so arrived in Gatwick after a good 8 hour flight with films and a warm small box of pasta. Numb bum! All rush to baggage claim to wait and wait and wait and… TWO HOURS 45 Mins later they had clearly all left and gone home or never showed up for work. Our flight bags were not delivered – apparently Gatwick contract baggage control to McKenzies who are quite frankly rubbish. A cheer went up from weary parents with little children, older adults and all in between, but guess what – only half the bags appear. A gang of us finally pin a man down and we follow him rat like to the lost baggage. Oh yay, you need your boarding pass which two of our party left on the plane never thinking we would need them again! Note to fellow travellers – don’t do that. Then a cry goes up ”they are coming” and voila they arrive. Meanwhile the taxi has been waiting for us for the full 3 hours but being a decent kind of guy, he just gets me to pay car park and off we go. Home finally to tinned tuna and rice and Oh Frabjous day – a mini bottle of prosecco. Also in the post I have my Radio 2 Sarah Cox pencil for doing juke box thing, yippee, bed is calling!
tune in again ….
We got up in reasonable time and decided to take a punt on a lake which I saw on a map and thought was pretty. I had been looking at white water rafting and riding and bunjee jumping all of which were expensive and all had the potential to be disappointing so thought we would wing it! Drove 40k to Ghost Lake. Pulled into good big car park right in front of beautiful blue lake. They shot out and scrambled down the steep bank and we decided to swim. Quick change and off we went, I was the first to get my shoulders in and it was pretty icy. Childrens 1+2 got in slowly but then spent about 45 minutes just playing and splashing and throwing sticks which they raced to get. It was bliss. They were so happy and joyful and as I sat on a log in the sunshine watching them one single swift flew overhead, heaven! I got some great photos and videos but sadly none of the chattering teeth and goose bumps which child 3 suffered for ages. We had a left overs picnic of Triscuits {hideously dry shredded wheat small squares which you put stuff on and eat}, very old ham, cheese sticks, sultanas and cape goosberries. Glowing skin and little faces, happy mumma.
Drove to Canmore to find a laundrette as the sock situation would probably have set off the detectors in security in the airport. Extremely hot outside and not much better in so joy evaporated but we then popped into large supermarket to get the last supper. Yummy looking fish keebabs – salmon with chilli and teriyaki.
Back at the ranch and began to pack all the stuff we would not be able to take on the flight but also did not want to leave with Frank. Made an enormous fire and because we had bought one of those disposable barbecues I thought that would be better for the kebabs. The trouble with those things is the heat is never enough so half an hour later we still had sushi so i put it on the fire whereupon the fish stuck to the grill pan and the fire was too big to get the thing off using the teatowel i brought from home. So lettuce it is guys plus a tin of sweetcorn and pringles. The good news was it ws so windy and hot that the washing dried in a minute.
Oh yes another top tip fellow travellers to this beautiful land – they do not sell alcohol in supermarkets. You have to go to the liquor store so when we got back to base I realised I had forgotten to buy any. Tragedy! So I took my money and walked around the campsite until I heard noise. Came round the corner where six adults were sitting round their fire. I’m so sorry but please can i buy a can of beer? Oh where are you from – I’ve been driving all day and I am on holiday with my kids and forgot to buy any – of course no problem here have this (a can of Guiness), I’m sorry but could I just have a light one. Sure where have you been chat chat chat. So I walk back ready to face my evening. Put the beer in the side pocket of the camping chair where it immediately blew over, noooooo, I nearly licked the ground!
Child 1+2 amused themselves by setting fire to pringles, OMG, not only do they burn like hell but liquid comes out of them. Yuk! Note to self – Do not buy. Then in the manner of all small neanderthals everything had to go in the fire. Luckily the ground squirrels run faster. Pack up and clean Frank and lucky me got the bed of hell. I did take a Nytol so only woke twice which is not bad.
