July 2016, Wyoming, Day 9

The morning greeted us with re-packing and loading the car. Again. Our car looks like it has a band of gypsies living in it. We delighted in a feast of granola bars and apples en route to the next stop. We are working our way over to the other side of the park. Our first destination was Two Medicine. Franklin Roosevelt broadcasted one of his fireside chats from this very location. It was formerly a chalet and is now a camp store.

We missed the turn the first time but caught our mistake after driving 37 miles in the wrong direction and landing ourselves smack dab in the middle of the Blackfoot Indian reservation. Whoopsies! Who wants to play blackjack?

We ate lunch in the shadow of the Great FDR Fireplace and afterward I read what he said during that particular Fire Side Chat.  I liked this part:

Comparisons are generally objectionable and yet it is not unkind to say, from the standpoint of scenery alone, that if many, and indeed most, of our American national parks were to be set down anywhere on the continent of Europe thousands of Americans would journey all the way across the ocean in order to see their beauties.

There is nothing so American as our national parks. The scenery and wild life are native. The fundamental idea behind the parks is native. It is, in brief, that the country belongs to the people that it is in the process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us. The parks stand as the outward symbol of this great human principle.

I concur, Mr. President.  What he said was, Before you spend a bushel of money to go to Switzerland, check out America. This land is YOUR land! Get out there and visit all of her parts. She’s kind of a big deal!

GAH! What I wouldn’t do to bring back some of the dead guys to run the country!

I really only like to talk historical politics. But, speaking of presidents. Thanks, Obama. We have enjoyed your “Every Kid in a Park” program this summer. Having a 4^th grader has saved us admission to all of the National Parks on this trip! Whoot!

We headed over to our next sleep spot, The Swift Current Motor Inn. This place will be housing the Bullingtons tonight in two separate rooms on opposite ends of its property. They didn’t have a single room big enough for all of us, So it’s girls against boys. The boys will be sharing a “cozy” cabin with two twin beds and a short walk to a shared bathroom situation, and the girls will be in slightly nicer accommodations. Don’t be hatin’ on our stand up shower and box fan! There are also no phones in the rooms and no cell service.  That makes communication between John and I a little difficult. The front desk person suggested that I write him a note and bring it to the desk and he could come and check if he had any messages.  Or, maybe I’ll just send a smoke signal.

The Swift Current is home to some serious hiker people.  There were very few children and lots of socks and ‘stocks (Birkenstocks). We had to shimmy around two people having a yoga-off just to get in the door. I almost choked on my granola! Namaste.

lowercase yay. It was time for our afternoon hike to Iceberg Lake, all ten miles of it.  If you were curious about why it is called Iceberg Lake, it’s because it has icebergs in it.  Captain Obvious was a champion hiker.

There were beautiful waterfalls and wild flowers along the way.  It was just really long and hilly.  We did see a dirty Hoary Marmot. She was digging in the dirt and didn’t even look up when we passed.

In our Lewis and Clark book, the explorers described the mosquitos being as large as house flies. I confirmed this. These two fellas were feasting on my arm until they met my swift hand of justice.

Iceberg Lake sparkled like it was covered in glitter and I am glad we went. Just don’t tell Mr. Bullington.

 

We returned to the Swift Current Motor Lodge and after staring through our binoculars for awhile. Bear!

We met the boys for dinner.  It was pretty funny when the little girls began to spin tales about the wide screen TV in our room (there are no TVs in Glacier). Thomakazi believed them and got all huffy. In his consternation, he started doodling on his menu. Later, I looked to see what he’d drawn. It was a WiFi symbol…. I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry…

We might not have had a TV, but our room had a washing machine

And a Dryer!

At dinner the kids asked Mr. Bullington if we were going hiking tomorrow. He said, “I think your mom might wring my neck if we do.”  No truer words have ever been spoken.