Recorded May 30th 2009
Onto Banff National Park on Thursday May 28, 2009. This was probably the most exciting day of our trip so far. As we leave the flat land and enter the forest, it all starts to come back to me. You know when you have memories that you did not know you remembered. As I am gazing up at the Canadian Rocky Mountains with all of their immense beauty, it was as if Mother Nature took this huge 250 mile long range and carved a big old trench right down the center just for the Trans-Canada Highway.
I begin to pick up bits and pieces of memories of that first camping experience in the summer of 1990. Brad was barely 13 years old and we flew to Calgary, rented a class ‘C’ motorhome. We spent about 2 weeks in this area we are about to pass through. I guess we must have liked the experience because twenty years and 3 RV’s later and here we are again.
We choose a National Park Campground in Lake Louise this time for no particular reason. But we decided to stay two nights to see as much as possible. Immediately upon setting up our home base, we backtracked about 30+ miles to Banff to have lunch see the resort town and visit the nearly 100 year old Banff Springs Hotel now owned by Fairmont. The original, built in 1886 burnt down in 1924. The story of how the hotels of that time were built along the railroad line to attract the wealthy easterners to summer in the wilderness and enjoy the beauty of this place has to be true when you see the magnificence of this and the others like the Chateau Lake Louise that are scattered along the rail lines. To walk through them is to loose yourself inside a great novel of the period.
Upon returning to our camp we notice that the campground, that was completely empty when we arrived, was nearly full. This was a shock. Then I began to notice what became so very apparent to Bill & I on that first adventure so many years before. Our campground was about 80% full of those class ‘C’ rental RV’s. There was El Monte RV, Cruise America, Canadream and others. Wow we felt like we started a trend! So…. the reason the park was empty in the morning was, just as we had learned, if you don’t have a tow vehicle, you have to break camp every morning to do anything at all. We met several of these folks and found that they were from Europe, Australia, and the US. Quit an interesting bunch.
On Friday we continued our hotel exploration in Lake Louise at The Chateau Lake Louise. Set right on the lake the view from the hotel is truly breathtaking.
This is postcard stuff! The architecture is magnificent and has been remodeled & updated since our visit nearly 20 years ago.
No time to waste we are off to our next adventure. The gondolas on the ski slopes are open in the summer in Lake Louise. It leaves from the Ten Peak Lodge and tops out near the interpretative center. We got some great pictures all the way up and plus we saw two grizzly bears on the way down.
I sit in our camp at night and listen to a train pass. I try to imagine what life was like for the turn of the century elite or the movers & shakers of the roaring twenties as they boarded the train to head west to vacation in the Rickie Mountains in 1900 or 1920. It makes me wish I were a writer imagining the changes these wonderful old buildings have been through.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Keep on Truckin!
Recorded May 28th
We pushed through Montana over 370 miles on Memorial Day May 25th. And ended up just short of USA- Canadian boarder in a quiet town called Sunburst. The tiny Lewis & Clark RV park was run by a couple from Louisiana and it seemed most of the folks in the park were from Louisiana because ever one we spoke to had the same southern down home accent. On the morning of the 26th, Billy’s Birthday, we left Montana for what we thought would be a quick 90 miles to Lightbridge, Alberta plus a side trip then on to Calgary for the night. Boy was we wrong!
Our boarder crossing at Coutts was rather uneventful, thank goodness and we were in Alberta by 11:00 AM. Our side trip to the Fort & Museum of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police turned into a royal fiasco. As we browsed around we were told by a pert older woman that at 2:00 PM they would begin a short movie on the history and accomplishments of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police followed by a play. “A play?” We thought as we were the only people in the place, what ever. Well the movie was an average documentary that went on for 30 minutes. Bill slept through half of it. We would have made an escape but the pert older woman accosted us with pleasantries and announced that the play was starting! It was sadly awful! It just went on and on with the sorriest bunch of players you will ever see. By the time we left we were in the middle of rush hour traffic & we did not get to our campground destination until after 5:00 PM. It was Bills Birthday and I put together the chili dinner I had planned for the 4 of us by about 7:00 PM. Linda was so sweet that she made him cupcakes. All the kids called to wish him happy birthday so the day was saved!
On the 27th of May we all did some sight seeing around Calgary. We started out at the Calgary Tower where we were able to get some terrific pictures of the city. It stands as tall as all the other down town high-rises. We could see the Rocky’ Mountain Range in the distance where we would be headed the next day. It has a glass bottom area which was a bit weird walking out onto.
Our next stop was Heritage Park which has grown exponentially since Bill & I were there in the early 90”s with Brad. There are at least twice as many restored buildings & they have added a Fun Zone. But the best addition is the newly opened Gasoline Ally. Just open one month it houses dozens of restored cars, trucks, fire engines, filling station & drive-in movie memorabilia plus gobs more…even a 1959 travel trailer! You could spend a whole day there!