Wednesday: Up at 7am and drank a bottle of water, child 3 rolled out of bed and on to bench where it curled up. Child 2 just reminded me not to drive off without unplugging the electric cable at last minute, phew! Filled up with a little bit of gas. They had given it to us with ¼ tank so i was determined to do the same. Found the place fine and retrieved suitcases from their store so finished packing. Cousin two’s daughter came to fetch us which was so kind. I went into battle mode and explained that the black water leaked which he battled back at me by saying it was over full. No verily no, twas not. Told him the bed was so uncomfortable that it should be rented as a two person not a three person. Also split pipe, bent tin opener, broken knife, etc etc. He said well you have not put enough gas in, i said well it was only ¼ full and he said no it was ⅜ – really?….. No discount in fact we had to pay extra as we had gone over the mileage we agreed. Hurrumph. Feel like a strongly worded letter coming on, in fact I nearly said I was a travel writer with a huge insta following – but I didn’t. All in all Frank was home for two weeks during the most amazing experience and the trip of a lifetime so I don’t want to be left with sour taste.
We went to cousin three’s lovely little house again. So good to see her and once again she organised a pretty picnic in the beautiful garden. We chatted and caught up and she even found a photo of all of us the first time I stayed with them there age 16. Lovely hugs goodbye and promises to come stay with us in UK.
Then to cousin two’s house which is also lovely and nostalgic to see pictures on the walls, a beautiful garden with blue delphiniums like my grandfather grew. We got going quite soon to the airport which she kindly drove us to – goodbyes and thanks and promises to come and stay with us. Oh yes and a fascinating album of photos from her mum’s party she threw in London many years ago when we were coming of age! Beautiful happy ones of mum and Rob, Cousin Susan was indeed most generous. It is a wonderful thing to have a big family especially one where everyone keeps in touch, where cousins from all over the world know each other and visit and stay in touch. Cousin Susan had great granny’s wonderful generosity of spirit, everyone is always welcome and you put yourself out to care for them. Gladys and Ethel and the other Kingsfords really have left a wonderful legacy and one that I am determined to continue and become better at. So watch this space….
As we sit in the airport lounge recovering from Child 2 being put through security three times and almost probed, myself once and three of our six bags being searched thoroughly – I draw to the end of this chapter.
Acknowledgements:
Firstly to all three cousins and plus cousins who helped drive us, feed us, put us up and give us the experiences of a lifetime like quad biking, seeing moose, being warm and wonderful; use their own credit card, nurse my fevered brow when suitcase exploded; provide us with food, drink and handy items for the journey; get us into a bar even though we were under age, sights and experiences.
Secondly to Child one for being on the end of the phone constantly and sharing the journey with us even though her family could not be with us – and for being wonderful.
To Child two for being a constant G Naius and being cheerful inspite of gigantic work pressure.
To Child three for being navigator, heroically looking after Frank’s needs, pacifiying the mumzilla and being funny.
To all those who commented on my blog, it was lovely to see people actually reading my blurb and lovely to get feedback.
To Lou for having the dog all this time, Jane for having the cats all the time and managing the alarm
Uncle John for dealing with the Peruvians who have moved into the house and garden and keeping me updated on their progress.
My darling mum and fairy godmother who made this trip at all possible in the first place.
To the amazing Annalisa at www.theworld.notjusttravel.com for helping me two years ago when we first thought about this and helping me so much to organise this whole trip. The joy of having someone else who understands travel and the needs of a family, gives helpful advice, makes all the phone calls and donkey work, organises the whole thing in a gorgeous easy to understand folder – invaluable. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
Pilots and taxi drivers for doing their job. Modern technology because it really is very useful.
Lastly to our guardian angels who kept us all safe.
photos….
Poor Margaret just as I was about to get into my downy when I suddenly remembered we had left all our new acquistions in her car so I had to go and wake her. Bless her she was so nice about it, said goodbye finally.
Next day I had to get them up early which is always a mission. Eventually got on the road with no showers or breakfast. Showers! Well now some campsites vary in cleanliness, one even made you put in a loonie {one dollar coin with a loon on it!} – I needed three to wash my hair. The small wise and by now smelly one went off armed that day – and that day only with the shampoo and soap. I only gave him one loonie for his very short hair but he must have been day dreaming as came back with half the shampoo in it still and has utterly refused ever since to have a shower at all! The hot springs didn’t count.
