Bike, Hide...Ride

This past week Ron only had 3 days off and so we had to plan wisely on how to use those days.  On Wednesday, we headed south to Montana.  Along the way to the border, we spotted this guy having his breakfast in the ditch.

Only 1.5 hours from home, we were at the Going to the Sun road in Glacier National Park.  Our first plan was to bike a few kilometers along the road.  This is one of the most spectacular roads and it isn't completely open yet due to them still clearing snow in the high parts.

It was a little windy and cool when we started but the road was not nearly as hilly as our time in Waterton last week.

The views, as always, are so beautiful.  It soon warmed up to be a perfect riding temperature and I was pleasantly surprised at my stamina.

We rode for just over 14 km and then turned around.  It had been a gradual up hill and so turning around with the wind on our back, it was smooth sailing.

After 29 km on the bike, we drove back up the road in the truck as far as we were allowed.  On our way back down we stopped at the trail head for a hike to some falls.  This is the view from where we parked.  We didn't realize that we would be walking to the falls in the picture.

The hike was well travelled and quite easy but still enough work after a good bike ride. 

This was such a pretty walk and the perfect time of year to walk it.  Later in the season, the parking lots would be packed and the trails crowded.  We first came to St. Mary's Falls.

It was beautiful and if that had of been the end of the trail, it would have been worth it but there was more to see.  We came to two other beautiful falls which I found out later that were nameless and were only on the way but not the destination.

When we arrived at the Virginia Falls it was pounding with the spring run off.  It is about 50 feet high and the spray was pretty strong.

We walked up to a viewpoint and Ron walked over to look down but I stayed safely away.

On our way back down we came around a corner and saw that everyone had stopped.  Immediately, we thought it must be a bear and we were looking for a place to get out of the way BUT nope, it was a deer on the trail and people didn't know what to do.  My mountain man slapped his walking sticks together and marched on, with me following and smiling.

It was a productive day of exercise.  The next morning, we got on the motorcycle and headed down the Crowsnest pass.  We stopped for tea and a snack in Blairmore and then arrived in Fernie, BC before lunch.  We decided to do a little hike to Fairy Creek Falls.  My legs were a little stiff from yesterday but slowly I made my way, following Ron's untiring lead.

There were some steep parts when we got close to the falls and I had to take my time going down.

At the bottom of the falls, I took advantage of a little bench to rest and enjoy, once again, another beautiful falls.

Ron and I remember that when we were in Hawaii how I was always looking for falls.  It's kind of my thing, and we had seen 5 falls in two days just a few hours from our house. 


Fairly Creek Falls

After our little hike we rewarded ourselves with a nice lunch before hopping back on the motorcycle.

On Ron's last day off I slept in and then went back to bed for just a little 4 hour nap.  My body needs catch up days after such full ones but I sure enjoy it when I have the energy to half keep up with Ron.

In two weeks I will need the energy to keep up with 3 more!

April

This month has flown by.  It has been super busy and I haven't had too much time to update my blog.  It started at the beginning of the month with a visit from good friends from Ontario.

When the Heney's come, the instruments come out.

Ron and Jim have been playing together for close to 30 years.  We have raised out kids together and now they are sharing their grandkids when they come to visit.

The next week, we headed to meet our new grand dog. 

Tanker is getting use to his new little but much taller brother and Beemer seems to love having a forever home.

The next day we went for a hike and he seemed to enjoy the adventure.

On our way back through Calgary, Ron bought a new bike which he had done lots of research on.  He took it the Crowsnest for a test drive.

This month I started a new experience.  I am volunteering at the SPCA walking dogs.  It's been fun getting to know the different dogs.

Easter weekend brought our boy and his dogs to the house.  It didn't take long for Beemer to make our home feel like his.

He's a pretty boy.  This month has also been busy with my job.  The students from the college have been travelling and they arrived back in Calgary this week with lots of excited family waiting.

Back home, our house is in the process of being painted but it might be on hold for a few days due to a winter storm warning.

We missed Ron's mom's 80th birthday party in Ontario

but my sister and her husband from Vancouver Island are on their way here as I type.  It will fun to have a few days with them as long as this storm doesn't slow them up to much.

May should be slower and hopefully warmer.

Adventure from Pincher Creek

Days off mean planning what to do and which direction to take.  This week, we first went west to almost the BC border.  We drove 14 km off the main highway down a very sketchy road.  There were curves and ruts and even water holes to cross until we came to the trail head of Window Mountain Trail.
The first part of the trail started off with us tip toeing through a mountain creek.

As we steadily walked up the washed out road, the pebbled path led us into the trees.

 

The climb was steep and I slowly followed Ron.  As we got deeper and higher into the woods....we found snow!

Some parts of the trails were steep switch backs and others were climbing rocky paths.

The trail opened up to a beautiful mountain lake.

We walked to the other end of the lake but couldn't make it all around.

On our way back, I rejoiced through the walk in the woods and on the snow when my fitbit cheered me on for getting 10,000 steps.

By the time the day was done I had walked 15,087 steps and about 10 km.  We got back to Pincher Creek in time for dinner.  One of the students from the college, who is working in Waterton for the summer, came with us.  It was nice visiting with him and then we played Catan before we said our goodbyes.

This morning, we decided to bike in Waterton.  When we parked the truck and unloaded the bikes the wind was pretty strong and I was a little apprehensive about the adventure.

Even going down the hills was an effort with the wind blowing against us.  I wanted to give up a few times but my encourager kept me going.

We had lunch by the lake in a little shelter to give us a break from the gusts.  We rode the bikes around the village to check out some of the sights and stop for a tea break.

Ron gave me the option of waiting in the village while he rode out and got the truck but I decided that I would give it a try.  Two things were on my side: less up hills and the wind was now on my back.

 

 

 
Just before the last big down hill, I stopped to take these pictures.

Finally, we got back to the truck...27 km later. 

Another a successful couple of days off and tomorrow we are back to work....Ron in Waterton and me at the table.