Wednesday August 5 (Two Medicine Lake)

Yesterday late afternoon, some black clouds appeared over the mountains behind us and it rained quite hard for ten minutes. The sun then came out and the clouds cleared right away. Later in the evening the temperature dropped away and it was almost cold. The early mornings here are cold but the day usually warms up.


The body is not too bad today after yesterday's horse trek. Walking is fine but my back and shoulders are letting me know about it, LOL!! However, I thought I. Isn't be worse than I am, phew

An American couple arrived last night to stay in the room next to mine, we had quite a chat, their names are Janet and John, LoL, my Taradale HS friends might have a quiet chuckle about this. I worked for many years with a John and when I grew up the 'Janet and John' books were all the rage! 
This morning, an Aussie, from Sydney, moved in on the other side. So we discussed possibilities for Saturday night when the All Blacks (New Zealand) play the Wallabies (Australia) at rugby. 

This will be a very physical game I suspect, almost war like, LoL! 
After my usual latte and pastry for breakfast I grabbed my packed lunch and walked down to the Glacier Lodge to see if I could get on the shuttle to Two Medicine Lake. I was lucky as there were only two seats left. It departs at 12.15 and returns leaving at 5.45. I did book the return trip, LOL, I don't fancy a night out with the bears!!

One thing I have noticed up here is the price of everything. I expected items such as coffee, pastries, other foods, sparkling water, fridge magnets and T-Shirst to be dearer than in the towns and cities, that is not the case. 

In fact things are relatively cheap! For example, a 16 oz latte is $3.50, and my Pellegrino (water) was only $1.49 a bottle.


The Aussie and his wife were also on the shuttle and, after a drive in through some beautiful scenery, we were dropped at the boat ramp. Both boat rides were full with waiting lists but the Aussie's wife did not want to go so he offered me the other ticket he had booked. Initially I said yes but when I found out the hike meant I would have to hang around for the 5.45 shuttle or come straight back on the boat, I decided not to go. It was very windy and overcast, not such a pleasant day today.

I walked up  the road and found a picnic spot, I have certainly eaten my lunch in some beautiful places on this trip. I then walked on to a trail that eventually ends up at Wast Glacier but I just went to the waterfall, lol. Idiot guy with wife and two kids had climbed across to the other side and was having a wee challenge helping his daughter back. It was fairly steep.

It was quite a hike up, rising 260 feet over .6 of a mile but I managed to get up and back down to the store in plenty of time for the 3.15 shuttle. By the time I was finished I had also walked any stiffness from yesterday out of my body!

The trail is actually called the Mt Henry Trail so is on the other side of the mountain form East Glacier. It was only the Aussies and myself on the way back to East Glacier. It is such a beautiful drive into and out of some spectacular scenery.

It is amazing how many motor bikes and cyclists are on the road around and through here. The rock around here is shale so not conducive to climbing. Millions of years ago this area was the sea bed and was then uplifted on an angle. You can see the layers in the rock. Then a glacier came through and gave the valley its shape.

Back at base, the sun came out and it is lovely and warm again although the wind is gusting from time to time and cool it somewhat.