Anyway we got to our destination which was the sky train at Whistler mountain. None of us quite knew what to expect but it was ace.We had a timed slot and only just made it because unbelievably on the way up the mountain a little bear cub crossed the road in front of us and then came right beside us. Child 3 took an excellent video which I can’t show, just as well as you can hear me screaming hysterically that I can’t take a photo. Oh dear, tourists yuk! So, got into the gondola and went up being talked to by a long haired bucket hat with a bored voice. The views were utterly amazing and I even managed to walk almost to the top. The altitude was very challenging – that and the fact I have done absolutely no exercise for three weeks other than driving. We saw a gorgeous marmot and a pretty squirrel chipmunk chap. The young and fitter ones went up the top and cavorted in the snow. I totally recommend it for the views alone 360 views all around and the cream coloured athabasca river beside three turquoise lakes. Lots of other people but it was fine and a good excuse to stop and chat. If you have knees coming down could be a problem so bring a small donkey with you.
After that we wanted to go to Pyramid lake where you can hire small boats or go on a 3 hour white water rafting experience (the 2 hour is not worth it apparently). Also fellow travellers, do not pay extortionate amount to be boated around the Spirit Island, also not worth it apparently. There are so many tourists that many of the attractions and accommodation has become extremely expensive- also due to our old friend Covid. We were a bit hangry so went into Jasper again and got something to eat and a quick mooch. Warning – all parking requires an app on your phone like in UK but if you don’t have data it won’t download so beware.
Time was not on our side, I find that trying to do three things in one day and travel is too much. So reluctantly we forgo the lake.
Off we then set to drive toward Lake Louise. We did not have a campsite booked so bravely were winging it again. The drive is so beautiful with wall to wall mountains and fir trees all the way, once you get onto the Icefield Parkway route you just see snow capped mountains all the way. In fact for four days that’s all we saw but I ain’t complaining. Child 2+3 were glued to laptops either working or playing games slightly disappointingly but you can’t enforce enthusiasm. We pulled in several times to pull ins to let traffic go past. They have a madenning habit of giving you a sign one metre before the actual turning and trying to weild the beast that is Frank is impossible in anything other than a runway. No Frank is not a beast he is a wuss! The mearest breeze makes him wobble and if a really big truck overtakes he makes a noise like a big girl and goes all unnecessary and sways and swoons.
We did pull in to one of those where there was a spectacular view and a public wooden shed with toilets OMG – quelle horror! A huge long pit over which you crouch and seemingly most of the public do not have directional aim. Needless a certain person had to go and have a look. Retch! The next time we pulled in we were beside the beautiful athabasca river – well a river anyway because I think that one goes in the opposite direction. Anyway we went for a little meander beside it and the foolish child put his favourite figurine (toy) in the water to see what would happen. I was requested to stick my very long arm into ice water and feel around for the bottom until I pointed out that using a long branch to see how deep it was would be best. It was deep so off we went leaving a member of the family behind. Just beyond we saw a sign saying camping with the name Rampant Creek. Well I mean! We had to try it. Marvellous place, you found a little unmanned shedlet where you filled in your details on a piece of paper, stuck the money in an envelope $18.75 for one night! Then posted it and chose your site. There were of course no facilities but there was a picnic table and the obligatory fire pit/barbecue and a post with a bulldog clip where you put your bit of paper to stake your claim. I loved it, surrounded by trees and underground spagnam moss which is a true delight to walk on. Unfortunately the mosquitoes were terrible so we ended up sitting inside eating yet more pasta n sauce but with asparagus. Yum. R very tired as has done so much work but still so much more to do. I don’t think any of us have slept well the entire trip to be honest and we don’t have time for a nap but it’s fine. As we have no water hook up I only allow them to wee if its absolutely necessary and on no account to do a number 2! Guess what there is a little brown shed with a massive drop loo hole again. It did occur to me that something living in it might crawl up at me! I went for a wander on myown but got a bit scared of bears and turned around but couldnt see the RV, so easy to become disoriented anyway I survived. Bed and lots of reading, none of us could sleep.
Monday: we all had a lie in which was a luxury we have not allowed ourselves much before, it was a much colder night but we were right in the mountains, the heater even kicked in. Homemade pancakes and maple syrup and off we set again. R still has Ed and Monty the two sunflowers we picked up in Edmonton which are now bedded in moss. Off to Lake Louise which I have been told is so beautiful and you can walk around it or go boating. Well forget it unless you get there by 9am! The queues for the car park take you up the 4k hill where you are told all car parks are full and you have to turn right around.
