Evening "At Home"

We decided that tonight we would enjoy our great rooms with balconies overlooking the roaring stream. The plan was to stop at the local store and get appetizers and finger food. Well, that plan didn't work out because the store didn't have much selection. They did, however, have a Texas-sized breakfast option.

We went to the local pizza place (Rising Sun) and brought home take-out instead. 

Karen used the timer on her camera to take some photos. Two turned out fine. The third one looks like Marty McFly's family picture in Back to the Future where his siblings are slowly disappearing.

Now here's the weird photo. We did two pics using the timer feature on Karen's camera. She had it on some setting that made this happen. It looks like Marty McFly's family photo in Back to the Future.

Running Eagle Falls

We drove to Glacier National Park to scope out sunrise photos and check out the scenery. Running Eagle Falls was one of the areas near Two Medicine Lake. We actually stopped twice. The first time, we didn't see the falls, but we did see the crystal clear water and the multiple colors of rocks. The second time we went down a different trail and actually made it to the falls.

More Room Number Confusion

At St. Mary Lodge, which was a lovely hotel, we encountered a problem with the room signage.

The sign on the right says:

Guest Rooms
←201-208
209-217→

209 was one of our rooms, so we noticed the problem.

… and Back

A spectacular and fun drive back from Many Glacier to our great hotel in St. Mary. Picked up take out pizza for dinner and enjoyed it on our balcony with the view.

 

To Many Glacier

The drive from Babb, MT to Many Glacier was spectacular. The east side of Glacier Park is just as gorgeous in its own unique way as the west side.

The Many Glacier Hotel (which is 100 years old this year) doesn't open until the 15th, but this area is still incredible. Fewer tourists. :-)

Bunk House Cafe and Ice Creamery

About 10 minutes from St. Mary in Babb, MT we found The Cattle Baron. The menu is fun and clever. Lunch was delicious. And how can you not have ice cream for dessert when the Bunk House Ice Creamery is calling your name?

 

(A little Lightroom lesson before lunch)

 

Another Room with a View

We had reservations for the older, cheaper cabins but when we got there, they had upgraded us (for free) to the lodge. They just opened for the season and had room at the lodge. Twist our arms! What gorgeous accommodations AND we have a balcony and a view.

Thank you Dungarees Express

Roadside Stop in the "Alps of America"

I thought we were going to the Alps next summer, but it looks like we already got there. This is on the way from East Glacier to St. Mary.

Breakfast After Sunrise

After an hour and a half of driving and photography, we were ready for a hearty breakfast. Where is everyone else? It's already 6:30am!

Sunrise at Two Medicine Lake

We were ready to leave our hotel at 5:00am. Oh my goodness! These better be great sunrise photos! We thought we had missed sunrise because it was already light before we left the hotel, but false alarm, there's just a long dawn here. Since we had scoped this out last night, we knew right where to go. There was nobody here when we arrived. We had the place to ourselves. 

But even with last night's scouting, the two photographers scurried to find just the right location and angle for the big event. 

 

This piece of rock looks pretty dull (or it's in "flat light" as Rodney would say), but wait and watch what happens as sunrise approaches.

I was attempting to do my own time lapse photography by staying in the same place and shooting the same picture every few minutes. Then I realized you could see the moon as well, so I shifted my angle a little to get the moon. But keep your eye on the big rock. 

 Isn't that cool? And of course, the fact that it's reflected in that calm lake water is even better. Yep, this was worth getting up for.