Day 4 ...Mystic Lake

Today we went on a hike to Mystic Lake which is the most stunning lake which nestles at the top of a mountain. It took over an hour to drive there. The last part is 17 miles of dirt track road which winds and bends and has servere drops at the side...and only room for one car....scary but I did it.

We went with the soccer team as this was part of their bonding and training. When we parked the car up some of the lads who were there a little earlier found a snake. One picked it up. It wasn't poisonous but some of the boys freaked out at the sight of it which was funny.

I was loaned a rucksack and was supplied with bear spray, bear whistle and a bell which is supposed to keep the bears away. Apparently there are quite a few bears on this hike...but we didn't come across any.

I was also loaned walking poles....they were fab and now on my Christmas wish list.

The hike was 5 miles up, which was quite tough. The air got thinner so breathing a bit more difficult. Unfortunately there was so much mist that you couldn't see the lake in all it's glory when you reached it. But it had a beauty of it's own. Some of the boys went in for a swim which was freezing....and yes my son Tom was one of them.

Coming down was much easier and much quicker.

We left the boys and went to an amazing bar called The Grizzly Bar. Full of cowboys. I felt like I should have been wearing a Stetson. We called our friend up who drove over an hour to meet us. We had a wonderful meal together then drove to another bar. Yet another typical bar of Montana. Full of stuffed animals which are up on the walls. This was called The Atlas Bar.....once again very friendly people....they get fascinated by our accents.

The heavens opened as I was driving home....so much rain. Not great to drive in when you don't really know where your going and you know you have at least 100 miles ahead of you....but we did it.