The better half and I made it down for this after cancelling last year to attend the Sundre Sling Fest.
June 29
Both of us worked, and have family in Chestermere Alberta. Headed out about 4 PM on a long weekend Friday down highway 2. Had to stop at Red Deer's Gasoline Alley for a burger at Peters Drive In and Gas. Continued down to Chestermere with nothing eventful or no issues - NO SS Sightings
June 30
We were planning on leaving early as we expected the boarder to be busy as it was a long weekend in Canada. Wanted to be up and gone by 6 AM, however, we never ended up leaving till around 9 AM......we should of been at the boarder by this time!!! Some quick planning on my down to Okotoks and decided that the well known main border crossings were probably going to be very busy. We left Chestermere, utilizing Stoney Trail (Calgary's Ring road) to Highway 2. Stopped in Okotoks for gas and went west on highway 7 to Black Diamond. South on 22 to Lundbreck and East on highway 3 to Pincher Creek and through Waterton Lakes National Park. This was much more scenic than than the original plan to go straight down highway 2 all the way to the boarder.
There is a little boarder crossing called chief mountain separating Waterton (Canada) and Glacier (USA) National Parks. Got to the boarder and only 3 vehicles at the boarder when we got there. It was about 5 minutes and we were up. This was by far the most friendly interaction with the US boarder patrol we have ever had, weather flying or driving. After getting thru and spending a few minutes trying to remember how to switch the SS to historic mode (MPH) and to put my helmet away, we were on our way.
Continued on down 17, Cheif Mountain Hwy, noticing a lot of cow patties on the highway. Not really thinking or used to having open range land i was quite surprised when I came around the corner and there were a few dozen head of cows in the ditches along the highway.....maybe ill do the speed limit.
Hit 89 and headed south to Babb. Stopped in Babb to fill up and get a bite to eat. Stopped at Two Sisters Cafe just south of Babb. The food was great, the place was a lot cleaner than i expected based on the outer appearance. To access the washrooms you had to go outside, no big deal. GF had a BLT and mentioned that it was the best she had in a long time. I had the chili cheese fries. They were okay, but nothing special. Continued down to St. Mary's and the time was here.
One of the first roads I heard about that was a must do on something like the SS. Going to the Sun Road!! Weather looked great, the line up was not too bad. The first 10 or so miles the weather was decent than we started to get a little bit of rain. No big deal as the sights were all spectacular and a little bit of rain was worth it. The rain started to get a little harder so we pulled over to get our rain gear on and my full face helmet. Continued up the road and the rain was off and on and the temperature dropped to about 8C. Still loved the scenery and the different things to see. After Logan's Pass i was admiring some of the mountain ranges from afar when i heard a honk and the GF elbowed me in the side. Low and Behold it was another SS. I just caught a quick glimpse. It was either black or blue and pulling a trailer with an American flag on the bag. I will have to check the go pro to see what color it was.
We finish up our drive down the Going to the Sun Road as the rain lets up and head down hwy 2 east of Kalispell to the Lonesome Dove Guest Ranch.
If you are at all adventurous, I highly recommend this place. We pre booked the John Dunbar Tent. More about the accommodations later. After checking in we went back into Kalispell to see what was going on. We ended up at one of the "Casinos"..... I use that word very loosely, like the people in Montana. I am used to going to a casino and having 300-700+ machines in them. This place had maybe 15....but the beer was free and the machines let you play a little while. We spent a little time there than went to Fatt Boys Bar and Grill for dinner. Food was decent, beer was cheaper than what i am used to paying. Headed back to the tent and out of nowhere it started to rain pretty hard. I have heard the hydroplaning stories and was fully aware of the water in the depressions from the four wheeled vehicles in the road. I thought that I would just keep my center wheel in the middle of those and i would be good to go. Boy was i wrong!!! there was a spot in the road where the water was deep enough that it went across the two depression..... only like a foot wide. When I hit that I seemed to get sucked over and into the left depression and a little hydroplane, was probably about 25-30 degrees facing the ditch going down the road for a second or two when my back tire grabbed and I got the SS under control. It was the most intense part of the trip. Continued down the highway doing about 45 MPH with no issues. Got back to the tent and crashed pretty early. - One SS Seen
Link to 2 of 2
June 29 - July 2 - Edmonton - Going to the sun road road-trip - 2 of 2