Poor Margaret just as I was about to get into my downy when I suddenly remembered we had left all our new acquistions in her car so I had to go and wake her. Bless her she was so nice about it, said goodbye finally.
Next day I had to get them up early which is always a mission. Eventually got on the road with no showers or breakfast. Showers! Well now some campsites vary in cleanliness, one even made you put in a loonie {one dollar coin with a loon on it!} – I needed three to wash my hair. The small wise and by now smelly one went off armed that day – and that day only with the shampoo and soap. I only gave him one loonie for his very short hair but he must have been day dreaming as came back with half the shampoo in it still and has utterly refused ever since to have a shower at all! The hot springs didn’t count.
Anyway we got to our destination which was the sky train at Whistler mountain. None of us quite knew what to expect but it was ace.We had a timed slot and only just made it because unbelievably on the way up the mountain a little bear cub crossed the road in front of us and then came right beside us. Child 3 took an excellent video which I can’t show, just as well as you can hear me screaming hysterically that I can’t take a photo. Oh dear, tourists yuk! So, got into the gondola and went up being talked to by a long haired bucket hat with a bored voice. The views were utterly amazing and I even managed to walk almost to the top. The altitude was very challenging – that and the fact I have done absolutely no exercise for three weeks other than driving. We saw a gorgeous marmot and a pretty squirrel chipmunk chap. The young and fitter ones went up the top and cavorted in the snow. I totally recommend it for the views alone 360 views all around and the cream coloured athabasca river beside three turquoise lakes. Lots of other people but it was fine and a good excuse to stop and chat. If you have knees coming down could be a problem so bring a small donkey with you.
After that we wanted to go to Pyramid lake where you can hire small boats or go on a 3 hour white water rafting experience (the 2 hour is not worth it apparently). Also fellow travellers, do not pay extortionate amount to be boated around the Spirit Island, also not worth it apparently. There are so many tourists that many of the attractions and accommodation has become extremely expensive- also due to our old friend Covid. We were a bit hangry so went into Jasper again and got something to eat and a quick mooch. Warning – all parking requires an app on your phone like in UK but if you don’t have data it won’t download so beware.
Time was not on our side, I find that trying to do three things in one day and travel is too much. So reluctantly we forgo the lake.
Off we then set to drive toward Lake Louise. We did not have a campsite booked so bravely were winging it again. The drive is so beautiful with wall to wall mountains and fir trees all the way, once you get onto the Icefield Parkway route you just see snow capped mountains all the way. In fact for four days that’s all we saw but I ain’t complaining. Child 2+3 were glued to laptops either working or playing games slightly disappointingly but you can’t enforce enthusiasm. We pulled in several times to pull ins to let traffic go past. They have a madenning habit of giving you a sign one metre before the actual turning and trying to weild the beast that is Frank is impossible in anything other than a runway. No Frank is not a beast he is a wuss! The mearest breeze makes him wobble and if a really big truck overtakes he makes a noise like a big girl and goes all unnecessary and sways and swoons.
We did pull in to one of those where there was a spectacular view and a public wooden shed with toilets OMG – quelle horror! A huge long pit over which you crouch and seemingly most of the public do not have directional aim. Needless a certain person had to go and have a look. Retch! The next time we pulled in we were beside the beautiful athabasca river – well a river anyway because I think that one goes in the opposite direction. Anyway we went for a little meander beside it and the foolish child put his favourite figurine (toy) in the water to see what would happen. I was requested to stick my very long arm into ice water and feel around for the bottom until I pointed out that using a long branch to see how deep it was would be best. It was deep so off we went leaving a member of the family behind. Just beyond we saw a sign saying camping with the name Rampant Creek. Well I mean! We had to try it. Marvellous place, you found a little unmanned shedlet where you filled in your details on a piece of paper, stuck the money in an envelope $18.75 for one night! Then posted it and chose your site. There were of course no facilities but there was a picnic table and the obligatory fire pit/barbecue and a post with a bulldog clip where you put your bit of paper to stake your claim. I loved it, surrounded by trees and underground spagnam moss which is a true delight to walk on. Unfortunately the mosquitoes were terrible so we ended up sitting inside eating yet more pasta n sauce but with asparagus. Yum. R very tired as has done so much work but still so much more to do. I don’t think any of us have slept well the entire trip to be honest and we don’t have time for a nap but it’s fine. As we have no water hook up I only allow them to wee if its absolutely necessary and on no account to do a number 2! Guess what there is a little brown shed with a massive drop loo hole again. It did occur to me that something living in it might crawl up at me! I went for a wander on myown but got a bit scared of bears and turned around but couldnt see the RV, so easy to become disoriented anyway I survived. Bed and lots of reading, none of us could sleep.
