Earl's First Accident in Whitefish, Montana-a lovely town

We rounded the corner watching for the pole, not seeing the roofing that came out to the street.

We caught the corner of the roofing, and it first gouged the trailer side, then pulled the back end away from the frame.  It made such a little sound we were astonished when we got out of the pickup.

After we left (having the police file an accident report), we traveled to an RV dealer.  Pierce RV took off our canopy for free.  First blessing!

I loved that reading light by my recliner!!!  How do we close the back so we can travel from Kalispell to Boise for repairs at the Arctic Fox dealer/RV repair shop?  Pierce RV had the ticket!!  Earl drilled holes on each side near the back - holes went into the cupboards at the back of our trailer inside.  Then another blessing!  Ron, a camper from Florida who used to own boats, suggested ratcheting it closed.

Then Earl fixed another ratchet strap from the luggage rack to the fender.

Now we are on our way to Boise for an estimate, adjustor talk time, and repairs.

We have learned that the gouge can be fiberglassed so now whole new side panel will not have to be installed.  A cap (the end piece) will be purchased from LaGrande and shipped up here.  It will take a week or so once the adjustor approves the estimate, the parts are ordered and it goes into the shop.

Another blessing - the Arctic Fox dealer here will LEND us a trailer while it is in the shop!!  And we are staying at a campground for $13.00 a night (monthly rate).  There are quilt stores and shopping galore.  Earl is now learning how to carve a little Santa Claus and there is a bikeway 10 feet from our campground.  So all is well and we will head to the Fair tomorrow!  Thanks for all your support!

This was on my bucket list-Mammoth Hot Springs in northern Yellowstone.  However, there is very little water bubbling up from the ground and most of it is white and dry.

Sue and George visited us from Klamath Falls and it was wonderful to see "old" friends from Klamath Falls!

Earl cooked a good ol' Low Country Boil from the South...chicken, corn, shrimp, potatoes, and sausage!

Lower Yellowstone Falls

Sue, George, Chris and Earl hike down to Lower Yellowstone Falls.  Shahela wanted a day off so we stayed at the campground, walked to town for lunch and relaxed!!!

523 steps to the bottom!  Sue counted 32 steps, then rested, 32 steps, then rested on the way back.  So did everyone else but young Chris!

Maligne Canyon and Johnson Canyon

Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park.

Johnson Canyon in Banff National Park.

Maligne Canyon and Johnson Canyon

Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park.

Johnson Canyon in Banff National Park.

Overnight camping in Lander WY

Lori and Shahela saying goodbye to each other before Shahela heads out for the great outdoors of Wyoming and Montana, U.S.A.

And the birdie lands...yep, on the roof of the motor home!

And even the camping American Girl doll is happy with her own s'more!!!

Animals of the Canadian Rockies (2nd photo is of the bear story)

On the way to Jasper, we found a herd of big horn sheep on a ledge.  They scurried to get away from
all the traffic on the road.

How does a bear get from one side of the mountain, across the canyon, to the other side?

ow d0000...Hp

We are crossing a bridge in our pickup when up wanders teenager black bear, having come down from the mountainside.  He walks, then runs, on the side of the road for a few moments.

Then he literally bounds up on the railing, like an Olympic gymnast, and walks along there for awhile.

Then he dismounts the railing, bounds to the mountainside and is on his way to find more buffaloberries.

 

Alongside the road in Banff we find a herd of elk.  Notice the whitish rump.  Males can be up to 700 pounds and 8 feet in length.  Grasses is what they are eating.

Of course there is a line of cars on both sides of the road.  You are to stay in your car and take photos from a distance.  They have been known to be tired of humans and charge them!!!

Is is time for Christmas yet?  My first view of a reindeer (caribou) with statistics about the same as an elk.  He is eating birch leaves.  His antlers were covered with velvet.  These are found along the highway heading to Jasper.  The only animal I didn't get to view was a grizzly and I think that's OK!

Banff National Park

This statue represents a Ukranian immigrant in Canada during WWI.  We did not realize that they had concentration camps here at that time.

Members of other countries came to Canada to work in forestry, agriculture and mining.

These men were put out of work during the depression of 1913.

8,569 of these men were put in internment camps because they had no food, were subject to

racial prejudice and the wartime hysteria.

3.4 km hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House

This just doesn't do justice to Lake Louise.
Because of the glacier flour, it is a beautiful aquamarine color.
Many red canoes floated on the lake.
From here we start our ascent to Lake Agnes.

How can you describe the Canadian Rockies?  You just can't.  I
would urge you to rent a trailer or tent trailer and come!  The food and
lodging is expensive so camping is the very best way.  There are
provincial and national park campgrounds to choose from.

This is on the path to ordering the tea biscuits.

we 

We could have hiked further; the law in Banff National Park
is that you must have a group of four to go on.  This is a new
policy implemented by the park.  It has saved on bear attacks tremendously!

a 

Finally!

Lake Agnes!

We are having a spot of tea
before the descent.