Lake, a small brown bear came up from the lake and ran across the road in front of us and scrambled up the side of the mountain.  We traveled 338 miles and saw so much amazing scenery; arriving here about 5:30pm.

We are camping at Glacier Campground about a mile from the west entrance to Glacier National Park. After setting up and supper we went into Glacier Park to see if we could spot any wild animals at dusk; no animals were in sight.  We got back to the camper late, thus the delay in posting our daily blog.

Morning Devotional in the R.V. 

Leaving Bear Canyan

Road sign along the way in MT

Wild Flowers along the way in MT

This is where we saw snow fluries

Baby Brown Bear Scrambling Up the Mountain

Blog posted by Merrill

Casper, Wy. to Bozeman, Mt.

This morning we left the Casper East Campground at about 8:15 and stopped at a Walmart store where we purchased a binocular to use on this trip. Today, June 2^nd is a special day for me; my birthday.  I am so grateful for all who sent birthday greetings my way.  We ate our lunch in the R.V. while driving and soon after lunch we stopped in Hardin, Mt. at a Dairy Queen where Stanley informed me that they were treating me at the D.Q. for my birthday. 

The drive through Wyoming was beautiful however we all agreed that the mountains and all were more scenic in Montana.  Each state seems to have its own unique features; we were reminded as we traveled that we are blessed to live in the United States and now we have the privilege to see and enjoy more of God’s creation in this great land of ours.

We arrived at Bear Canyon Campground here in Bozeman, Mt. about 5:45pm.  When we stepped out of the R.V. we knew for sure that we were out of the South and the heat that was almost unbearable.  It was about 46 degrees and the high for the day was only in the seventies.  Our camp site has mountains surrounding it and we can see snow patches left over from their "winter" snow fall.  The wind was blowing, it was overcast, and a rain shower set in soon after we arrived so we stayed inside most of the evening.  The rain didn’t last very long and sun actually was shining for a while before sunset.

Today we traveled 411 miles which was a bit over our plan of traveling around 300 miles per day or stop at 3pm whichever comes first.  Our goal tomorrow is to travel to Glacier National Park which is about 300 miles from here.

Entering The Big Sky State

Merrill, Marie, Stanley, & Mary Jane at D.Q.



Snow Covered Mountain



Entrance to Bear Canyon Campground Bozeman, Mt.

Mountain view from our camp site

Colorado Springs, Co. to Casper, Wy.

Today was a good travel day; we left the Goldfield Campground about 8:45am and traveled 341 miles mostly on I-25 arriving at a Good Sam’s campground in Casper, Wyoming about 4:30pm.  The scenery through Colorado and Wyoming is so different then what we are accustomed to in Florida.  Much of the way was very remote desert, snow covered mountains, ranches, and farm land.

Of course when we get set up at a campground that has wireless internet access Stanley and I get out our laptops and check in with the rest of you via email, facebook,  and our blog; http://detweiler-shirkalaska.blogspot.com

We appreciate all of you following us and welcome your comments and replies.

Blog posted by: Merrill

Merrill and Stanley staying connected.

Excitement during our travels




Corn Chip Bag ready to Explode

This is a picture of a bag of corn chips that was stored in one of our outside compartments.  While traveling through New Mexico the heat apparently caused this bag to blow up like a balloon.  When we discovered it we took it inside the R.V. thinking it would deflate while in room temperature.  While driving yesterday we heard a loud "pop". All of us were wounding what happened until we saw the deflated bag of corn chips.  It gave us a good excuse to eat chips.

Posted by Merrill

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