The Pacific North West, and then East again.

A quick photo catch up, from our Motel 6 room in Helena, MT. I say quick, because the boys are trying to sleep. I feel guilty.

We headed to Portland.





Via Wing Stop!



60 wings, a pound of potato salad, a pound of coleslaw and a basket of fries was too easy. We need a new challenge.

Portland was super great. We especially liked the bridges and Powells. We also liked the International Rose Test Garden.



Which isn't to be confused with the Rose Garden which hosts NBA games. Glen looks stupid, mental note made for next time. The roses were cool though.

We left Oregon and stopped in Vancouver, WA for breakfast. Wienerschnitzel did an amazing Super Cherry Mountain Dew, but its chili dogs...



Worst breakfast ever. Well, since Paris, TX.

We stopped by Olympia to see the State Capitol. Another good stop.



Then stopped in Kelso. Which is funny for those of you who know Steve.



Then Seattle, at last. It's a really nice city to drive into, especially when you pass your favourite baseball and football teams' stadiums on the way.



A super good stop and a great way to end the trek up the West Coast, Seattle had a lot going for it. Like Pike Place Market...



And giant apples.



We also met David Moyes...



And the entire Everton team/Harlem Globetrotters.



As usual, lots more photos, including cool things like more fish, more fruit, the Space Needle, and other fancy stuff Mike takes, just check the flickrs.

We sadly had to leave Seattle and spend a long day driving through Washington, and then Idaho, so we could get to Glacier National Park.



This is what Michael thought of Idaho...



Montana has fared a little better.



We rolled up to our campsite at West Glacier a little after dark, after another satisfying take on the Bargain menu at Pizza Hut. Putting up the tent in the dark is difficult enough, but the super mental Montana lightning made it a little scarier than it needed to be.



A pretty terrible night's sleep was totally worth it for our visit to Glacier NP this morning, which is so far the group's second favourite park, and my personal favourite, just edging out Grand Canyon. I'm all about the U-Shaped Valleys.






We arrived safe and sound in Helena, despite more of Mother Nature trying to kill us...


... and enjoyed our first Walmart Supercenter since Mike arrived, then knocked off another American tradition, Applebees for dinner on a Sunday.

Tomorrow is Yellowstone. And our last night of camping. Thank Jesus.