We drove some more, and some more until we came to the Canadian border, where there are some no nonsense men who don't want to hear your funny comments or witty quips. They want to see your papers.
In case you are wondering, we needed to show our birth certificates.
Next summer I read that in order to get back into the United States, you will most likely be needing a passport. So check it out before you go or you might be saying 'Eh.' at the end of every sentence for the rest of your life.
Or until you get your papers in order.
Now before we go any further, if you really want to get an idea of what this place is like, please hie thee off to www.flickr.com and type Waterton Lake in the search engine on their page and see some photos taken by people with WAY better equipment and talent than I possess.
Besides, I found out something about myself during this second trip to Waterton... I am a micro person when out in the wild. I tend to see the little things, close up and sort of forget the grandeur around me. So I don't have a lot of really great photos of the lake...
This is the hotel on the hill overlooking the town of Waterton. Sort of makes you feel inferior knowing the upper crust is looking down on you all day.
[album 65561 Other Half.JPG]
But there is no monopoly on the view...
[album 65561 Afternoon Camp View.JPG]
[album 65561 Early Morning Lake.JPG]
But all this lovely stuff around me.... what? you haven't gone to Flickr yet? Go now.
I'll wait.
(You are such a dork, you realize this don't you?)
Yeah yeah, whatever.
So even though it is an awesome place to behold.... this is what I really came to look at:
Up close.
And personal.
The stones along the shore.
[album 65561 Waterton Stones Smaller.JPG]
I came here about 13 years ago or so and fell in love with them. I took some home with me, but not nearly enough, and I had returned to set that situation straight. I spent most of my time choosing stones from yards and yards of shoreline. I was very methodical and started at one end and worked my way to the place where a large creek stops you.
I'll show you my haul later on.
I made an observation about my choices this time. Last trip, I was VERY picky about what stones I wanted. I was looking for egg shaped or really round ones. This time, I had a much broader definition of what appealed to me.
Considering my existential outlook on so many things, I'm taking that to mean that I have matured and have enlarged my range of what is beautiful and acceptable.
It was worth driving hundreds of miles to find out.
Oh yeah, and for the stars.
I can't forget the stars.