DAY 12 MISSOULA TO KALISPELL

Left late this morning and 100 miles later found ourselves in Kalispell MT looking for a place to stay. Once checked in headed to Glacier National Park, one of the places I wanted to see on this ride. Took the group photo at the entrance, bought the refrigerator magnet and headed up the Road To The Sun. Only the first 16 miles are open then you have to turn around. June may mean summer in Phoenix but apparently in Glacier June means late winter, road closed due to avalanche.

The portion of the road we did ride was beautiful. Wet from a prior storm and as the road warmed a fog like mist was rising from the pavement with a raging river to the left and a thick forest with fern covered ground to the right. Add to that the sweet sound of several rumbling v-twin engines, well you get the idea a great afternoon until.....the rain. At least we were on our way out and it wasn't long before we rode out of it.

Finished with a great dinner than back to the motel where we found 25 other bikes in the parking lot, the most we have seen in a couple of days of riding outside of the Harley dealer.

I'm growing older but not up
My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck
So let the winds of change blow over my head
I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead
Jimmy Buffett

This morning while still at the hotel Jan, Bruce, and I kept running into kids aged 6 to 12 that said hi and asked us how we were doing. We had met all of these kids the night before when we went to the pool after dinner and found two large water slides. Soon the three of us were sliding and then right back up the stairs to go again. Daring each other to try different methods of riding, while Jan encouraged the kids to disregard the green start light and just go. This all occurred under the watchful eyes of parents and grandparents some shaking their heads, some giving an approving nod, some maybe a little jealous of our attitude. Yea, growing older but not up.
 
Chuck