Waterton Lakes - Sunday and Monday

[Kalon] We left Browning for Waterton Lakes in Canada.  A nice drive with a friendly interrogation at the border where the Canadian officer was kind of insistent in asking me about whether I had firearms or not!  Finally Karen's comment that we didn't own a gun and she hated guns convinced him that we were on the up and up and through we went.

After a short drive we arrived at Upper Waterton Lake and the Prince of Wales hotel.

 

 

 

This is a lovely old historic hotel (and doubtless Karen will comment on its historicity!)   Located on a hill overlooking upper Waterton Lake it has wonderful views but is subject to fairly regular strong winds!  A walk from the parking lot to the hotel can be challenging!

 

Anyway, before trying to check in, we went to the little village and had lunch.  Then back to the hotel, but rooms weren't ready.  So Karen stayed in the lounge while I went for a short hike to Bear's Hump.  Nice views from there up and down river. 

Upper Waterton Lake from Bears Hump (with the village in foreground)

 

 

After checking in we decided to watch a DVD in our hotel room (Ratatouille) that I had brought with me from home (a delightful video about a rat with culinary skills).  Then down to dinner and lo and behold on the menu was "Quinoa with Ratatouille").   How could I resist?

 

The next day we got up early and had breakfast in the hotel.  Then to the village and catching the boat that carries passengers from the one of the lake to other. 

Watertown Lake ferry boat

 

 

 Karen stayed behind while I boarded the boat for a 1 hour ride to the far end.  About midway up the lake we came to the International Boundary.  This marks the US-Canada boundary, and on the ground it is a cleared strip through the forest that continues from one end of the country to the other (it's mowed/cleared every 15 years).

 

 

Then on the end of the lake where there is a border control station (and you need to have your passport to proceed further).  Reminds me of ab0ut 40 years ago when Kalon R (youngest son) and I hiked from Glacier to Waterton Lake (about 20 Miles) and got on the boat taking us nine miles down the lake without any border control at all.  We ended up in Canada without talking to any officer: seems as though this has tightened up a bit (since 9/11?) but not much. 

 

The hike itself  back to Waterton was lovely.  Nobody on the trail until the US/Canada border, and then there were some other hikers.







 

                                     

Border monuments on the ground.

 



Then I hiked back to Waterton to be met by Karen.  Lovely day.

 

[Karen]

Interesting two days. In Glacier one of our waiters in the dining room of Glacier Lodge was a young man from Bulgaria there for the summer. Studying Economics. Our room in the Holiday Inn outside od East Glacier was sumptuous compared to our digs here at the old resort hotel - The Prince of Wales Hotel. The Canadians are quick to point out that it is owned by and run by an American company. When I referred to it down in Waterton Lakes as the 'old pile on the hill' there were snickers of agreement. Years ago my brother and I shared a two bedroom apartment on the second floor of a house in Belmont (a suburb of Boston). In a small sunroom off the living room of that apartment was a strange ancient contraption that purported to be a bed of some sort. It was narrow like a bench and had springs and was covered in an ancient purple velvet material of some sort and we christened it 'King Tut'. The bed which I am sleeping on is of the same magnitude of discomfort so I am christening it 'Queen Nefertiti'. If you should ever go to Waterton Lakes - which I highly  recommend as it is very, very beautiful here - Do Not go for the nostalgia and make a reservation to stay at The Prince of Wales Hotel. Do go and visit it but stay in one of the motels in town! and go listen to the person giving a talk about the park and the hotel given in the lobby of the hotel! but do not stay there. It is drafty, cold and the elevator is one of those small elevators with cage like doors which give me the willies - which you cannot operate yourself but which has to be operated by one of the staff - which are practically all college age kids working here for the summer. All of the staff who work in the dining room or shops in the hotel have to wear kilts in the Prince of Wales Stuart plaid, with a white shirt and sash across the chest as well as knee high black stockings! Luckily they don't have to wear a Tam! Ciao til tomorrow as it is past our bedtimes and my Kalua warm coffee and cream has kicked in. Yaaaawwwwwnnnnn!