Kootenai National Forest - Hwy 37S

You know I love old structures and couldn't resist this one

on the way out of Glacier.

I have since discovered that my canon lens 18-135 manual

focus was broken from a previous fling

on ferry with a cement bottom and I have been using

that lens with abandon.

Having discovered that - I actually packed

a fixed 30mm Sigma lens my favorite eldest son gave me

and decided to give that a whirl since I found that that was 

a good length when I was photoshopping my glacier photos.

In using the lens I found that I was more concious of 

the photos I was taking.

And following are those photos.

In the National Forest of Kootenai

is Lake Murphy

of course we had to stop and take photos.

This is the Troy bridge.

There are campsites at $9.00 along the Kootenay River and/or Lake 

which was way too early for us to stop, 

however, a coffee break was in order and what a perfect place.

Lily Dam.

RR tracks as we went over the bridge to 

get to the tower of steps to get to the falls.

And did a train go by in the 40 minutes we spent there?

No..............

It went by AFTER we exited the trail for the falls.

We hiked to the Kootenai Falls which involved

I'm really impressed that we actually walked the mile

to get to the falls.

There was a swing bridge we did not hike to.

Because A. I hate heights and a swing bridge

would be oh shall we say not welcome.

Do you see that fuzzy line?

That's the swing bridge.

A bit over processed. 

My bad.

However, for the most part. 

It's all good.

We found a lovely site for tonight

and I got the laundry done.

Yes, even on an awesome road trip there are some 

mundane things that must be done.

Heading west on Hwy 2

Love the old structures, farms and mountains.

Not too crazy about the oil spill.

Don't the clouds make you swoon.

And first decent horse shot.

All these pix are drive-bys taken while moving

at the legally posted limit.

And through windows. 

Some clean - some not so clean - rotten bugs.

Got Smoked out of Glacier

Which was a total bummer because we raced

to get there to be in time for our 

reservations - only to set up camp - cook some chicken

and then bug out.

The smoke was getting really bad and ashes were flying.

So about 10 p.m. we were looking

for safer haven along with 109871293819 other campers.

We did find a place about midnight in a Good Sam's camp's field.

We crashed there and settled up with the owner in the morning.

 The east side of the park was closed - so we were optimistic

about the west so there we headed.

 Because of the size rig we could only go

as far as Avalanche on the Road to the Sun 

and then we had to turn around.

 At some point they did close that road in order to get some hot shots up 

there as the fire continued to get worse.

 It was still a beautiful ride.

 The water is beautiful and clear.

 Lake McDonald

 Jenga!

This person should've totally won!

We did hang around one more night and was lucky to get

into another park - it was a beautiful, quiet, private site.

at Mountain Meadows!!!

We are now in a campground still in Montana - close the Idaho border.

Heading North

After Graceland we headed north.

We have a date with Glacier National Park and

we needed to get there by Wednesday.

And it was 1,500 miles away.

We are on are way - and on that route

was this amazing bridge into St. Louis.

And then there's the arch.

 How cool is that

We tried to get closer but it turned into Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

as there was an arch function and a ballgame

going on and the downtown is nothing to mess with in

a 25ft RV. The streets are just not built for it.

I'm glad I got a couple of drivebys.

 If you follow my blog on my travels you know I love

old structures. I adore old structures by

the roadside.

 It's always a crapshoot in getting them - 

there's speed swoosh - (a term from driver's ed) and

how many years that stayed with me

that we'll just mosey on by the math on that one.

 It also covers cool small towns that have

tried and somehow succeeded in keeping their downtown alive

AND kept the old buildings and their magnificence.

 As we rounded a corner, there was this stunning country

Lutheran Church. My roots.

 More structures.

 Don't they make you swoon?

Our new camper as we took time out to enjoy

the Minnesota River and a cup of coffee and a cookie.

A bakery peanut butter cookie.

Yum.

Graceland - is as pretty as its name

If I had a do-over on the tour I'd do winter.

Just sayin....

It's hot hot hot in Tennessee.

And silly me did I think there'd be a BUNCH of fans and sightseers

wanting to tour Graceland??

Noooo.......

However, I did manage to get the front of the home without a bunch

of people taking selfies.

I have to admit it was smaller than I thought.

And, I thought it would be in the middle of nowhere.

But probably when Elvis purchased it - it was.

This is the entry/foyer into the house and there's a gorgeous

changelier that I didn't get a shot of in this photo.

There is a bunch of people constantly meandering about that

its almost impossible to get a photo without people in it.

The upstairs is off limits - maintaining Elvis's privacy.

This is the living room off to the right when you enter.

 This is a time capsule of the 1970's and also an expression

of opulence - than "one has made it."

And Elvis certainly did that - and he brought his most 

cherished possessions with him - his family.

 The other side of the living room.

 This was Vernon and Gladys's bedroom.

His parents.

 The dining room.

 I had to get the china cabinet in.

I'm fond of china cabinets.

 "Twas a modern kitchen back in the day.

 Fried PBJ with bananas.

 The billard room was in the cellar and its wild.

Sadly lighting was an issue, but every single area of this

room has material in it.

Loud, busy material.

One could say that it kept you awake in the wee hours whilst

playing pool.

The infamous jungle room.

Again with the lighting it was hard to get

 but I can see where you could kick back and relax in it.

 The media room that had all the latest and greatest in gadgets

and technologies for that era.

And Elvis liked to watch 3 TV's at a time as well as any

type of music - on the latest record players.

 The backside of the house had a love patio, yard and pasture area.

 And of course the pool.

There was also a gun range, a studio and a structure that held all

his accolaides which are MANY.

From gold records to oscars to charities and the majority of tailored costumes.

Also Priscilla's wedding gown which is absolutely gorgeous.

There is also a beautiful meditation garden.

Here Elvis and the people close to him have been laid to rest.

 Marking his grave is an eternal flame.

 He also had horses on the estate and his was named Rising Son.

He named the horses's quarters House of the Rising Son.

 We took the basic tour. 

I have to admit it was annoying with all the people around

because of course people lolled about and got in the way LOL.

It was hard to soak it all in and enjoy it.

But that's just me.