From Heritage Park we went looking for pizza with no luck. Bill & Linda M. continued on to the Olympic Park, home to the 1988 Olympic Games. The Canadian Olympic team is in training there now. Bill was disappointed not to be able to ride the Luge. Billy & I returned home to tend to our lonely little Lindsey who by the way is having a great trip and become quite accustomed of the nearly daily driving by curling up on my lap for most of the trip. No more carsick doggie!
We pushed through Montana over 370 miles on Memorial Day May 25th. And ended up just short of USA- Canadian boarder in a quiet town called Sunburst. The tiny Lewis & Clark RV park was run by a couple from Louisiana and it seemed most of the folks in the park were from Louisiana because ever one we spoke to had the same southern down home accent. On the morning of the 26th, Billy’s Birthday, we left Montana for what we thought would be a quick 90 miles to Lightbridge, Alberta plus a side trip then on to Calgary for the night. Boy was we wrong!
Our boarder crossing at Coutts was rather uneventful, thank goodness and we were in Alberta by 11:00 AM. Our side trip to the Fort & Museum of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police turned into a royal fiasco. As we browsed around we were told by a pert older woman that at 2:00 PM they would begin a short movie on the history and accomplishments of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police followed by a play. “A play?” We thought as we were the only people in the place, what ever. Well the movie was an average documentary that went on for 30 minutes. Bill slept through half of it. We would have made an escape but the pert older woman accosted us with pleasantries and announced that the play was starting! It was sadly awful! It just went on and on with the sorriest bunch of players you will ever see. By the time we left we were in the middle of rush hour traffic & we did not get to our campground destination until after 5:00 PM. It was Bills Birthday and I put together the chili dinner I had planned for the 4 of us by about 7:00 PM. Linda was so sweet that she made him cupcakes. All the kids called to wish him happy birthday so the day was saved!
On the 27th of May we all did some sight seeing around Calgary. We started out at the Calgary Tower where we were able to get some terrific pictures of the city. It stands as tall as all the other down town high-rises. We could see the Rocky’ Mountain Range in the distance where we would be headed the next day. It has a glass bottom area which was a bit weird walking out onto.
Our next stop was Heritage Park which has grown exponentially since Bill & I were there in the early 90”s with Brad. There are at least twice as many restored buildings & they have added a Fun Zone. But the best addition is the newly opened Gasoline Ally. Just open one month it houses dozens of restored cars, trucks, fire engines, filling station & drive-in movie memorabilia plus gobs more…even a 1959 travel trailer! You could spend a whole day there!
From Heritage Park we went looking for pizza with no luck. Bill & Linda M. continued on to the Olympic Park, home to the 1988 Olympic Games. The Canadian Olympic team is in training there now. Bill was disappointed not to be able to ride the Luge. Billy & I returned home to tend to our lonely little Lindsey who by the way is having a great trip and become quite accustomed of the nearly daily driving by curling up on my lap for most of the trip. No more carsick doggie!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Memorial Weekend in Yellowstone National Park
Summer 2009 Post # 2 5-24-09
The Weekend in Yellowstone National Park began at the Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone. A beautiful park in a delightful forested setting at the western entrance. Our drive into the higher elevations was clear and sunny with patchy snow on the ground. We were told that the park had 3 feet of snow on the ground last year at this time.
We did the entire south loop on Saturday and again the Moorhead’s were our tour guides as they have been here 7 times! They made sure we stopped at the BEST sights. We got the best pictures. I have been uploading pictures on Facebook because it’s easy. The traffic was tough because of the Memorial holiday but the animals were worth it. We saw buffalo up close and personal plus elk, deer, eagle but no bear.
On day two things went a little weird. We entered the park intending to north to the Mammoth area but about 20 min. into our drive we hit a road block due to a traffic accident. The traffic was stopped in all 4 directions for over 2 hours while they brought in 2 helicopters (the 1st wasn't just right) to pick up 2 motorcycle riders who collided into the rear of a van. A colossal traffic jam in all direction that really messed up our plans, not to mention the cyclists, so we went back to town and went to the museum and shopped a little. About then it started to rain and it has continued pretty much the rest of the day and night. Bummer!
We are about 380 miles short of the Canadian boarder so we will be one more night in the old USA before leaving for a couple of months.
That’s it for now.
The Weekend in Yellowstone National Park began at the Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone. A beautiful park in a delightful forested setting at the western entrance. Our drive into the higher elevations was clear and sunny with patchy snow on the ground. We were told that the park had 3 feet of snow on the ground last year at this time.
