My OperaYellowstone to Glacier
Thursday, June 22, 2006 5:08:35 PM
From: Yellowstone National Park
To: Glacier National Park
Miles: 463
MPG: 46.5
Hey! How D’You Like that Prius?
Gassing up before we left (10 bucks got us about 3 hours) a gang of Harley riders pulled up along side us to inquire what we thought of our Prius. They were very interested in the mileage we had gotten on the way into the park (for a while there, it was up at about 75 miles per gallon, and we have the photos to prove it). Just when you thought you had them pegged…
Jon Gets His Wish…Partially
As we headed out of the park the following morning, we were stopped by a ranger who pointed out the mother grizzly bear guarding both a carcass and her two cubs. (Note to our mothers: We remained safely where the ranger told us to be at all times. We swear. There was never any danger. And anyway, there were plenty of people there we could have outrun if need be.)
While we were waiting with the throngs of other tourist, one guy in an RV came up to us to tell us that he was driving his sisters RV, and that he told her he was taking such good care of it that he got passed by a hybrid – had to get him in line respecting the Prius, so we zoomed past him as soon as they opened the road.
Grizzly sighting complete, we set off for the 9 hour drive through Montana into Glacier National Park.
Not much to say about the drive through Montana. Very big sky.
Glacier National Park
The snow pack hasn’t melted yet, so it is pretty tough to tell what is glacier and what is just old snow. Either way, it’s beautiful up here, if a bit chillier than expected. (The photo below was taken in 45 degree weather, leading to much head shaking on Jon’s part at Jessica’s poor packing choices.)
Before heading back to our camp site, we stopped at a dive bar just outside of the park for a beer and a game of pool. The bar was featuring a “beer bash” – 10 bucks got you all the PBR you could drink between 7 and 11 p.m. (none, in Jessica’s case, though it was clear within minutes that hers was not the majority opinion). We decided to leave after Jon was accosted by a very drunk local eager to relive his glory days in the 1st Armored Division (Jon was outed by his t-shirt). When Jon told him he had been in Baghdad the man said approvingly, “I hope you bagged a few of ‘em for me.” Jon’s response was something along the lines of, “Um…yeah…so where did you say you were in Nam?”
It’s now about an hour later and Jon is fighting the wind to get our dinner going while I am writing to you. The campfire cookery is working surprisingly well, though everything has a faint taste of pine. Except for the stove-top stuffing, which is nothing short of fabulous.
Tomorrow we are off for a long hike and, hopefully, a horse ride. More to follow soon…
To: Glacier National Park
Miles: 463
MPG: 46.5
Hey! How D’You Like that Prius?
Gassing up before we left (10 bucks got us about 3 hours) a gang of Harley riders pulled up along side us to inquire what we thought of our Prius. They were very interested in the mileage we had gotten on the way into the park (for a while there, it was up at about 75 miles per gallon, and we have the photos to prove it). Just when you thought you had them pegged…
Jon Gets His Wish…Partially
As we headed out of the park the following morning, we were stopped by a ranger who pointed out the mother grizzly bear guarding both a carcass and her two cubs. (Note to our mothers: We remained safely where the ranger told us to be at all times. We swear. There was never any danger. And anyway, there were plenty of people there we could have outrun if need be.)
While we were waiting with the throngs of other tourist, one guy in an RV came up to us to tell us that he was driving his sisters RV, and that he told her he was taking such good care of it that he got passed by a hybrid – had to get him in line respecting the Prius, so we zoomed past him as soon as they opened the road.
Grizzly sighting complete, we set off for the 9 hour drive through Montana into Glacier National Park.
Not much to say about the drive through Montana. Very big sky.
Glacier National Park
The snow pack hasn’t melted yet, so it is pretty tough to tell what is glacier and what is just old snow. Either way, it’s beautiful up here, if a bit chillier than expected. (The photo below was taken in 45 degree weather, leading to much head shaking on Jon’s part at Jessica’s poor packing choices.)
Before heading back to our camp site, we stopped at a dive bar just outside of the park for a beer and a game of pool. The bar was featuring a “beer bash” – 10 bucks got you all the PBR you could drink between 7 and 11 p.m. (none, in Jessica’s case, though it was clear within minutes that hers was not the majority opinion). We decided to leave after Jon was accosted by a very drunk local eager to relive his glory days in the 1st Armored Division (Jon was outed by his t-shirt). When Jon told him he had been in Baghdad the man said approvingly, “I hope you bagged a few of ‘em for me.” Jon’s response was something along the lines of, “Um…yeah…so where did you say you were in Nam?”
It’s now about an hour later and Jon is fighting the wind to get our dinner going while I am writing to you. The campfire cookery is working surprisingly well, though everything has a faint taste of pine. Except for the stove-top stuffing, which is nothing short of fabulous.
Tomorrow we are off for a long hike and, hopefully, a horse ride. More to follow soon…
