Early Evening in Whitefish

Dinner at the Craggy Range

Saturday, September 1. The hotel shuttle driver from this morning's airpot run recommended the Craggy Range so we stopped in after church. We sat on the sunny patio, nicely shaded with umbrellas, and enjoyed a couple of drinks. Bob's prime rib seemed pretty good, served with crispy fried onions and root vegetables, including parsnips. My burger and salad were just great, my best meal since my fresh tomato and cheese sandwich on Thursday.

Montana Music Festival

Saturday, September 1. We heard the band as we walked out of the Craggy Range and followed the music to a fenced in venue near the train depot. The Montana Music Festival was just ending for the day, but we did get to see and hear The Outlaws' last song, an excellent performance of Ghost Riders in the Sky.

St. Charles Borromeo Church

Saturday, September 1. In the bad old days before the Internet, we relied on the hotel front desk or the Yellow Pages for information on Sunday mass times. Sometimes we just drove around looking for a church. I knew weeks ago where the Catholic church in Whitefish was located, and we'd already decided to go to 5:00 o'clock mass, our usual time at home.

St. Charles Borromeo is a lively parish right downtown, conveniently located across from the Whitefish Liquor Store. The pastor as a good voice and he obviously likes to preach. And sing. The music group of three women was pretty good and they kept the hymns from dragging. All very uplifting and enjoyable as well.

R & R

We weren't feeling too sharp this morning but we managed to take the shuttle to pick up our car at the airport. I got a cheaper rate and unlimited mileage (hard to come by in Whitefish) by booking through Hotwire: Malibu with a sunroof, Sirius radio, leather seats and a few other features for $29.95/day, more expensive than we pay in Florida and $7.00.day more than it would have cost if I'd waited a week longer to book the car. Oh well, it's still better than limited miles and $42/day, the rate quoted for the same car at the Amtrak location.

Bob likes his Impala

The beautiful Glacier International Airport reminded me of the airport in London, Ontario, except that it seems very new. We can drop off the car at Amtrak when we leave for home (Bob's idea) so I think we're in good shape.

Spent the warmest part of the afternoon in the pool, where I'd be quite happy to spend the next week. It must have been built in the golden age of hotel pools when they were long and wide and 8 feet deep. My kind of fun.

Pine Lodge Hotel

Friday, August 31. We dozed a little as the train pushed through the park, very dark shortly after sunset. Eric, our attendant, announced that the East Glacier Park and Whitefish stations would not be announced, so as not to disturb sleeping passengers, or at least that's what we surmised. Finally, our stop. We got up wearily and hauled our carryon bags -- mysterously heavier than they had been 24 hours earlier -- and down the stairs onto the platform in the chilly night air.

Whitefish Depot, the day after our arrival

Our bags were delivered to the ramp and the hotel sent the shuttle to pick us up right away. We checked in at Pine Lodge Hotel, took a shower and went to bed. I still had a queasy stomach from the rocking of the train, but it disappeared overnight and we awoke reasonably bright at 7:30, very late for both of us.