Glacier National Park and Fort Benton


Glacier National Park Many Glacier©Rhonda Adkins 2013

10 years, he’s kept me around for 10 years! That’s a record for us, we’ve both been married not once but twice before.  Seems like that old adage is true “third times the charm”.

To celebrate a momentous milestone we decided to ride the Harleys through Glacier National Park, one of the most pristine and nearly untouched parks and then end at the famous Fort Benton Union Hotel.  The anniversary was supposed to be a nod to our honeymoon trip which was done on a Harley, 11 countries in 10 days (which you can read about here, here, and here) and our 5 year anniversary trip which included the grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Sturgis (you can read about it here).

But mother nature was bringing the June rains and biking was not in the cards.  Not to be deterred and on the positive side I could pack all my camera equipment, we pressed on.  Oh what a time!

We started off at the Glacier Park Lodge and Resort

Glacier National Park©Rhonda Adkins 2013

 

Look at the inside…

Glacier National Park©Rhonda Adkins 2013

Built in 1913…yep 100 years old the week we were there!

Glacier National Park©Rhonda Adkins 2013

 Our first day out we say these babies at Two Medicine River

Glacier National Park sheep©Rhonda Adkins 2013

 

Glacier National Park sheep©Rhonda Adkins 2013    Glacier National Park sheep©Rhonda Adkins 2013

Then we took a drive up to Bowman Lake, where McGyver and the Boy Scouts had spent a week doing a service project for the park.

Glacier National Park Bowman Lake©Rhonda Adkins 2013

We saw this guy on the way up

Glacier National Park Bowman Lake©Rhonda Adkins 2013

while hiking we saw a black bear!  see the bush/tree laying over onto the river he was right there swimming across.  of course I couldn’t get the camera ready fast enough…

Glacier National Park Bowman Lake©Rhonda Adkins 2013

as we went along and I admired the flowers and foliage I start thinking about how close the bear was to us.

Me: “McGyver did you bring the pepper spray?”

Him: “No, it’s in the car”

Me: “You have your handgun on you, riiight?”

Him: “No, it’s in the car”

Me: “Aren’t you worried about the bear?”

Him: “No, I can run faster than you”

umm, the flowers don’t look so pretty now…

Glacier National Park Flowers©Rhonda Adkins 2013

Obviously the bear was more concerned with finding a picnic basket, whew!  McGyver and I stopped at the Ranger’s station and reported it.  Evidently this was getting to be a habit for this black bear.

On the way down we stopped at this fun little place in Polebridge.

Glacier National Park Pole Bridge©Rhonda Adkins 2013

We grew up on Rainer beer…ahh, the memories…

Glacier National Park Pole Bridge©Rhonda Adkins 2013

We picked up a drink and some fresh baked treats and then headed back to the lodge.

Glacier National Park Pole Bridge©Rhonda Adkins 2013

Our next stay was Many Glacier, we got super lucky and they opened the Going to the Sun road that very day so we were able to go from East Glacier to West Glacier on one of the most beautiful roads you could ever hope to travel.

The run off from the melting snow

Glacier National Park Waterfall©Rhonda Adkins 2013

McGyver drove the Jeep right under one!

Glacier National Park Waterfall©Rhonda Adkins 2013

at the top, Ranger station and most importantly a bathroom!

Glacier National Park©Rhonda Adkins 2013

We were way up, all the way to the clouds

Glacier National Park©Rhonda Adkins 2013

up and over, the snow wall

Glacier National Park Going to the Sun Road©Rhonda Adkins 2013

we went all the way to Many Glacier where we stayed at a Swiss Alps inspired hotel.  At one time Glacier National Park was touted as the Alps of America.

Glacier National Park Many Glacier©Rhonda Adkins 2013

inside…oh neither place we stayed at had elevators and we were on the third floor

Glacier National Park Many Glacier©Rhonda Adkins 2013

we hiked around the lake and went canoeing

Glacier National Park Many Glacier©Rhonda Adkins 2013

Glacier National Park Many Glacier©Rhonda Adkins 2013

Glacier National Park Many Glacier©Rhonda Adkins 2013

Glacier National Park Many Glacier©Rhonda Adkins 2013

as you can see the weather got better, which makes for terrible photography

so one morning, very early morning, after a night of drinking, McGyver and I got up to catch the sunrise

Glacier National Park Many Glacier©Rhonda Adkins 2013

We had a great time and oh so many stories I could tell, like how we were treated like royalty because the staff dug McGyver’s braided beard, or stormy weather in a canoe, or the one about the waiter but it’s time to head to Fort Benton.

on the way we saw this very coyote pooping along side the road (photo post poop by McGyver)

Glacier National Park coyote©Rhonda Adkins 2013

at a place called Two Dog Flats

now we call it Two Dog Craps

after Two Dog Craps we stopped in West Glacier and I bought some local honey in an adorable jar

you’ll probably see it someday 😉

Glacier National Park West Glacier©Rhonda Adkins 2013

Then onto Fort Benton “The Birthplace of Montana”…

I knew nothing about Fort Benton so I looked it up on my iPhone

Did you know it used to be the largest inland port, of course you didn’t!

