Beautiful Swan

"Beautiful Swan"

A Haiku by "Lady Bird" 12/29/14

 

a beautiful swan

the river makes no sound

in a timeless space



 



Our adventures in Montana continue ... actually, they trickle in bit by bit!  With golf lessons, physical therapy appointments, Polka Dot Powerhouse meetings (women's networking group) and work, we have been challenged to find time to get around.  Yesterday, was a perfect day--we had nothing on the calendar!  So, even though the mountains were shrouded in smoke (from the California and Washington fires!) and cloud-covered (i.e., not the prettiest day ever), we decided to take a drive and do some exploring.

First stop?  Swan Lake located east of Flathead Lake and the town of Bigfork.  The Swan River comes from the south and fills the lake.  In the early 1900s Swan Lake began as a community of loggers cutting timber for lumber and the ties to build the Great Northern Railroad (sounds like a great correlation to Whitefish, doesn't it?).  Some say that their name comes from the trumpeter swans that used to populate the lake (notice the use of past tense?).  Others say that it was named after Emmett Swan, an early resident.  Others simply say the name comes from the mountains to the east.  Their big annual event is the Huckleberry Festival.  Montana is known for two fruits--huckleberries and Flathead cherries ... yum on both accounts!

Here's beautiful Swan Lake.  It's 10 miles long and 5,280 feet (or 1 mile) wide.  So, it's a narrow, small and twisty lake that is said to be hard to navigate.

 

 

From Swan Lake, we drove to a Swan River crossing.

 

Here's Gary standing on the bridge that crosses the river.

 

Here I am on that same bridge.  There were so many wasps buzzing my head when we were on the riverbank that I couldn't handle it so we took off fairly quickly after that.  There were a lot of yellow wildflowers that attracted the wasps.  Drat!  It was a kill-joy for me!

 

 Sadie on the river bank.

From here we doubled back on our route and headed north towards Glacier National Park and Polebridge.  On the way, we took a detour down this wilderness road to a wildlife viewing area, but alas no wildlife in sight.

 The Jeep looking rugged and trail ready!

Next stop?  FLATHEAD CHERRIES!  At the road side stand, they had these awesome stuffed bears. 

 

And here's a picture of that charming cherry sweetness sitting in my lap.

From there we entered Glacier National Park heading to Polebridge which is just outside the western-central edge of the park. 

And on to Lake McDonald--but the north shore which is the way less-crowded, less-touristy side of the lake.  The road on this side doesn't go very far, there's one campground, and no lodges or other tourist attractions to bring in the madness.

 

On to Polebridge--a two-building town!  But these two businesses are very well known!

There's this fabulous bakery (Polebridge Mercantile) that, among other delightful delicacies, has a tasty treat--Huckleberry Macaroons! Oh, yummalicious!

Next door to the Mercantile is the café/restaurant.  Gary read about it in the local newspaper and had to go there.  We had a nice, frosty, refreshing beer at their bar, served in canning jars, of course! 

 

 

The last of the photos are just some Montana scenery on our way back home.  But look at this tree.  It's August 4th and the colors are starting to change!  It's definitely early for this to be happening and we're not sure why.  Could it be because it's so dry?  I don't know.  What's your guess?

 Wildflowers, but not in abundance like we saw 12 years ago--things have dried up early.

 

 

We're still on a Rocky Mountain high, but now in Montana.  The mountains in Glacier National Park are part of the Rocky Mountains.  On a clear day, this would be a stunning photograph.

 

Isaiah 30:29
You will have songs as in the night when you keep the festival, and gladness of heart as when one marches to the sound of the flute, to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.