We've arrived in Canada on this past Sunday a day ahead of schedule. The US government now requires a passport to enter or leave the country and the new rules took effect on June 1st. We've had passports for years but we thought there may be a back-up or long delays on Monday and opted to move up our crossing to Sunday. No problems, no hassles and took about 20 minutes to get through, but most of that was due to only one booth being open for all cars and RV's and one for trucks only.
We had a great time visiting with friends and family back east over the Memorial Day weekend. A whirlwind visit but it was good to see our daughters, son-in-law and grand children. The wedding was spectacular, the fire department dinner predictable, but good and the flights on-time but boring.
GrandMa & Grand kids: Craft Time !
The "Bride & Groom"Can you spot the "fa-gow-eee" indian ???
We headed north on last Wednesday and stopped overnight in Kaycee, Wyoming and then up to Billings, Montana. Eastern Wyoming is a vast open area of prairies and low rolling hills. The state is ranked 50th in population and we probably saw more antelope than people. Eastern Montana has more folks but huge wheat fields and still plenty of cattle and antelope.
We stayed at the Billings Elks Lodge for 2 nights and toured the area with a day trip down to Red Lodge and the entrance to Beartooth Pass. This connects Montana to Wyoming and Yellowstone Park and is closed all winter due to heavy snow accumulation. The US Forest Service opens it in mid-May and they have a big celebration and follow the plows through the Pass on opening weekend. Red Lodge is an eclectic little village nestled below the mountains and ski slopes. We ventured into the Pass area about 20 miles ( the whole Pass is 68 miles of switchbacks and mountain vistas) and found this neat, little lake nestled in the woods around some forest service campgrounds. Great place to relax, fish and hike someday.
Entrance to Beartooth Pass, MT.
Greenough LakeMontana was HOT ! The temps were running in the high 80's and low 90's and our a/c units were crankin' ! This was most unusual for late May. We had dinner at the Billings Elks Lodge both nights and there was country music for dancing on Saturday.
Great Falls was a bit smaller than Billings but still a good sized city and just as hot and we only stayed the one night.
Calgary is cool. Monday the high never got above 58 and the nights are in the low 40's. The sun is out and that helps, but we're using heat pumps instead of a/c. and it's staying light out till almost 10 pm !
Our travelling companions, Gene & Lynn arrived yesterday and will help us explore Canada & Alaska. They're in a 43' Country Coach and have Max, a cute little schnauzer to help them.
We'll be in Calgary for the week and then head for Banff, Lake Louise and the Canadian Rockies.
We'll talk again soon.
Gene & Laurie
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