That some famous people are from Fort Benton!

The one that caught my eye from Wikipedia was:

Eleanor Dumont, (1834-1879), also known as Madame Moustache, professional card dealer and gambler

Her life should be a movie, or a book.  If you have time read the link, it’s a short bio but full of good stuff, gambling, succesful business woman, whores, love lost and suicide

Now the Union Hotel!

Fort Benton Union Hotel©Rhonda Adkins 2013

I had no idea that McGyver had booked the best room in the hotel!

(photos from iPhone)

Fort Benton Union Hotel©Rhonda Adkins 2013

Fort Benton Union Hotel©Rhonda Adkins 2013

Check out the tub, McGyver had a hard time staying up in it.  It was so big that he kept slipping down!

Fort Benton Union Hotel©Rhonda Adkins 2013

it just so happens that it was a super moon the night we stayed there, only it wasn’t so super, it was cloudy

and I don’t shoot the moon, I really needed my friend Carolina to advise me

haha, I don’t shoot the moon, hehe

why is that funny? shoot the moon?

Fort Benton Union Hotel©Rhonda Adkins 2013

I kept trying though

Fort Benton Union Hotel©Rhonda Adkins 2013

I gave up, did a 180 and photographed their railroad bridge, turned into a walking bridge instead

Fort Benton Union Hotel©Rhonda Adkins 2013

what I really wanted to see was this statue

Fort Benton Shep©Rhonda Adkins 2013

it’s one of the greatest dog love stories, me being a dog person and all, just had to see it

here’s the story

Fort Benton Shep©Rhonda Adkins 2013

all of these photos were taken steps from the hotel, if you ever get a chance come see Fort Benton its small but full of history and the hotel is wonderful with an outstanding restaurant

I am truly blessed to have been married for 10 years to such a wonderful, hard working, caring man with an awesome beard and rides a Harley and treats me like a queen (mostly) and built me a cabin and, and I could go on and on!

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14 Responses to Glacier National Park and Fort Benton

  1. Betty July 19, 2013 at 6:56 pm #

    Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!! I’m going to forward this to my friend who saw Fort Benton for the first time last year but still wants to go to Glacier Park. Thanks for the awesome photos. So glad you enjoyed yourselves! (btw, we’re third timers as well headed for 20. It can be done, lol!)

  2. Charlie Bulla July 19, 2013 at 9:15 pm #

    Happy Anniversary!!! Loved reading this and enjoying the images. Oh how I love Glacier and Bowman Lake. Glad you had a great trip!!!

  3. Blair July 20, 2013 at 1:57 am #

    Congratulations!! Sounds like an amazing trip! Miss you guys! Suggestion for your 11th anniversary… Drive to ALASKA! I know of place tough can stay for free 😉

  4. Janice July 20, 2013 at 8:50 am #

    Wonderful stories, beautiful photos, a great read and an even greater adventure for the two of you. Congratulations and belated happy Anniversary wishes to you.

  5. Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) July 20, 2013 at 12:28 pm #

    What a great trip. And GORgeous photos. Thanks for sharing them. We’ve been married for 22 years, and yes 2 times each for us too. 3rd time is a charm. Happy anniversary!

    • Giggles July 21, 2013 at 1:50 pm #

      Lea Ann, Congrats on 22 years, that makes me feel better! Here to the three timers!

  6. Karen July 20, 2013 at 12:31 pm #

    Sounds like you had a great time. Beautiful pictures!

    • Giggles July 21, 2013 at 1:49 pm #

      We did have a great time. Can’t help but have beautiful pictures when the scenery was so gorgeous.

  7. Linda July 20, 2013 at 10:56 pm #

    What a great trip! And your photos are phenomenal. Makes me want to ditch the kids and drag Brad up there!!

    • Giggles July 21, 2013 at 1:49 pm #

      A getaway without the kids…that would be dreamy almost any where, but especially in a beautiful place like Glacier.

  8. Debra July 21, 2013 at 9:42 am #

    OK—I want to retrace your steps here. Have you two ever thought of being travel agents. What a perfect trip and Happy Anniversary!

    • Giggles July 21, 2013 at 1:48 pm #

      What a great job that would be…I’d be happy to be your travel agent if you want to come here!

  9. Nusrat Azim July 21, 2013 at 12:59 pm #

    A post doesn’t get any happier, prettier than this ! Congratulations and happy anniversary, sweetheart 🙂
    Thanks a billion for sharing those gorgeous, serene, adorable, beautiful, inspiring moments and pictures with us.

    Hugs.

    • Giggles July 21, 2013 at 1:47 pm #

      Thanks, it was a beautiful time the scenery and the husband.