TravelingMel

This really shouldn't be titled "Glacier" since we left Whitefish and drove home this day--without going into the park at all. But, it is part of a series and so the name must remain constant. I'm a stickler like that.

I wish there was day 7, 8, 9....30 to report. I could have stayed a lot longer. We had a lot of fun exploring the Big Sky State on the way home, though.

We started the morning by going out to breakfast in Whitefish at the Green Tea House. H had spotted it a couple nights back as he tried to drive Finn to sleep and thought I might like it. I did.

Then some fun at the city park and we were on our way.

Henry suggested we go to "Green Tea". It's a vegan/glutan-free/modern hippie/all natural restaurant. Isn't he sweet?

Fun on the phallic slide in Whitefish.

Henry is having a ball.

Our first stop was at Seeley Lake. We look for places where we can eat outside and the boys can get some energy out. This campground on the shores of Seeley Lake was perfect. Anders and Finn loved playing in the water. H and I wished we had gotten our swimsuits out. I could have spent a week here (or more) if it weren't for the skeeters.

Running like a boy who has been strapped into a seat for a couple hours.

Splish splash, Finn and dad were having a blast.

We definitely want to spend more time at Seeley Lake.

We drove some more and when dinner time hit, we stopped at Fairmont Hot Springs. It fit our criteria--food and fun. H, Finn and I LOVED the four story waterslide and Anders tolerated it once. If we had a little more moola, we could have spent a couple days here.

More fun in the water.

Half boy, half fish.

Fortunately, we needed gas as we neared my all time favorite truck stop--the Flying J just west of Butte. I was a little disappointed to discover there were no "Our Ladies of the Rockies" postcards. (Jen, you know why.)

Rainbow over the Flying J.

We arrived home at 10pm with two sleeping boys. It couldn't have worked out better if we had planned it.

Don't worry, we are almost done with all the photos from our fabulous vacation to Glacier National Park. One more post after this. Then it is on to 4th of July photos and an awesome otter experience in Yellowstone. Stay tuned!

So, Glacier pretty much blew my mind, even though I'd been there a couple times. I'm so glad I got to experience it with friends and my family this time.

I did wish, however, I had a chance to get into the backcountry a bit. A four mile hike, doesn't quite cut it for absorbing those mountains. More than just seeing it, I wanted to be it. I could be Zen about it and appreciate what is, which I did, but I always want MORE NATURE.

Anyhoo, we went for a great walk on day 5 to Rocky Point on Lake McDonald. The trail was mostly flat and followed a sort-of peninsula through recently burned and burned-a-long-time-ago forest. Plus, a little unburned forest just to mix things up.

The flowers were great (oh yeah, there are flower pics in this post) and the lake was gorgeous. The mountains in the background were pretty nice, too. You won't be surprised to hear that the boys loved throwing rocks in the lake and Anders dug climbing crumbling mini-cliffs. Henry looked handsome and carried the brunt of the big boy who will not walk.

Actually, Anders hiked quite a bit of the 2.5-mile lollipop loop. Finn lost it toward the end and cried super hard until he fell asleep in my arms. I carried him out like a fire victim much to the amusement of other hikers.

We ate a late lunch and ice cream on the lawn at Apgar and then drove back to our motel in Whitefish for dinner on the lawn. Then the boys played at the park with H while I cleaned up and read a bit.

H and Anders cross Fish Creek.

Results of the 2003 fire: beargrass and blackened trees.

Critter on beargrass-the official flower of Glacier National Park.

Finn shows off his find. It's a leaf.

Learning about fire.

A wild rose by any other name...

Finding Lake McDonald.

This attempt at a family photo fell a bit short. I guess I should learn how to use the timer.

Anders and I scrambled up to a little overlook. Look over there!

Then he scrambled out to this rock overlooking a precipitous drop.

"Put me in the backpack, now," Finn said. "Then I will scream until you carry me with your own bare hands."

You have to have a stick to be an effective hiker. Duh.

When we left Montana on Sunday we also left winter and flew into spring. There is a lot of green here in Maryland (and I don't just mean money). Trees are budding and flowers are blooming.

It's been pretty overcast, but Wednesday was sunny and beautiful. We paid a visit to the Chesapeake Maritime Museum.

Finn on the boat at Morris Park.

Anders gets on the boat.

Anders gets crabby with dad.

I caught a keeper.

Crabby, crabby, crabby...

Picking up rocks.

Throwing rocks into the water--one of Finn's favorite activities.

Yeah, it's scenic.

Looking out the lighthouse window.

Anders steers the boat.

We're in Maryland, Denton Maryland, that is. H's parents are spending the winter here and they flew us out to get in a little grandson time. They are renting a farm house on six acres with a couple ponds and along a river. Quite lovely.

On Monday we went over to Susannah's house--my super cool sister-in-law. We had lots of fun and H took all the pictures.

On Tuesday we went for a nice walk around the farm.

John Deere made Anders and Finn very happy.

Grumpy driver.

Watching the Tuckahoe River.

Termite piles below a rotten log.

Buds.

More pics here.

I'm sure you remember the awesome video H and I made as an application for "The Best Job in the World". You may also remember that I sent it in 30 seconds too late and was disqualified.

H's good friend, Tollini, recently sent him this piece of news. The dude who got the job got stung by a tiny jellyfish and almost died. Not sure they can call it "The Best Job in the World" now.

The man who landed what was dubbed "the best job in the world" as the caretaker on a tropical island off Australia has been stung by a lethal jellyfish.

Briton Ben Southall, who beat 34,000 applicants to secure the position, was stung during his last week in the job.

The culprit was the peanut-sized Irukandji jellyfish, whose venomous sting can be lethal.

In his blog, which he keeps as part of his job, he describes the incident as "a little sting on the beach".

But it was his progressive symptoms of fever, headache, lower back pain, chest tightness and high blood pressure that led doctors to diagnose the sting.

"I thought I'd done particularly well at avoiding any contact with any of the dangerous critters that consider this part of the world their home," Mr Southall writes in the latest update to his online diary.

"I've avoided being boxed by a kangaroo, nibbled by a shark and bitten by a spider or a snake - but then in my final few days on Hamilton Island I fell foul of a miniscule little creature known as an Irukandji," his blog continues.

The jellyfish - which struck as he descended from a jet-ski - is virtually invisible to the naked eye and can be deadly - in 2002 two tourists died after being stung.

It is so small it can pass through the nets that protect popular swimming spots in Queensland from larger jellyfish.

But Mr Southall - who has fully recovered after a dose of antibiotics and rest - admitted that he had been inadequately dressed for the excursion.

"It's not something to be messed around with. I really should have been wearing a full stinger suit, as is recommended at all beaches here this time of year," he said.

Mr Southall, 34, a charity fundraiser from Hampshire had to undergo a gruelling selection process to get the A$150,000 ($134,000) role - including swimming, snorkelling and one-to-one interviews.