We did the entire south loop on Saturday and again the Moorhead’s were our tour guides as they have been here 7 times! They made sure we stopped at the BEST sights. We got the best pictures. I have been uploading pictures on Facebook because it’s easy. The traffic was tough because of the Memorial holiday but the animals were worth it. We saw buffalo up close and personal plus elk, deer, eagle but no bear.
On day two things went a little weird. We entered the park intending to north to the Mammoth area but about 20 min. into our drive we hit a road block due to a traffic accident. The traffic was stopped in all 4 directions for over 2 hours while they brought in 2 helicopters (the 1st wasn't just right) to pick up 2 motorcycle riders who collided into the rear of a van. A colossal traffic jam in all direction that really messed up our plans, not to mention the cyclists, so we went back to town and went to the museum and shopped a little. About then it started to rain and it has continued pretty much the rest of the day and night. Bummer!
We are about 380 miles short of the Canadian boarder so we will be one more night in the old USA before leaving for a couple of months.
That’s it for now.
NORTH TO ALASKA - Wednesday May 20th 2009
We made it to West Yellowstone in 3 days and are looking forward to Memorial Day Weekend in Yellowstone National Park.
We managed to leave Palm Desert, by 10 AM Wednesday which was not bad as we have never left home for 4 months before. The list of to do’s was endless and all the planning that went into this trip was well also endless. Ever since we were invited to accompany our friends Bill & Linda Moorhead on their Alaskan adventure we have been a bit preoccupied. It was pretty much split down the middle, those who said we were crazy & those who said they were jealous.
The Moorhead’s had several false starts, leaving Murrieta, but surprisingly they pulled into the Oasis RV Resort in Las Vegas right behind us around 3:30 pm. It was hot but not as hot as at home! We cruised the strip to see what had changed in the 10 plus years since we had been there. It would seam that we officially live under some rock if LV is how the rest of you vacation! Wow! So since we are such big gamblers & partiers we ate a tiny bit of a giant buffet and went home to our puppy to watch the finals of American Idol. How boring are we?
By Cedar City, Utah, Thursday it was about 80 degrees! Finally cooler weather.
We made Provo area for night #2!
Now after 350 miles today we are done driving for the holiday weekend at about 1,100 miles total. I think Lindsey has had it too. She has not eaten since yesterday afternoon & has refused ice cream & steak.
The Moorheads are the best traveling companions. Linda is a retired elementary principal and is like having a researcher, planner, navigator, tour guide & concierge all in one. And she does it effortlessly! Her husband Bill is a retired LA Fire Captain & paramedic. He is also a big jokester, always fooling around, he & Bill get on famously constantly trading stories.
Hope you have a Happy Holiday weekend!
Catch you in a few!
We managed to leave Palm Desert, by 10 AM Wednesday which was not bad as we have never left home for 4 months before. The list of to do’s was endless and all the planning that went into this trip was well also endless. Ever since we were invited to accompany our friends Bill & Linda Moorhead on their Alaskan adventure we have been a bit preoccupied. It was pretty much split down the middle, those who said we were crazy & those who said they were jealous.
The Moorhead’s had several false starts, leaving Murrieta, but surprisingly they pulled into the Oasis RV Resort in Las Vegas right behind us around 3:30 pm. It was hot but not as hot as at home! We cruised the strip to see what had changed in the 10 plus years since we had been there. It would seam that we officially live under some rock if LV is how the rest of you vacation! Wow! So since we are such big gamblers & partiers we ate a tiny bit of a giant buffet and went home to our puppy to watch the finals of American Idol. How boring are we?
By Cedar City, Utah, Thursday it was about 80 degrees! Finally cooler weather.
We made Provo area for night #2!
Now after 350 miles today we are done driving for the holiday weekend at about 1,100 miles total. I think Lindsey has had it too. She has not eaten since yesterday afternoon & has refused ice cream & steak.
The Moorheads are the best traveling companions. Linda is a retired elementary principal and is like having a researcher, planner, navigator, tour guide & concierge all in one. And she does it effortlessly! Her husband Bill is a retired LA Fire Captain & paramedic. He is also a big jokester, always fooling around, he & Bill get on famously constantly trading stories.
Hope you have a Happy Holiday weekend!
Catch you in a few!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Puerto Pinasco, Mexico 2009
May, 2009
Sixty miles south of the Arizona boarder Puerto Pinasco sits at the top of the Sea of Cortez. As our 3rd year on this adventure this trip was probably the best yet for two reasons, first because we went in May and it was warm in the 80’s and second we had the place to ourselves.
The first time we joined this adventurous group mostly, it was late March 2007 & fairly cool. There were 12 rigs & we tried to go out to eat a lot. This year we have evolved. We went out only the last night to the Point high up on the hill. The rest of the time we planned meals to share each night together. There was way too much food and laughs on the beach to go around! We will fine tune even more next year.