Monday: we all had a lie in which was a luxury we have not allowed ourselves much before, it was a much colder night but we were right in the mountains, the heater even kicked in. Homemade pancakes and maple syrup and off we set again. R still has Ed and Monty the two sunflowers we picked up in Edmonton which are now bedded in moss. Off to Lake Louise which I have been told is so beautiful and you can walk around it or go boating. Well forget it unless you get there by 9am! The queues for the car park take you up the 4k hill where you are told all car parks are full and you have to turn right around. So we didn’t get to see it at all. you can do park n ride but we pushed on through to Banff.
Arrived in Banff and found our very smart and very large camp site, which however does not have water hook up but does have electric and free wood from a large pile. When we first got there we went into Banff to get wifi from good old MacD – surely no other reason to go in. it started to rain in earnest so we were grateful to be inside, after that we had a mooch. Child 2 is very into crystals and stones and there are endless shops selling a vast array of semi precious stones – she was picked up and complimented for the 5th time this holiday! what can I say – she is very beautiful and wears it very lightly. Also slightly edgy.
Back in the campsite we all went for a walk but had to turn back due to pesky mosquitoes which were something else after all that rain. Then I fetched wood but more rain meant we stayed inside again. We did all manage to persuade each other to have a shower which was marvellous news. We have become nose blind to a certain extent but the feet are just something else. Also no laundry services, hey ho, that’s camping! R and I watched a series she had downloaded all snuggled up on the bed with yummy cookies, H did H. Just finished episode two and she hadn’t downloaded any more – tragic. Weird robot thing but quite thrilling. Bedtime and I got the good bed – hurrah! Plans for tomorrow none yet, too tired.
Last Day……
Photos….
And so to Jasper, we set off in high spirits and managed to negotiate Edmonton city streets. Got on the highway and with a slightly daunting 350 k in front of us we were nonetheless cheerful. In a camper or RV it takes longer but the thrilling thing was I discovered cruise control so I got up to 110, put it on a did a happy tap dance. The other thrilling thing for me was that the small and wise one showed me how to flick a lever on the gas pump while filling so my hand was not cramped when 3 hours later it finished filling! Little wins, we love those little wins.
In great expectation of being able to show the mountains to the happy campers who were sitting at the table looking at screens, I looked everywhere but no mountains. Then suddenly the mountains loomed larger and there they were, running from left to right like a tsunami in front of us. As we got nearer the thrilling sight got into all of us and they looked huge. We turned into a sharp left turn off the highway into Jasper Gates camp site. I cannot recommend it highly enough, of all the camp sites we have been to this is my favourite, so helpful and charming. Extremely well set up with not only electric, and water hook up but also sewage right beside you which sounds horrid but is extremely useful. Little touches of orange everywhere which is my happy colour so a good sign. Small shop sells most things like food and wood but not alcohol. Charming young man helped me to level out by putting four planks underneath the wheels and guiding me forward, also explained how to hook up water and even helped with the black water. There are clean and spacious showers and loos, little water streams with pretty landscaping. Lots of swings and things for young ones.
The second thing I did after all that, was go and make the acquaintance of Margaret, the mother of Jana (whippet lady). She has the most darling tear drop caravan called Bumblebee and could not have been more welcoming. Before we knew it, we were invited to supper where she cooked up home made burgers and had a box of smores for the open fire. We had a lovely evening and she and I chatted away like old buddies. The only place to get wifi is in the main office so child two decided to go down later and hang about getting a signal. We went to bed and I must confess to being concerned that a hairy bear may have carried her off. You need bear spray and bear bells to frighten them if you go walking. Jasper is rich in bears, elk, mountain sheep, goats and lots of others. Margaret told us such a funny story about a friend of hers who bought a new leather coat and went walking in elk mating season when he was set upon by a male elk humping the jacket!
