Glacier Park and Whitefish, Montana – 10/31/2014 – http://fulltimetimeshare.com/blog

OCTOBER 31, 2014 (Friday)

Happy Halloween!

Woke up to another beautiful day. Sun was out, along with some fog. The temperature varied from about 40 to 55. Nice. We were out and about around 11:00 AM. First stop, gas, then the Ten Commandments Park on the outskirts of Columbia Falls. Interesting park. The Ten Commandments appear to be big around here.

Love the Prius, good for another 450+ miles.

We kept driving by the 10 commandments park, realized we couldn't name them all from memory and decided to pay a quick visit. — We kept driving by the 10 commandments park, realized we couldn’t name them all from memory and decided to pay a quick visit.

Select quotes from select founding fathers were also on display.

The clouds here, at this time of year, do a great imitation of valley fog, thick, low and sticking around for much of the day.

After that we stopped at a little historical monument near the park entrance. Funny, though, because when we pulled over a young man was peeing alongside the road and we interrupted him. Sorry guy!

Not sure who the fellow was, but a nice remembrance.

We went into the park and stopped at the Canadian Visitor Center – CLOSED for the season. Bummer. Then on to the end of the road to take a little hike along the Trail of the Cedars. Beautiful easy hike along the river and on an easy boardwalk type sidewalk. Loved it. Along the way was information about the trees, birds, wildlife, etc. Nice. It was a little chilly but because we were walking it was perfect. We debated whether we wanted to continue up to Avalanche Lake, but decided against it (4 miles). Would high recommend this lovely, leisurely walk among the cedars.

We drove to the end of the road and took a little walk, The Trail of the Cedars.

I look at this and I think, "Pigs feet." — I look at this and I think, “Pigs feet.”

Edie loved the view of the fallen tree to the side and the moss covered fallen tree in the distance.

I enjoy picturing these boulders on the move under a glacier.

Avalanche Creek, so clear and beautiful.

Wonderful informative placards along the way.

Edie and I tried to imagine the mechanics of a single tree being picked for a twisting fall while all around stand straight and tall.

My first wife benefited for a time from tamoxifen, a product of the Pacific Yew, before she lost her battle with cancer.

What forest people call, "a widow maker." — What forest people call, “a widow maker.”

For me, these roots explain all the fallen trees. They look very small to hold up such big trees.

Next stop was the Apgar Visitor Center – again CLOSED. Only open on the weekends. Guess it wasn’t meant to be and will try if/when we come back. Looked like a very nice Visitor Center. Met a lovely Canadian couple who were looking for a place to camp out. I offered them our couch but they declined. Felt sorry for them because a storm is supposed to be coming in tonight. Hopefully not.

We left the park and headed for Whitefish, about ten miles from Columbia Falls. Such a cute little town. Very rugged and Western. Since it’s Halloween, they had a costume judging thing going on and so many kids and adults in costume. The whole old town downtown does a trick or treat thing for the kids. Really wonderful and a great idea. Our favorites were a pink flamingo (I love flamingos) and a mom and dad dressed as construction workers, and the baby with the stroller made into a bulldozer. So cute! Great costumes and a great little town.

Every light post in Whitefish is marked this way, and as a visitor we feel it.

All the merchants were giving food to the kids. Lots of parents got totally involved. This is one of my favorites.

The pink flamingo was Edie's hands down favorite. She wanted to be wearing one so bad! — The pink flamingo was Edie’s hands down favorite. She wanted to be wearing one so bad!

We had lunch in the old town part at a place called Shooters. It was all decorated for Halloween and very dark inside. They were also playing very scary and bloody programs on the TV. It wasn’t very appetizing and I had to avoid looking at the television while I ate. Michael had a turkey/avocado sandwich with yummy potatoes, and I had a lamb gyro with the yummy potatoes. Very delicious and not overly pricey.

Edie had a gyro with home fries, and I had a turkey sandwich on sourdough with home fries. They give you a container of ranch dressing for the potatoes. It was all pretty good.

Once we had finished eating we just went walking around and enjoying the trick or treaters and the costumes. Everything was out in force – R2D2, Harry Potter, a lot of beautiful little ferries, a dog sled team, a father banana with a baby chimp, Thing 1 and Thing 2, just so many fun costumes.

We went to Safeway to get cash for Canada. Found more Moose Drool.

On the way home, we are hoping these are controlled burns and not a pyromaniac.

A subdivision of Columbia Falls with Glacier peaks in the distant background.

We are now home and tired. That was our fun day. Hope yours was great!