There are many miles ahead over the course of the next two days. Our (Tim & wife, Diana, Dave and myself) plan is to leave Red Lodge, Montana, early and ride the near 900-mile [1,450 km] northwards journey to Calgary over two days.We're awake and kicking-up our side-stands by 8:00am. Here's a pic of Tim & Diana, BTW
Tim complete with an aviator’s under-lid head/scalp protector .. DANG those pesky Injuns!
This first day's riding brings us: squally rain, very strong westerly side winds, a loitering smoky haze from the nearby Montana forest fires west of the Great Falls area, and just one too many refuelling stops for my personal endurance comfort zone .. :o( We cover 465 miles [748 km] by the time we reach the village of Saint Mary on the eastern approach to Glacier National Park at around 6:30pm. This is the farthest I've ridden in one day, so far, on this continent.
Dave decides to press-on home to Calgary by himself. He is missing his family. Top bloke is Dave – he's my kinda mate. We've shared a lot of time (and laughs! .. :o) :o) during the last few days and covered hundreds of miles together, just the two of us. I hope we can meet-up again in the not-too-distant future.
The three of us remaining though check-in at the only local accommodation stealership that has a ready vacancy available. USD $169.00 [GBP £84] for a glorified two-bedroomed garden shed, otherwise referred to locally as 'a cabin'.
Ho-hum?! We really have no choice but to cough-up & look big :o( .. :o( .. :o(
We finish the day by setting Tim's cell phone alarm for 06:00am - :o(
Saturday, September-01
Besides sharing very early morning cups 'a coffee prepared by Diana's fair hand ...
.. and Tim's overall enthusiasm for most of what life has to offer, especially riding a motorcycle ...
.. the point in getting up so early this morning is to catch the early light AND avoid the anticipated crowds. After all, this weekend is a long one, as it's 'Labour Day' .. er, sorry 'Labor Day' on Monday; a national [bank] holiday for the American nation. 
We're on our way by 7:15am, heading in a broad westerly direction along the 'Going To the Sun Road' and into the heart of Glacier National Park. Tis a coooold! morning.
We press-on against a strong head wind and a rising sun that casts our long shadows across the northern bank of St Mary Lake.This is the first time that I've needed to insert my new JoeRocket riding jacket liner.
At this stage I am hoping that the morning's ride won't be spoiled by the blustery weather
But as we ride up through the first ridge a calm settles around us; just not so exposed up around here, as the high mountainsides protect us .. I guess
The scenery is probably the most spectacular I've seen in North America .. so far. At this time of day, the ambience is absolutely magical! I'll let the following pictures to the talking ...
Obviously Glacier NP has seen its fair-share of forest fires too at some stage(s) during the recent past .. :o(
An absobloodylutely fan-tas-tic experience being here. Oh YES!
But after a nice cooked breakfast at the hotel alongside the southern bank of Lake McDonald it's time to make tracks back to St Mary, the way we came. 
I highly recommend Glacier Nation Park. It's another good one .. :o)
70 northbound miles [113 km] later and we ride through the sleepiest little international border, after the briefest of checks .. back into Canada ...
.. and another new province for me.
Almost straightaway I get my first stunning view of the Canadian Rockies ...
.. as we press on towards Calgary.
Tim is keen to divert our route along Hwy-40 ...
.. and over the highest Pass in Canada. I, of course, go along for the ride.I say more about an 'incident' that occurred along this road in my next post .. :o(
We finally arrive at Tim & Diana's home by around 6:45pm. He's got the biggest domestic satellite dish I've ever seen. Well, if you're gonna have one .. have a big one. This philosophy applies to most things in life .. ;o)
And Diana, bless her, is gone half the evening just to find me some decent BRITISH tea bags. A decent cuppa .. at last! .. :o)
