Day SIX
IZAAK WALTON TOUR
We had a quick buffet breakfast (too much!) and a 9:00 lecture. The lecture was two former train cooks telling about their experiences. That was really fun and interesting. Now, of course, everything is pre-made and microwaved. Back then they baked muffins and pancakes, cooked roasts and fish. Those guys worked for 16 hours on their feet - then got to crawl into a tiny space of a bed til their next shift. They made good money for the day though.
. . .
We all loaded onto buses for the Izaak Walton Inn. For those readers who do not know (like me) , Izaak Walton is important to Sports fishing. Prior to Izaak Walton, fishing was for food. Izaak Walton turned fishing into a sport! (who knew?) . Our bus was the yellow school bus in the back. SQUISH. We slowed down at "goat lick". I thought I saw a goat! But, maybe it was a white rock...we still went by pretty fast.
Here is the Historic Walton Hotel. It was charming inside and out.
It was originally built for the workers to stay in. The rooms are smallish and the fireplace is half the size of the one at the East Glacier Lodge. We were able to peek inside some of the rooms that were being made up. They were pretty cute. The second floor had tons of memorabilia on the walls. It was like being in a train museum. Down in the basement was more train stuff, a pool table, a bar, and a juke box that played records!
Old goats everywhere you look!
The lobby. We really overtook the place when our five buses of train nuts got there.
These folks at the fireplace were not connected with our group. 
We were looking forward to looking at this renovated train engine!
Old goats everywhere you look!
The lobby. We really overtook the place when our five buses of train nuts got there.
These folks at the fireplace were not connected with our group. They were still interesting to talk to.
So much train related art work.
We were looking forward to looking at this renovated train engine! We saw it from the train on our way to East Glacier.
Here is Phil driving the engine!
It is made into a 'hotel room' with lovely furnishings and amenities.
They have turned these fan things into skylights! And, decorated with a Western theme. We heard its only $300 per night (2 nights minimum) to stay in this Engine!
A new friend took our picture, and we took pictures of him and his son on the engine later.
Here is Phil driving the engine!
It is made into a 'hotel room' with lovely furnishings and amenities.
They have turned these fan things into skylights! And, decorated with a Western theme. We heard its only $300 per night (2 nights minimum) to stay in this Engine!
A new friend took our picture, and we took pictures of him and his son on the engine later. Phil even did some video taping for them.
They have three cabooses up in the woods people can stay in as well...
It was a lovely area. We fell in love with the Aspen in this area. 
Love these vintage signs. The train stop is "Essex". 
Here is a restored caboose we toured too. 
Phil in the loft of the caboose.
Hurry up and take the picture, people are waiting!
This was one of my favorite moments! This butterfly posed for me for ten minutes!
I actually saw its butterfly tongue going into the flower for nectar!
And it found such a lovely color coordinated flower to land on to pose!
They have three cabooses up in the woods people can stay in as well...
It was a lovely area. We fell in love with the Aspen in this area. The trunks are so striking, and the leaves are beautiful
and they quake in the breeze...
more tipis here too.
Love these vintage signs. The train stop is "Essex". 
Here is a restored caboose we toured too. It was beautifully decorated,
slightly cheaper than the engine I presume...
Phil in the loft of the caboose.
Hurry up and take the picture, people are waiting!
This was one of my favorite moments! This butterfly posed for me for ten minutes!
I actually saw its butterfly tongue going into the flower for nectar!
And it found such a lovely color coordinated flower to land on to pose! We had a very nice group lunch there. A barbecue. We had bacon-cheeseburgers, home made potato chips, potato salad, iced tea, and what else, huckleberry cobbler for our lunch. We had barely gotten over the buffet breakfast! But we did our best.
A train! Remember who we're with!
Some of the guys had radios so they knew when the trains were coming! 
So nice to have that big fire to look forward to in the evening!
A train! Remember who we're with! 
Some of the guys had radios so they knew when the trains were coming! They were prepared on this overpass and got fabulous photos.
There are even photo openings in the chain link fence!
We waited a while, but gave up and explored a little more around the Inn.
. . .
The bus ride back was uneventful, but you should have heard the groans of everyone trying to unfold and stand up to get off the bus!
. . .
We read by the fire for a while, then walked to the Whistle Stop for dinner. We ordered stuffed baked potatoes. They were HUGE! I kept eating and eating and it never looked any smaller! We saw a lot of big dogs roaming around town and overheard that there was a black bear sighting. We also saw a cowboy wearing SPURS! The convention is winding down but there is still a nice final banquet tomorrow night.
So nice to have that big fire to look forward to in the evening! We aren't the only ones that fall asleep in front of it!
Wonderful! YOu make me feel like I was there with you!
ReplyDelete