Up bright and early we set off for Glacier National Park (which was the whole point of this particular route), just over three hours driving away. Not a particularly inspiring drive over the plains but the Rockies were rising tantalisingly from the horizon to our left as we headed north west.

Up bright and early we set off for Glacier National Park (which was the whole point of this particular route), just over three hours driving away. Not a particularly inspiring drive over the plains but the Rockies were rising tantalisingly from the horizon to our left as we headed north west.

We hit Browning heart of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation late in the morning. I had planned to stop here and have lunch and visit the Museum of the Plains Indians however, my romantic vision of Browning as a bustling town filled with attractions and proud signs of tribal heritage was dashed somewhat by the reality of a dusty untidy sprawl. We did stop at the Museum which had an excellent collection of artifacts and clothing from the last century until surprisingly recently and then pressed on.

Arriving earlier than planned at St Mary the eastern entrance to Glacier we checked in at the resort and to our pleasnat surprise, the cabin we had reserved was ready several hours before the official check in time. We bought some snack food at the supermarket and installed ourselves in the cabin for lunch.

The setting was sublime, the cabin we had was just next to the river looking towards the park with the magnificent rocky peaks rising above the glacially carved U shaped valley. After lunch, my boys and I spent the afternoon in the river producing our own miniature dam.

We had a meal and drinks in the Lodge in the evening and retired to the peace and quiet of our TV free cabin - not popular with my lads !