Cyclones Westward Ho!

There's nothing like traveling the country with longtime friends. We met 40+ years ago at Iowa State University - during our formative teen/early twenties years. Thus, we know each other so well - meeting before we were fully formed adults with opinions on many topics beyond college majors, when the next party was, and who was dating whom. Longtime friendship is a blessing that takes cultivation and nurturing. It's worth the effort!  

Our recent trip west was hatched a year ago with Vicki & Fred Behr and Steve (Moose) & Kay Wilt. We've experienced two other great adventures with this group - Alaska in 2019 and Utah in 2021. It was time to go again - especially since we're now ALL retired. This trip was based around driving to two main Rocky Mountain destinations, Glacier National Park in Montana and Banff in Alberta, Canada. There were also many worthwhile stops on the way there and back.  

A BIG thank you to Kay Wilt, who does much of the planning and guiding during our adventures, and she also takes notes. It would have taken me a lot more time to compile this blog without her succinct trip notes. 😍

-We began the Cyclones West trip in Northfield, MN on September 11. Here are some of my fave memories and thoughts on the trip:

The guys packing Ruby in Bozeman

-We rented a giant red Jeep Wagoneer as our partner in travel. We named her Ruby. Moose enjoys driving and is as trustworthy as my dad (high praise) in that role. Fred was fab at filling in as needed. I mostly situated myself as a far-back seat rider. I appreciated Ruby's leg-room and large windows. Vicki tried to smash me flat adjusting the seat that first morning - so the trip started with howling laughter! 

That's a lot of corn!

Chamberlain, SD rest area - Dignity of Earth and Sky - very cool!

This is where I learned my lesson on proper footwear whilst hiking

This Bison posed for us by the sign. We didn't get out of Ruby - we're no Tourons (that's what park rangers call tourist/morons)

-My first job after college was in Sioux Falls, SD. Dad used to travel to parts of SD on his Lorraine Lingerie sales rep route. He hinted that I was conceived there. 😆 I enjoyed seeing some attractions in that state - the Corn Palace, the Dignity Sculpture, and a drive through the Badlands. Note to self: put your hiking shoes on when attempting to climb to a scenic overlook. Birkenstocks are not good for climbing. South Dakota is not that far from Iowa, but boasts so many cool geological formations. 

view of George from the trail

The presidents are looking at us

Needle Eye Tunnel on the Needles Highway

My fave part of Deadwood

 

Excitement on Deadwood Mainstreet

-We started Day 2 at the giant president head park. I'd seen Mt Rushmore twice before, but it never gets old. This time we walked the Presidential Trail which allowed different viewpoints - plus exercise. There were a couple of guys climbing on George W's head with ropes. Crazy! 

He licked the window - we carried his kiss with us until it rained 

-Later that day, the drive to Deadwood from Rapid City was beautiful and cool - on the Needles Highway and a wildlife loop where in his excitement, Paul put his window down. He nearly got smooched by a wild burrow! We got a peek at the Crazyhorse Monument - crazy big.  

- Our stay in Deadwood was enjoyable. So much Western history. Folk Hero Wild Bill Hickok was shot there in Saloon #10 - the result of a fight over cards. The town reminded me of all the Western movies and television shows I was raised on. We wandered the main street in search of a restaurant. They roll up the sidewalks early there - lots of closed places. I was delighted to find an establishment called the Bullock Hotel - named after the town's first sheriff Seth Bullock(not a relative). 

Devil's Tower - before hike around it

A closer look

- The next day we visited the Devil's Tower in Wyoming. Couldn't see it without getting the "Close Encounters" movie theme in my head. It was worth a bit of slow traffic into the park and sharing the trail around it with lots of other people. There were several climbers on the tower up high above us. I was glad to be viewing it from the ground. 

-There's not much between there and our overnight in the cool college town of Bozeman, Montana. We did manage to hunt down a nifty place - Powder River Lanes - for lunch in the tiny town of Broadus, MT. The cafe serves as a restaurant, the Senior Meal Site, a bowling alley, and a one-room casino. The owner was delighted to get a late lunch crowd of six. Local gems like are why the six of us love to drive off of the beaten path. 

-Bozeman is a university town and looks it. I'd like to go back to someday - when I have time to look around more. Kay booked a VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) for one night - huge price savings over three motel rooms. We had breakfast at a great place and then we were off to our first ultimate destination - Glacier National Park! 

Strawberry Rhubarb alamode. Not as good as the one Paul makes

I could have hung out for hours in this place - Seeley Lake

Paul is introducing himself to Gus the Larch

-The drive to our Glacier area lodging took us through some remote areas too. We discovered Pop's Place in Seeley, MT for lunch with pie! The waitress suggested we visit Gus the Giant Larch Tree on our way out of town. Okay, she didn't volunteer the information. Our favorite sleuth pal, Vicki, used her wily ways to ply all sorts of information out of her (and many other unwitting people) along our way. Challenge accepted! Google Maps wasn't great at finding Gus, but we eventually spied him. Worth a visit! I'm having a retirement romance with trees. I love and appreciate them so much. 💓

Arrival in the Glacier area is worth celebrating! 

Our VRBO - outside of the small town

-We stopped in Kalispell to stock up on food and beverages for our 4-night stay in the area. The VRBO, in Martin City, MT, was in a lovely location and was set up well for our group. Making picnic lunches daily and cooking a few basic evening meals works well for us - and saves $. Restaurant food gets tiring. We all share chores - great travel partners.

-The next day we entered Glacier National Park through the west entrance - on Going to the Sun Road. We're lucky that Moose worked here summers as an ISU Forestry student eons ago. So he knows stuff.

First glacier view

 

-Two of the people on the right side of Ruby the Jeep were very leery of looking out of the windows to the sheer drops way below on our way into the park. We were separated from plunging by low fences and Moose's driving skills. 

Horses are important in the park - this underpass allows passage for riders

Our usual picnic fare - with fab views

St Mary's Lake - gorgeous

-There are small parking and pullout areas to take in the fabulous vistas, and use portapotties. The weather gods were good! Nothing like a picnic lunch overlooking beautiful St. Mary's Lake. Bodies of water throughout this trip were gorgeous. I can't get over the various hues of blue and aquamarine blue/green. We snagged a parking place at Logan Pass in the afternoon. Vic and Kay made it to Hidden Lake and saw mountain goats. The stairs on that hike did me in. 

The boardwalk and steps are nice (and killer) Logan Pass

-The next day we drove two hours to another Glacier Entrance - Many Glaciers on the East side. We stopped at some cool lodges in the Park - they were closed or closing soon. Snow comes early in these altitudes. I'm glad we got to see these grand historical resorts, most built with huge native timbers. 

The Lodges at Glacier were worth a stop - such history

Hiked the Swiftcurrent Lake Trail by the Many Glaciers Hotel

Many Glaciers Hotel - closed for the season

-Glacier Day 3 took us back up Going to the Sun. Destination that day was St. Mary's Falls, which requires a hike with beautiful terrain. The falls are gorgeous. The leaves were just starting to turn. Seeing places like this fills me with awe. 

McDonalds Falls - awesome

McDonalds Falls hike

McDonalds Lodge

-Goodbye Glacier NP. Thanks for the views and memz!  Kay's notes include much more information on all of our stops throughout the days - food, groceries, lodging, tips. Reading back through them makes me smile. I'm a lucky gal to have friends like this who put up with me! 

The next day took us north through Customs. We each took our passports and it was a breeze. This is getting long dear reader, so I'll split the trip up. Canada and NoDak deserve their own blog.