Saturday morning we got up early so as to cook pancakes for Margaret before she drove us up the mountains to Athabasca falls. This is the correct Athabasca, not the one I had mistakenly booked us into. Goodness me how spectacular they are, small but mighty. Photos do not do justice to it but the noise and sheer power are amazing. Apparently this year due to heavier snow fall there is more melt everywhere so it was a torrent. Child 3 lost no time in standing right in the front of the spray and getting happily wet. They both loved it and went down to the shore line to drink with me. Margaret suffers with heart problems so did not come all the way besides she had seen it many times. She was saying how much erosion there has been over the years. After this we went to a shop she knows run by genuine first people and selling authentic items – good for presents!
After this we drove to Miete hot springs, where the water comes straight out of the mountain hot but does not smell of sulphur. It is very good for your skin and any aches and pains, however when I stood up I felt a bit strange and remembered that if you have low blood pressure it can lower it further. A relief to my offspring! We sat about in it and other people’s dead skin cells for about 45 mins then changed and down to a blissful ice cream shop. Unbelievably on the way we saw many cars stopped so we did too and there were two little bear cubs in the trees, no sight of mumma bear sadly but maybe luckily but so amazing to actually see them. Then there were mountain goats and some deer scattered among the brush. Just lovely! There is something about being beside nature – mountains, waterfalls, seas, or wild animals that is humbling and inspiring. I have been feeling quite spiritual this whole trip and feel my ancestors – those pioneering Kingsfords and others and all those in the stars looking down.
Back at the ranch and we had a bit of downtime while Margaret wrapped up her van as she is off tomorrow and I came down to sit outside the office to write this with wifi. Feeling lucky and peaceful and looking forward to supper now.
photos …
a video of Phillipe too if it works…
Did not enjoy the night and walked like an ancient cowboy this morning, others slept well as it was much cooler. By the way – Photos are always a day behind as they take a while to load and I promised not to show faces in mum’s blog.
We got a taxi into town centre so I dint have to drive which was great. Taxi not expensive and a genuine yellow cab. We went into Churchill Square where there were street performers performin all day, in fact all week. We grabbed a bag of hot cinnamon sugar mini doughnuts which were, I kid you not, the most delicious things in the world. Then we watched a 5 foot nothing (her words) girl performing magic and sleight of hand. She was so good and even very close up you couldn’t see how she did it. We all loved her. Then wandered off into square where it was boiling hot, to watch various artistes. Had to go and have a cooling smoothie after a while and coffee for me. I made the mistake of buying pods thinking they were for mugs. No stilt walkers but two beautiful girls doing aerial things on a swing with strength and agility. So clever. R found a small sunflower plant someone had dropped and it was more than her life worth to leave it behind so it has made it back with her to be nurtured, we nearly had a limping pigeon too! Next some rather aimless wandering about until H spotted a Mall. I am ashamed to say child 3 is a consumer, there was a positive spring in step walking around in search of things to spend money upon I must confess to having a little spend myself in a Tk Max equivalent.
Oh my goodness I woke up last night realising I had forgotten to tell you that Cannabis is legal here! There are shops on the street with a green leaf boldly displaying the name Cannabis or similar, admittedly the windows are barred but apparently it has helped with the drugs problems. Come on UK.
Forgive me if I turn nanny but there are one or two things I want to say if you are thinking of travelling. When you get cash out put some of it in at least two separate placed that way if one wallet gets lost you have back up and also when you come across it you have a happy moment and do a happy dance in your head. Now that Covid is manageable cash talks and it’s really useful to have loads, particularly when your damn credit card doesn’t work.
list of things to bring with you camping: washing line and leaf soap (takes up less room), rubber gloves – you never know plus they are so good for turning stiff tops and lids – steady! Plastic bags all sizes – you may spill your coffee in the taxi on the way, child 3 might want to go swimming; child 7 might puke all over itself; your expensive cream might spring a leak; you might not be able to finish delicious snack; larger packaging might not fit, the list is endless. Take earphones to drown out child pleas or over familiar fellow traveller. Medicines: bug off, bug after, paracetomol, sun cream – buz lehrman style- water and duck tape cos who can live without duck tape? Also sharp knife or scissors smuggled in. When things get too much the duck tape ove the mouth and the sharp object to threaten. Soon as you can, buy Vodka, its medicinal.
