http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Montana/Great-Falls/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , Montana , Great Falls en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:41:44 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:41:44 UTC We are overdue with an entry but have been busy this week visiting with family and friends and visiting old familiar sights since we are about 20 miles from where I grew up. The weather has been gorgeous most of the time but it was in the high 90's yesterday which made for a lot of conversation among the locals about how unbearably hot it was. It will be back in the 80's today. There is a gre http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Montana/Great-Falls/blog-294046.html We spent a week in Helena doing odds and ends to prepare for the trip to Alaska. This included getting a new windshield after ours suffered a crack change of oil in the radiator finding protection for the tow windshield stocking up on groceries settling with Verizon on a phone plan for Canada and planning our routes and attractions. It was time well spent. And we learned all about hobby horse http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Montana/Great-Falls/blog-274790.html The mechanics of the trip wersquore now on is hurting my spirit Right now wersquore in Montana Big Sky Country and yes therersquos a lot of sky. In some places not a lot else 100 foot snow drifts and closed roads but thatrsquos okay we made it into the US and made it with the assistance of an extraordinarily helpful US Customs and Border official who clearly doubles as a tou http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Montana/Great-Falls/blog-269665.html We are in Helena and checked through the border in about 20 minutes much to our relief. I don't think the customs officer could be less friendly. How many in the vehicle and Proof of citizenship please and that was it. No Where are you headed today or How are you today. It was a quite a nice drive compared to SK. LOL. We didn't get to see the Gates of the Mountain because the only way you c http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Montana/Great-Falls/blog-260929.html My very good friends Clark and Tiffany came to Great Falls to celebrate the marriage of one of Clark's old army buddies. My other friend Perkins who was living with me for a chunk of the summer and I decided to fly up there and pay them a visit. We grabbed some lunch at a pizza joint and went to visit the bird pond. There were so many ducks and birds the water was murky with duck droppings Then http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Montana/Great-Falls/blog-220989.html Haven't sent a message since we were in Ontario. We have now crossed Manitoba Saskatchewan part of Alberta and are now back in the USA in Great Falls Montana. Had a 4 day stop in Winnipeg to visit David's cousin Karen and her family. Had a great visit. Got to experience some of their annual Fringe Festival play Canadian 5pin bowling eat great food do a little kayaking and talk a lot. W http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Montana/Great-Falls/blog-186443.html .It seems that we have had a preoccupation with the weather latelyhellip Well it has really decided to set in and affect this part of our trip. We got in late last night and splurged by having McDonalds for dinner i.e. we didnrsquot have to cook Worked on the blog and went straight to bed hoping that the weather would improve in the morninghellip I guess the operative word was ldqu http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Montana/Great-Falls/blog-90962.html