A Quirky Museum

Polson, Montana

Miracle of America Museum 

Lou's dad had a soda fountain like this one, and we enjoyed the nostalgia  

( and an ice cream sunday for  $2)

The main reason we wanted to go to the museum again was to see

Grandad's Violano Virtuoso

This is the music machine that grandad sold to mining camps

in the mountains during the depression.

It is an automatic piano and violin and I was able to find a quarter to play it.

It's amazing that it still plays.

Even a choice of tunes.

No piece of junk goes to waste!

And this might be an Aero-Car??

How would you like to curl your hair this way?

just quirky

How to make Cream

The incline would cause the sheep to keep walking- 

which turned the pulley-

which powered the cream separator to separate cream from the milk.

Treadmills could also power water pumps, grinders, etc.

This day at the museum was "Living History"

This man was demonstrating how the Native Americans carved arrowheads 

from Obsidian.

Lou watched the entire operation, so he gave this to Lou.

It is large enough for a spear head.

We stayed at an RV park with a 60's music night.

Interesting!

We enjoyed the evening.

Some danced, some watched.

Waterton Lakes National Park (Canada)

Last stop in Canada

Cameron Lake in the

Waterton Lakes National park.

The "YOU ARE HERE" on the top of the right picture is where 

we viewed the lake.

The bottom of the picture/lake on the right  is the US border into Montana,

A short hike on the trail -

I don't know if we could walk across the border 

to Montana at the far end of the lake.

( but, we didn't carry our passports)

The Prince of Wales Hotel

was constructed in 1927 and designated a National Historic Site of Canada 

in 1992.

The servers and bellmen all wear the traditional Welsh kilts.

The iconic Canadian landmark is situated on a bluff and looks out onto the fabulous Waterton Lake.

The border is half way down this lake.

You can see all the way to Montana and Glacier National Park 

from the huge floor-to-ceiling windows at this lakeside hotel and restaurant.

We 'barely' caught this wildlife photo.

Camping was safe.

The next morning could have been awful because we were all stopped 

because of the Microsoft faulty update.

Fortunately, it was only a half hour, but we think they just took our numbers, wrote them down and let us through! 

(after they took our tangerines😠)

Yes, we are glad to be back in the US.

Another Incredible Scenery!

Bruce and Ev treated us to another valley of gorgeous scenery.

Kananaskis Valley or 

Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

This is the 'other end' of the Canmore Scenic Drive that we took.

We stopped to see this Rock Glacier

The simplest  definition of a Rock Glacier is a landform of moving ice that is covered in rocks and debris that protect the ice from melting.

We were looking for the "Rock Rabitt" or Pika

among the rocky hillside.

We did see one, but it disappeared among the rocks.

This rock looks like it has been scrubbed by the glacial ice.

Pikas live in the rocks, and come feed on the grass and flowers.

Rugged rocks and thick green forests

Lush green valleys

Bruce found another lovely lunch spot.

 

Ev packed a great picnic and we enjoyed watching the folks enjoying 

the water sports.

Then, Bruce wanted to take a short hike to the waterfall.

It was .6 mile ( but felt much longer)

We made it!!

There was another small lake further up the trail, but the other hikers said they spotted 3 Grizzlys

(no, we didn't proceed)

Kananaskis trail closed after multiple grizzly bears spotted in the area

Author of the article:

Mackenzie Rhode            Calgary Herald

Beautiful views on the way down

and another fantastic day!

Scroll down to get to the comment area.

Okotoks, Alberta with our friend Bruce and Ev Pitts.

A day with Bruce and Ev south of Calgary Alberta 

The Canadian Bomber Command Museum

Great planes of WW2

The British Lancaster

similar to the B-17

When the Lancaster crashed in this French village, the people of the village rescued and hid the surviving airmen from the Nazi's 

and enabled them to evade capture.

This picture reminded me of the villages in France that we visited with Lou's dad on the "memory lane" trip to Normandy to revisit where he served.

The French people of that region are so grateful to this day for  help they received during the war.  When we visited these villages, Lou's dad was in a wheel chair, and the french ladies would come and throw their arms around him and 

greet with a big "Merci"

MOSQUITO - 

The Wooden Wonder

It was the lightest, strongest, fastest bomber in  WWII

It could fly 400 mph, and had the ability to hit a target with pinpoint accuracy.

The museum is rebuilding these planes from all salvaged pieces.

Constructed from plywood and balsa wood.

There are many volunteers in woodworking that gather here weekly.

We were very lucky to be admitted into this workshop area.

Ev said it has not happened before.

Snow Birds - Canadian version of The Blue Angels

Famous Alberta Landscape

(there are so many of these beautiful Canola fields)

BIG ROCK

another tourist attraction with both scientific and spiritual explanation.

Basically, this huge rock of quartz fell onto a glacier in a past ice age and was transported from Jasper (some 300 miles north) then the ice melted and left it here.

If you'd prefer the Indian legend, this is it.

Another great day, fully packed!