We've been without internet access since leaving Calgary. Well almost anyway, there was service available in Grand Prairie but it was so slow, all I could do there was get e-mail downloaded. Tried to post here but it took so long that I finally timed out!
Let's see if I can remember everything now. Leaving Calgary we headed toward Banff , Lake Louise and Jasper Provincial Parks. It's a toll road thru the parks but well worth the money spent. Besides, the fee was good for almost 2 whole days! We saw snow capped mountains by the score and took over 100 photos! Here's just a few and not in any order.
This is a large animal bridge over the road, there are 23 of them, topped with soil, plants and a fence on the sides so the animals can cross safely. Reportedly there are more than 8 species that use these bridges, we never saw animals on them.
Main entrance to the parks.
One of several frozen or partially frozen lakes we saw on the drive.
Carol and I are tossing snow balls at the photographer, missed him completely! On purpose too.
This was the road leading from Calgary to Banff. I told you they weren't in order!
We saw sights like this and many more along the way. Every turn in the road opened up another beautiful vista of snow capped peaks. The road was 2 lanes in each direction and mostly level, somewhat curvy and a real pleasure to drive. There are turnouts along the way so visitors can stop to admire the views.
At a big, meaning long, horseshoe turn, this fellow was just standing beside the road. Both of us thought he was a stature until just as we passed he turned his head.
Here's looking down on the road from one of the highest spots on the drive, if I remember it is over 6000 feet at the point.
This was one of many waterfalls we saw on the drive.
We stayed that night in Jasper. Since we had no reservations, we were in the "Winter parking area" which is a parking lot with RV spaces marked out and electrical hookups, good thing too since the overnight temp was in the low 40's. We ran the electrical heat most of the evening.
Next day we headed to Grand Prairie, more spectacular views along the way!
One of the many rivers we drove beside.
Just outside of Jasper this lovely female was on a ridge beside the road, level with the top of the truck. She didn't seem to mind us being there. The next few are between Jasper and Grand Prairie. The day was beautiful! Sunny, cool but so clear. We really enjoyed the drive.
We stayed 2 nights in Grand Prairie, one at a campground south of town and one boon docked (dry camped) in a parking lot with our friends. The day started out overcast, then a short rain, then sort of sunny. Jon and I decided to walk along the nature trail that starts from behind the visitor center. Caught this seagull fishing just below the dam.
Here's a view of the lake looking toward the college.
Monday morning we headed out from Grande Prairie toward Hythe. Lots of RV's on the road heading in both directions. Course it was a holiday in Canada (Victoria Day) and the first of the camping season for Canadians. Again, good road, two lanes each direction, rolling hills and lots of agriculture in this valley. Crops here are Canola, Barley, Oats and Wheat along with some cattle ranching and horse farms.
Here's our site in Hythe. Weather here was very good. Elevation is lower so it was warmer, but the mosquitoes were out too. When the wind picked up we could be outside.
Sandy, Kat and Carol, trying to decide what to do. Cody (the dog) just waiting to go for a walk. After lunch, Carol, Nancy and I went to one of the picnic shelters and line danced for 2 hours.
Jon and Jezabel had a really rough day so they took a nap.
And now it's Wednesday the 21st of May. We left Hythe, made a brief stop in Demmitt for fuel then Pouche Coupe for the Museum before arriving in Dawson about noon. After lunch Jon and I headed into town to re-supply the fridge. There are now 9 or 10 rigs here, some of us (14) went to dinner in town.
See ya down the road!
We left Malstrom AFB about 8:30a, turned North to I-15, soon the freeway gave way to nice highway with little traffic
However, crossing into Canada was another story! There were two lanes open to go thru customs. Each vehicle waits until the one in front has cleared then proceeds to speak to an official. Lots of questions asked about weapons and booze and ownership of the truck and trailer. Guess we passed muster, they let us in.
