It had been fairly cloudy as we descended from Grinnel Glacier the previous day but, even so, we were surprised to wake up to very low cloud and drizzle. However, we didn't mind too much as this was the day we were to make a 400 mile coach trip to Yellowstone.
Our driver was Bo, who'd driven up from his home town of Bozeman the night before. We had plenty of space in the coach. We headed East out of Glacier National Park, and then started South. We stopped before long at a service station with attached (not so) supermarket to pick up sandwiches for lunch. These were something of comedown after Clay and Andy's lunches.
Our lunch stop was due to be at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Centre at Great Falls. I had let it be known that Rosie is something of a Lewis and Clark expert, so was pleased when Mike asked Rosie to say a few words about the expedition. So she took the microphone at the front of the coach and did the engaging and professional job that you'd expect from a one-time guide from Kew Gardens, setting out the historical context, as well as the story of expedition itself.
The centre itself was very good, with detailed interpretation, and reconstructions of a Mandan hut and its contents, and of the portage of the canoes over the Great Falls (see photo). The only downside was that there's not much too see of the actual falls - most have been flooded by dams. However, this was a great way to break a long journey. Several of the group commented how much Rosie's talk had helped them appreciate their visit.
We broke the rest of our journey at 'Montana Wheat: Bakery and Deli', which couldn't have been more different from the morning's stop. There were enormous cakes that looked very appetising. I wasn't really hungry, but couldn't resist a cinnamon and apple danish. I estimate that it was about 8" in diameter. Still - it was fresh and delicious, so I managed to eat most of it.
The route to West Yellowstone took us along the lovely Gallatin Valley, but we were very pleased to arrive at The Holiday Inn. When we're visiting our sons, Holiday Inn is our hotel chain of choice because their rooms are very comfortable and a decent price. We weren't disappointed on that front. As usual on this holiday, we'd got used making our dinner choices the day before so that Mike could phone them through, and had done so again this day. The main courses arrived after the usual "chef's salad". From the texture of my chicken, I think it must have been cooking from the time Mike phoned the order through. Awful. This was followed by a large slab of carrot cake.
Our driver, Bo was on our table at dinner. It turns out that, before doing this for a living, he was a professional musician, playing various instruments, but mostly guitar, in Nevada. Conversation over dinner was better than the food! At least the bar had a decent selection of beers.
Our driver was Bo, who'd driven up from his home town of Bozeman the night before. We had plenty of space in the coach. We headed East out of Glacier National Park, and then started South. We stopped before long at a service station with attached (not so) supermarket to pick up sandwiches for lunch. These were something of comedown after Clay and Andy's lunches.
Our lunch stop was due to be at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Centre at Great Falls. I had let it be known that Rosie is something of a Lewis and Clark expert, so was pleased when Mike asked Rosie to say a few words about the expedition. So she took the microphone at the front of the coach and did the engaging and professional job that you'd expect from a one-time guide from Kew Gardens, setting out the historical context, as well as the story of expedition itself.
The centre itself was very good, with detailed interpretation, and reconstructions of a Mandan hut and its contents, and of the portage of the canoes over the Great Falls (see photo). The only downside was that there's not much too see of the actual falls - most have been flooded by dams. However, this was a great way to break a long journey. Several of the group commented how much Rosie's talk had helped them appreciate their visit.
We broke the rest of our journey at 'Montana Wheat: Bakery and Deli', which couldn't have been more different from the morning's stop. There were enormous cakes that looked very appetising. I wasn't really hungry, but couldn't resist a cinnamon and apple danish. I estimate that it was about 8" in diameter. Still - it was fresh and delicious, so I managed to eat most of it.The route to West Yellowstone took us along the lovely Gallatin Valley, but we were very pleased to arrive at The Holiday Inn. When we're visiting our sons, Holiday Inn is our hotel chain of choice because their rooms are very comfortable and a decent price. We weren't disappointed on that front. As usual on this holiday, we'd got used making our dinner choices the day before so that Mike could phone them through, and had done so again this day. The main courses arrived after the usual "chef's salad". From the texture of my chicken, I think it must have been cooking from the time Mike phoned the order through. Awful. This was followed by a large slab of carrot cake.
Our driver, Bo was on our table at dinner. It turns out that, before doing this for a living, he was a professional musician, playing various instruments, but mostly guitar, in Nevada. Conversation over dinner was better than the food! At least the bar had a decent selection of beers.
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