THE ROAD BACK TO CANADA  - DAY EIGHT

Previous Blogs: Day 1+2 Canadian Rockies | Day 3 British Columbia | Day 4 The Road to Montana | Day 5+6 Glacier National Park | Day 7 Big Mountain | Day 8 Back to Canada  | Day 9 Waterton

Click photos for a larger image...

It is time to head back north toward Calgary for our flights home but with one more stop. Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada which is basically the continuation of Glacier National Park across the border.  As we mentioned in yesterdays blog, we are sitting in the worlds first and only international peace park. 

It's a 3 hour drive from Whitefish and a gorgeous drive at that.

There was lots to see along the way. Part of the trip was traveling through the Blackfoot Nation.

The Hyundai is still going strong almost 2000 miles later!

Montana is open range, so seeing cows alongside the road (and IN THE ROAD) is normal.  Kinda like the beggars on the corners of US19.

Customs was quick and easy. 

No ginormous line this time!  The Canadian Customs agent wasn't nearly as friendly as the US agent.  He was nice.  But just wanted the facts.  Just the facts.  The US Border Patrol Agent was funny, gave us suggestions where to go and chit chatted with us for about 7 minutes.  He even let us in with our contraband mango slices!

Other than clearing a narrow swathe through

the undergrowth to designate the

US/Canadian border at the 49th parallel,

there are no fences.  US and Canada have

the longest unpatrolled bordered in the entire world.  Can't we all be this friendly?

As soon as we crossed the border, the views just kept getting better and better...

The village of Waterton on the left is where we are staying for the night. It's inside the park and a major summer destination.  Population in the summer is 3,000.  In winter it is 80 residents.

Tons of restaurants and shops and we are staying in a nice lodge downtown.

Very quaint and touristy but not too busy like Banff.  (Wendy's note - - Banff village SUCKED!!)

The Waterton National Park was devastated by fire September year and only 1/4 of it is open to the public as Canada Parks continue to rebuild.

This is the famous Prince of Wales Hotel that was built in the early 1900s (we can't afford to stay there!!)  It is absolutely stunning inside.  Just afternoon tea will run you C$33 per person.

And this is the view from the hotel, another reason it is so expensive! Note the smoke again, there are so many wild fires they can't keep up.

This waterfall is right in town! The other waterfall was a 2-3 hour hike, so we passed on that. Mostly because we have been lazy the past two days.  LOL

We had a picnic lunch next to the lake. 

And yes, a beer as well.  Canada is cool about that.  Just be responsible.  WOW!!  Who would have thunk we as a people could

be responsible!!!  Apparently....Canadians!

And finally...

This little town has an Opera House and Movie Theater in the same building.

And the building is smaller than some people's houses I know!

The movie playing is very current though!

Seems like the Huckleberry obsession has crossed the border into Canada. Here is huckleberry flavored beer!

And I LOVE the name of the beer!

To my most favorite Chief of Police ever, Chief Kim Bogart of the New Port Richey Police Department.  

This is the cutest dang Police Station EVER!!!!!!