September 10 - Day two starting on the train at midnight...

DAY TWO

GREAT NORTHERN CONVENTION

We shouldn't forget this is a convention we are on our way to -- Great Northern. This train car was at Whitefish Montana. That looked like a very cool town, known for its fishing and outdoors sports I believe. A beautiful restored depot, which we will go into on our way home.


We got up early after an extremely uncomfortable night trying to sleep in our seats! We heard it was good to get up for the sunrise in the viewing car. We were there, but the sun wasn't. It was overcast and gray. We stayed awhile, but then headed off to breakfast in the dining car.

That was a much brighter atmosphere. Tablecloth and flowers on the table, good smells coming from the kitchen. Breakfast was no rush at all. We sat there for a long time getting our coffee refilled. We had one guest with us for breakfast, but he didn't stay too long. We had juice and eggs and potatoes and choices of bread - but no toast. No toasters on board!

After this the views just got better and better.

There was a little girl up front that kept everyone posted: "Grandpa, moo cows!"

"Grandpa, a rainbow!"

We might have missed it otherwise.

Then, suddenly...

We are at the East Glacier Depot!

. . .

And right off the train, the fabulous view of the East Glacier Lodge!

We were awestruck!

It was beautifully landscaped, and the big tent out front was for the conference meetings, lectures, and banquets. The tipi was for decoration, and as a reminder that the Blackfeet people used to set up their tipis and entertain the visitors to the lodge.

We had to wait several hours before our room was ready. There was a safe place to put our things though, and we got to explore everything. . .

. . . and enjoy this nice fire. A fire was built every evening and some mornings. The logs were huge, the andirons were huge, the poker was huge. It was fun to see them tend the fire. We had to get there early to get a front row seat for the fireplace...

And every evening there was a piano player. That was lovely, the fire, the piano music, very comfortable and cozy.

This is the huge lobby, from upstairs. It was amazing. People (like us) came in and turned in circles looking upward, trying to take it all in. Bison heads and moose and elk heads decorated the corners. Artwork everywhere; roughly hewn tables and benches; two restaurants and a gift shop, a grocery store, and the registration counter all branch off of this central area. Notice the huge trees holding everything up!

. . . . .

Our room has a private veranda with rocking chairs. Our room is actually pretty roomy except for the bathroom - that was as tiny as they could make it. But, we were afraid the bath would be "down the hall" so we were very happy we had a private bathroom, even if it was as small as a broom closet!

. . . . .

The day was basically travel, moving in, and relaxing. We are getting lots of reading done and that is a good thing. We ate lunch in the lounge and tried a huckleberry lager. It was good, and we later understood they make everything possible "huckleberry". Its not just the bears that love them! We walked "downtown" and had dinner in a Mexican Restaurant (Serranos) that got good reviews. Delicious.

Back to the Lodge to listen to the piano and watch the fire...