I am just sitting at my nice picnic table listening to happy campers and eating crisps with my small drink when Phillipe comes down the tree and scolds me so I throw him a crisp so he pauses then comes up near, takes the crisp and turns his back on me – hmph. Child 2 is sitting beside me working bless her, ridiculous! I need to make supper – random photos to follow. Yay my turn on the good bed.
Day 487:
Well Drumheller is famous for its dinosaurs – every small boy’s dream. (one day my Spud!). I think there was a lot of water, catastrophic flooding which drowned all the poor slow moving non aquatic beasts. Anyway they made lots of amazing skeletons and fossils. The exhibits are beautifully done and really interesting. The galleries carry you along through the ages and honestly, there is something for everyone. Some of the specimens are almost complete and you can just imagine the excitement of the geologist. I spoke to a gentle chap who was busy excavating in front of us and he was so informative, showing us where the mud was as opposed to the bone. He then showed the diagram of exactly where that bone was in the particular dinosaur. Mind Blowing when you read and re-read and take in the ages of some of them. Extraordinary. Depressingly there was a graph at the end showing how the known earth has heated and cooled over time and how much it has changed over the last HUNDRED years! Shop and cafe where Child number two got chatted up by someone over a crystal! The landscape around Drumheller is truly nothing like anything we have ever seen before. Hard to describe with soft Telly Tubby humps of green leading into small pyramids of stone and rock in formations like nowhere else. Also, due to erosion, mushroom shaped rocks on top of each other.
Small and wise one told me ”petrol we should get while we can” but I knew better. The map shows long straight lines of road but there will be towns in between I said. Wrong! Someone got a massive ruler and drew straight lines in a grid shape across Alberta. You cannot really believe as you crest the brow of a hill that there is nothing but straight road in front of you. I mean straight and if you do have to turn off you do it at a right angle. Not easy in a van or truck. Also quite mesmerising so I take my hat off to those truckers who do it all the time and stay alert. More Canadian rules – do not overtake a school bus; if you see any emergency services at the side of the road slow down to 60 (from 110), you drive over open railway tracks quite often and I just hope there is some warning if a train is actually coming. ”Sharp shoulder” on a sign means the hard shoulder narrows, obvious but nice. Finally we found a town and with the guage on nigh empty, turned in and filled up – another $200! Unleaded is about 187-195 and diesel seems less available. Frank is automatic and I think most vehicles are. There are almost no passenger trains on the west of Canada and what there are are expensive. Hence everyone drives, and they drive mahussive vehicles – jeeps, trucks, utilities, chevvies, all kinds but nothing small. I spotted one Fiat 500, no smart car types or minis. Of course they have tough winters to get through but they are noticeably big, huge!
The good thing about Frank is that he fits in anormal car parking space, with a bit of clever parking, he doesn’t stick out. However the fridge is not working and as my friend Jana said, he really is a Lemon! Warm wine when you have driven five hours is not a reward I look forward to!
Having driven to Edmonton we had to negotiate a very busy town with lots of cars doing scary things and roads leading in all directions. Not much fun but the trusty sat nav and the wise one got us through. Arrived in our new campsite to find no water connection. As the internal water tank leaks we had not filled it up, you can bypass it by connecting to mains water good for washing up, cleaning teeth and using the heads. Now forbidden! The walk of shame in pj’s will have to be made even in the dead of night. Having a bladder of a certain age, I cannot last the night so rather hysterically last night had to clamber – with no head room- over the prostrate body of another, nearly squashing it into a human outline. At least tonight as it is my turn to have the bed of nails, I can escape. Much warm wine needed. The child two, bright spark that it is, observed just now that the insect repellent we have all been spraying liberally is in fact Jungle Formula bit relief spray! Oops. By the way I can’t remember if I said yesterday that I was asked in the chemist if I was over 55. As I never admit to being more than 55, I hesitantly agreed and she promptly gave me discount. Woo hoo! Life in the old dog yet!