The warm weather made all the difference! Everyone swam & sunbathed plus the dogs entertained us romping in the water. They (all 8) completely forgot about their lives on a leash. There were 22 of us this year and our ramrod’s Don & Janice Fox have developed a great routine where we spend a night in Ajo, Az., buy our Mexican insurance and drive into Puerto Pinasco, The Reef RV Park in less then 2 hours arriving before lunch.
The bad press about the banditos & the swine flu plus the economy has taken their toll. All construction projects are stopped. The half built Esmeralda looks the same as it did when we were here last year and the Marriott has pulled out altogether with only rusty rebar columns coming out of a foundation. The people do not have food to feed their dogs so there are many more skinny hungry creatures combing the city streets. The RV Park was just about empty except for us as we made sure we are a couple weeks past the spring break crowd.
Our motorhomes are parked right ON the beach and we soon melted into the relaxation. The 80 degree weather made for delightful nights & campfires on the beach but it also made for more flies. Next year we will bring our 12’ x 20’ screen room for the food.
We made our usual caravan to Choallo Bay for lunch at the cantina overlooking the bay plus several shopping excursions. Some even had dental work & upholstery work while in P.P.. We made our annual donation to the beach vendors & ate wonderful fresh tamales & chili reillanos for breakfast each morning. Barbara Killough tried to single handedly keep all the jewelry stores in business. Larry Bodle was the fixit man. Dick Bathard designated himself Mr. Helpful as he was the clean up crew & right there when ever anyone needed anything including Mary’s search for the right purse. The pilgrimage is highlighted by the annual fish fry. Don Fox prepares his famous fried shrimp, Ed Conklin makes a giant pot of steamed clams and Ruth Jenkins fries up oysters, all of this fresh & purchased locally. What a feast!
Another next year memo was to take a dinner boat cruise. The Sea of Cortez is very quite, at least this time it costs about $25 per person & in May on a balmy evening it would be a delight.
I collected a little sea glass and bill got a little sick. It was a wonderful trip. Everyone present said they would like to return next year for longer then a week perhaps even 2 weeks!
Sixty miles south of the Arizona boarder Puerto Pinasco sits at the top of the Sea of Cortez. As our 3rd year on this adventure this trip was probably the best yet for two reasons, first because we went in May and it was warm in the 80’s and second we had the place to ourselves.
The first time we joined this adventurous group mostly, it was late March 2007 & fairly cool. There were 12 rigs & we tried to go out to eat a lot. This year we have evolved. We went out only the last night to the Point high up on the hill. The rest of the time we planned meals to share each night together. There was way too much food and laughs on the beach to go around! We will fine tune even more next year.
The warm weather made all the difference! Everyone swam & sunbathed plus the dogs entertained us romping in the water. They (all 8) completely forgot about their lives on a leash. There were 22 of us this year and our ramrod’s Don & Janice Fox have developed a great routine where we spend a night in Ajo, Az., buy our Mexican insurance and drive into Puerto Pinasco, The Reef RV Park in less then 2 hours arriving before lunch.
The bad press about the banditos & the swine flu plus the economy has taken their toll. All construction projects are stopped. The half built Esmeralda looks the same as it did when we were here last year and the Marriott has pulled out altogether with only rusty rebar columns coming out of a foundation. The people do not have food to feed their dogs so there are many more skinny hungry creatures combing the city streets. The RV Park was just about empty except for us as we made sure we are a couple weeks past the spring break crowd.
Our motorhomes are parked right ON the beach and we soon melted into the relaxation. The 80 degree weather made for delightful nights & campfires on the beach but it also made for more flies. Next year we will bring our 12’ x 20’ screen room for the food.
We made our usual caravan to Choallo Bay for lunch at the cantina overlooking the bay plus several shopping excursions. Some even had dental work & upholstery work while in P.P.. We made our annual donation to the beach vendors & ate wonderful fresh tamales & chili reillanos for breakfast each morning. Barbara Killough tried to single handedly keep all the jewelry stores in business. Larry Bodle was the fixit man. Dick Bathard designated himself Mr. Helpful as he was the clean up crew & right there when ever anyone needed anything including Mary’s search for the right purse. The pilgrimage is highlighted by the annual fish fry. Don Fox prepares his famous fried shrimp, Ed Conklin makes a giant pot of steamed clams and Ruth Jenkins fries up oysters, all of this fresh & purchased locally. What a feast!
Another next year memo was to take a dinner boat cruise. The Sea of Cortez is very quite, at least this time it costs about $25 per person & in May on a balmy evening it would be a delight.
I collected a little sea glass and bill got a little sick. It was a wonderful trip. Everyone present said they would like to return next year for longer then a week perhaps even 2 weeks!
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