Nice roads, well divided but now the speed limit is in KPH and miles are kilometers. Since I was driving, Jon reset the Garmin to read in KPH, it's easier to see than the speedometer. The limit was 110 which translates to roughly 65 MPH. The day was sunny and warm with hardly any clouds. Good day to travel. Destination was Bridgeview RV park in Lethbridge.
After we got set up, we set out to do some sightseeing. This was a Railroad trestle bridge,
couldn't get it all in one pic it was so long.
It goes over the wetlands area and Ft Whoop Up Historical site. There are also walking trails, picnic grounds and biking trails along Oldman River.
Saw some ducks and geese in the pond, but by the time I zoomed in on them they were gone so I settled for just the pond. Then I saw these turtles sunning on a log. Missed getting a photo of a Red Winged Blackbird too, he was just too fast for me!
Ft Whoop Up, named because Indians traded furs for liquor. This one is a replica of the original. Inside was a room devoted to weapons, Jon toured the room, said there were just a lot of old guns, I took his word for it.
Saw this group of White Pelicans resting on a sand bar in Oldman River.
Here's our site at Bridgeview RV Park. Nice place, we are on the side for small rigs, the other side of the ditch, beyond the truck, is for the BIG rigs.
Today we headed West toward Calgary with a stop at Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, an historic site. Good roads, nice easy driving.
Along the way Jon and I went thru Ft Macleod where we saw this wonderful old building.
We met up with our friends at Buffalo Jump. This was a site where native people hunted Buffalo by driving them over the cliff. This is looking East from the interpretive center out over the valley.
And this is the cliff, it has eroded since the time it was used. See that white line on the cliff? That was the furthest end, and now there is a path below the cliff. Archeologists have been studying the site for some time, they have found several thousand skulls. It is estimated that this area was used about 6000 years ago.
Inside the building are several exhibits describing how the hunt was accomplished.
This is Dennis and Carol, our "leaders" and Ed and Sandy. Wonder what they think of living in a Teepee instead of those luxury motor homes they drive.
When we left Buffalo Jump, the others decided to follow Canada Highway 2 North to Calgary. It's much like a freeway, 2 lanes each side with fast speeds, not much to see. Jon and I decided to take the scenic "Cowboy Highway" # 22 thru the Turner Valley, then skirt Calgary on the West side. The road started off with nice asphalt, one lane each way, then became gravel, for the next 20 miles or so until we met up with Highway 3 which was a paved road. After a brief lunch stop, we continued on to Highway 22 and eventually arrived at the campground in Cochrane.
Lots of wind today, Rain after we got in and set up.
Tomorrow we head toward Banff and Lake Louise.
See Ya down the road
Today was a beautiful day in Great Falls! Still on the cool side, but sunny and clear. We started the day by going to breakfast to celebrate a birthday. The guy in the brown jacket, today was his BIG day! These are just a few of the people we are going to Alaska with.
After breakfast, Jon and I went sightseeing. This interpretive center is awesome! It is also not open for the season yet, however, there was a large group of school children there doing some kind of project so we were allowed to go in, and for no charge! The center tells the story of the "Corps of Discovery" from the time they leave St Louis until reaching the pacific ocean and return to St Louis. This is a don't miss!
These statues are metal, they are looking at the Great Falls on the Missouri River. The Corps had to go overland to get beyond the falls.
This is steamboat Island, lots of seagulls roosting there. I even saw an eagle, but it was much too far away to get a photo.
Here's Jon and I at one of the many falls on the river.
This was just downriver from where we were standing, and the next one is upriver.
Snow geese with their babies at one of the many riverside parks, the little ones are so cute!
This was near the rail yards, just couldn't resist the "flower pot" hanging on the wall.
The front of the snow plow is painted to look like a monster gobbling up the snow.
And lastly here is where we are camped. Nice sites.
Later in the afternoon, one of the guys helped Jon figure out why the battery on the trailer wasn't charging while driving, had a blown fuse, now that it is replaced, we are good to dry camp again.
See ya down the road