Anyway the young scampered off to explore and came back with much excitement as this place has lots to offer them tomorrow. There is even a cafe selling ice cream so no doubt we will visit. Squirrel Nutkin came down a near tree and shouted very crossly at me – I think he must be French because he definitely doesn’t like me and I can’t understand why. Tomorrow we are supposed to go and see some street performers in the town so we shall see what happens.
random photos to follow
Might as well keep going while we have wifi as it is not guaranteed. The third ’bed’ is not conducive to a good nights sleep unless you have no spine. Child 2 passed blissful night on separate bed, upstairs was hot and not comfy. So plan to go shopping for mattress protector. Up with no rush and lovely croissants with marmalade and butter outside. We decided to drive to Lethbridge in hopes of a few necessaries. Found an excellent Mall with essentially a large car park for the beast which is called Frank! Mattress toppers v expensive, purchased v cheap duvet to do same. Excellent ice cream and a shop which swallowed child 2 for about an hour! Great shop called Dolorama {Pound land} where we bought decorations for Frank amongst other rubbish. I was channelling my inner friend Vicky who finds fun in everything. Child 3 bought polystyrene airplane which later decorated – more later. Delightful nerdy guy in Nerd Shop who wa intrigued by challenge of credit card not working, no data and Canadian sim card which does not make nternational calls. After half an hour of very important scratching of heads he uploaded additional money on same Sim to be able to call. yay. Starbucks which also sells books had wifi so managed to call and speak to Child one. Glorious. Had a moment the night before by the fire of missing Child one intensely (little weep number two). Child two has been keeping me abreast of the truly astonishing happenings around the world in the short time we have been away – uprisings, mutinies and shootings of leaders, Elon being musky, great final at Wimbledon, Cat taking over Downing Street and pictures from space to name a few. Eventually got ’home’ to River’s Edge and had a down time. H had fab time with plane until showing off, it stuck in tree, never to return to earth. R working, me chatting. Child 2 cooked supper, child 3 becoming more and more cheesed off by mosquito bites. poor thing is most popular. Robyn drove by for a chat and neighbour from Tennessee all very friendly and nice. Bed rotation tonight so should be better for all, except for the heat which is hot even at night.
Next Day: Got up in good time and drove to ’Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump” – I mean! You have to! Amazing true story apparently of when the native Canadian Indians lived there and relied solely for meat, warmth etc on the Bison which were plentiful. They invented a clever way of chasing them over a cliff like lemmings. One time one of the young lads – who used to dress up in wolf skin so the Buffalo could not smell them and then lead them to the edge – he crouched down below the cliff and watched them fall over like a waterfall. But there were so many bison on top of each other that he was crushed and when they found him he had his head smashed in! Noice! The site is interesting and the land stretches for miles.
back in the van and head navigator studied the map and guided us so well all the way to Drumheller. I have to tell you that the roads are very straight and verry long so after a while your eyes start to cross. When you have 14 wheel trucks coming at you that’s not great. There are quirks of Canadian driving which you need to know eg. you can turn right on a red light, there are very few roundabouts so when you come to a four way cross whoever gets there first has right of way but they always say ”after you”! So polite. There are no front bumper registration plates on vehicles. Speed limits are strict especially around a school or playground site where you have to drive at 30 even if there are no kids. Signage is limited but helpful except for the rather sudden merge of your right slow lane into the middle one. Alberta is famous for its rich soil, mile after mile of crops with not a hedge in between and barely any trees. They grow canola {like rape} so yellow and green everywhere. Very few homesteads on the side of the road and it must be quite lonely.
We drove into the first camp site we found as we had not booked ahead. Luckily they had room in a nice shady spot. Oops the mosquitoes were a nightmare, I later learnt that the scientists who measure them say there have been more mosquitoes here in the last week than in the previous 2 years together due to very wet June. Sitting outside eating we noticed two whippets so of course got chatting. OMG talk about serendipity – the most delightful couple. He came over with his tool box to have a look at our leak inside and got on his knees to look at the leak outside. She was so friendly and told us she used to be a stilt walker – not someone you meet every day. He works on oil rigs and before we know it we are in the back of their pick up truck going to see a genuine oil rig. So interesting and not something I ever thought we would see. Later she came over and arranged with her mum for us to stay the night in the same campsite where I wanted to go. Amazing! Chance or Fate! or whippets! No more now….
