Archive for the ‘Big Trip’ Category

2007 07 03 – Big Trip – Day 64 – Banff Town

Saturday, July 14th, 2007

Tunnel Mountain Campground, Banff, Alberta, Canada. Odometer – 6293

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Resting near the summit of Sulphur Mountain, Banff

We spent the day in the Banff town area. In the morning we went to the Whyte Museum, to learn about the art and history of the Canadian Rockies. We started with a heritage tour outside the museum. The knowledgable guide took us to see the homes of 2 prominent Banff families. From these homes, we learned much about Banff’s beginnings and culture. It was hard to keep Shir and Orr from trying to touch the many different artifacts lying about the room though. (more…)

2007 07 02 – Big Trip – Day 63 – Banff National Park

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007

Tunnel Mountain Campground, Banff, Alberta, Canada. Odometer – 6280

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Mountain sheep near Lake Minewanka, Banff National Park

We woke up really late today and by the time we left the campground for a hike it was almost noon. We drove to Johnson Lake, not far from the campground, for a 3km walk around the water. Lots of families come there because it is an easy walk plus there is a nice sandy beach with picnic tables. Some kids even swam in the water. As we parked we saw a family with kids slightly older than ours unload a large canoe. We later saw them paddling on the water. (more…)

2007 07 01 – Big Trip – Day 62 – Canada Day in Banff

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007

Tunnel Mountain Campground, Banff, Alberta, Canada. Odometer – 6250

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MapleLeaf Grille, Banff

Today is Canada Day, celebrating 140 years of Canadian Independence. I wore a red and white shirt to show my support. We wanted to celebrate in a happening place, so we drove as early as we could from the campground to Banff. Banff is both name of a National Park, and a town of 7500 people situated in the park. (more…)

2007 06 30 – Big Trip – Day 61 – Waterton Lakes and Southern Alberta

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007

Willow Rock Campground, Kananaskis Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. Odometer – 6212

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Waterton Lakes

Boy was it a mistake to leave the windows closed at the hotel room last night. They must have had the heat on, because we were all just sweltering all night long. The children woke us up for water several times. We didn’t open the windows to much though, fearing it may get too cold later on at night.

When I got up at 4:45 for a quick morning hike, it was still very hot in the room. (more…)

2007 06 29 – Big Trip – Day 60 – Across to Canada

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007

Kilmorey Inn, Waterton Township, Alberta, Canada. Odometer – 6011

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Waterton Townsite local deer

Shabbat Shalom.

We started today in the US and ended in Canada. We began the day in Glacier National Park, driving into an area called Many Glacier. It is a beautiful part of the park that I wanted to see before leaving. We parked near the end of the road and took a two mile hike to Lake Josephine. People returning from the hike warned us that they saw fresh bear scat (poop, droppings) on the trail and to be careful. (more…)

2007 06 28 – Big Trip – Day 59 – Glacier National Park

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007

KOA St Mary’s Campground, near Glacier National Park, Montana. Odometer – 5920

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Ron checking te water at Two Medicine Lake, Glacier aAtional Park

Today was not a very successful touring day. We spent most of the day in the RV driving to the east of Galcier, because we couldn’t use the famous Going to the Sun road. The single lane highway took longer than expected especially when following a double semi trailer up a hill. (more…)

2007 06 27 – Big Trip – Day 58 – Glacier National Park

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007

Avalanche Creek Campground, Glacier National Park, Montana. Odometer – 5770

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Resting at Trail of the Cedars, Glacier National Park

We had pancakes at the KOA for breakfast, Orr loves them. She and Shir keep asking from more maple syrup though. We need to make sure they don’t develop too much of a sweet tooth.

We drove a few miles into Glacier National Park and took care of business before enjoying nature: I bought tickets for an afternoon boat tour of Lake McDonald, and we checked into the campground. This campground is at the trailhead of two nice hikes. We did the Trail of the Cedars, which is an interpretive walk; this means that it has plaques explaining different features of the park as you walk along. The trail is about a mile long, and the big success with the children came at the end, when we discovered a hollow tree that all three could walk into. (more…)

2007 06 26 – Big Trip – Day 57 – Getting to Glacier

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007

KOA Campground, West Glacier, Montana. Odometer – 5718

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Flathead Lake, Montana

We are parked 2 miles outside of Glacier National Park. Today was the last of the boring drive days crossing through Montana to get here. In the morning I left Paola and the kids at the campground playground and took the RV to the repair shop. They fixed 4 out of the 6 problems and in just over one hour. The two remaining problems are not showstoppers – the generator sometimes hiccups, and the A/C doesn’t cool as much as it should. (more…)

2007 06 25 – Big Trip – Day 56 – A Carousel for Missoula

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007

Jellystone Campground, Missoula, Montana. Odometer – 5550

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Ron holding on, A Carousel for Missoula, Montana

We got up not knowing what we will do today. We have to fix a bunch of stuff in the RV (leaky faucet, noisy water pump, cabinet door not closing) and the traveler’s assistance hotline from Cruise America (the RV company) did not notify us what to do. After holding on the line for 30 minutes, I got an answer that no RV shop in Bozeman will take us today. So we decided to continue to Missoula, a big city 200 miles to the northwest, where we have an appointment tomorrow morning at 10am. The drive was pretty, with nice green fields dotted with cows. We stopped for lunch along route 90 and while Paola prepared the food I took Shir and Orr for a closer look at the bovine wonders. (more…)

2007 06 24 – Big Trip – Day 55 – Scenic Drive to Montana

Sunday, June 24th, 2007

KOA Campground, Bozeman, Montana. Odometer – 5321 miles

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Black Sand Basin, Yellowstone National Park

Shir had a bad night, but aside a cursed predawn hour where both Paola and I tried to comfort her, it was a long sleepful night. We tried to get ourselves organized early, but it was only 10:30 when we finally left the campground. We drove up through the north end of the Teton Park and into Yellowstone. By now, Yellowstone seems like a familiar neighborhood to us. (more…)