ATTENDANCE IS DOWN......

The view from our bedroom window.  While pretty, the focus here is on the lack of park visitors due to the rain.  Rain is good here in the Northwest, it keeps things green.  But the 4th is just around the corner, and we need some sun!

MAKING HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES

We had a few sunny days recently, so we hot-footed it over to Amber's house to begin a promised "fix" for her.  Her south facing siding just wasn't doing well; paint was peeling and cracking, no matter how much primer and sanding we had done to it.  So, she found a source for the old masonite siding, ordered some, and we (Darrell) removed the old stuff, put up the new, and it looks beautiful now.  Can't believe the paint still matches from 4 years ago.  A testimony to Sherwin Williams!

IZAAC WALTON INN, ESSEX

On a rainy day, we went for a drive east, past the West Glacier entrance and on to the Izaac Walton Inn.  It's located just west of Marias pass, the high point of the Great Northern Railroad in this neck of the woods.  They have converted railcars into hotel rooms, and provide a venue for groups and conferences all year long. Amber went to a skate-skiing yoga retreat for women this winter.  Apparently it was too cold to ski (reminds me of MN), but we're told lots of fun was had.

 We had a tasty lunch at the inn restaurant.  The inside of the lodge reminds me of McDonald Lodge, but on a much smaller scale.

HUGH ROGERS WAG DOG PARK

On any given day, if we want to treat Luna to an outing, rather than go for a swim (and be really smelly and wet after), we take her to the dog park here in Whitefish, just 3 or 4 miles away.  It opened its gates in 2009, and is supported by the city of Whitefish and Whitefish Animal Group (WAG).  We enjoy strolling on the paths any evening after dinner; gets us all out for exercise, and we don't have to climb a mountain!  The entrance to Glacier is in the background....eye candy all around!

HIKING THE DANNY ON TRAIL

We chose a nearby trail to do some conditioning on, the Danny On trail, on Big Mountain.  It goes all the way to the top of the ski run, 6 miles one way, all up.  The views from many points on the trail are spectacular.  Weather was cool and breezy, perfect for the climb.

Luna had to stop at every stream for an investigation and a drink.

Below is Whitefish, and Hwy 93 heads straight south to  Flathead Lake.

Halfway up the trail, we lost the trail in a snow field.  That's ok, we stopped for a lunch of leftover pizza, and headed back down.  It was enough for one day, a total of 4.7 miles.

In all our hiking adventures, we have never seen something like this.....this young couple was hiking with their cat, Blue Eyes.  They picked him up when they saw Luna, to avoid an ugly confrontation....but everyone was mellow, and off they went.

A BUNCH 'O WHITE DOGS!

Apparently, Luna has many relatives here in the Flathead Valley.  Especially here at the park, where we have a dog beach, we run into several different kinds of dogs.  But today 2 others came for a visit, and they had a good time in the water.  It was hard to tell them apart, and we all had fun trying.
They all came from the same breeder west of Kalispell.

GOTTA HAVE THE RIGHT BAIT.....

This is Will, one of our regular fishermen.  He comes to the lake every 3 or 4 days when he gets time.  He's holding 2 healthy looking lake trout, or Mackinaw as they're called.  Will is from Texas, and last year worked at the Lodge....this year he is part owner of the Piggy Back BBQ, and they are doing a turn away business.  He is a go-getter, both fishing and business!

POLEBRIDGE AND THE NORTH FORK....ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES

We've been up this road so many times, but it is still breathtaking to us each time.  We decided to play with the different effects on our phones, and came up with some pretty cool shots.