Have you ever taken a historic boat ride across an international border … on a lake? Or pedaled a recumbent bicycle-built-for-two on an old narrow gauge railroad track? Or found yourself mingling with the locals aboard a Mail Boat? Or ridden a cog railway train straight up the side of a mountain? We’ve been fortunate to have experienced all of these adventures in our RV travels and loved every single one. Let’s Go For a Ride! Unique excursions in Oregon, Maine, New Hampshire, and Alberta Canada Story by Emily Fagan, photos by Emily and Mark Fagan Waterton Shoreline Cruise, Montana and Alberta, Canada Few people are aware that Glacier National Park in Montana holds hands across the US / Canadian border with one of the jewels in Canada’s National Park system, Waterton Lakes National Park. After Canada and the US signed a 1909 treaty, the two National Parks joined forces to form the Waterton- Glacier International Peace Park. One of the highlights during our stay on the Waterton Lakes side of the park was the 2.5 hour boat ride that sails the entire length of Upper Waterton Lake from Canada into the US, crossing the international border in the middle of the trip.
We hopped on the side-by-side tandem Joseph Branch Rail Riders for a ride.
Prince of Wales hotel. This wooden boat has been taking tourists out on this excursion for decades. We quickly found a spot on deck where we could savor the snowcapped mountain views all around us as the boat slipped out into the lake. Our host, Kevin, pointed out the landmarks and explained that glaciers are huge masses of ice that are in perpetual motion, slowly moving across the landscape and grinding up rocks beneath them. The rich blue and turquoise color of glacial lakes is created by “glacial flour,” which is ground rock, suspended in the water.
We boarded the historic cruise boat, MV / International, in the Village of Waterton just below the stately
As we approached the international border, the captain slowed the boat. A thin line of cleared trees in
The colorful Cog railway cars take you right up the side of a mountain.
LET’S GO FOR A RIDE
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 | 17
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