Tuesday, July 27 to Saturday, July 31, 2021 (A Road Trip to Alberta! Part 1)

It was shortly after 9:00 by the time we had the car all packed up and everything settled in the trailer to leave it for about 10 days or so. This is our first 'vacation' taking a road trip in a car in years...not hauling our home with us!

I took the first leg of the trip, driving through the traffic out of the lower mainland and Fraser Valley to a rest stop just before Hope, BC...a 120 km stretch that seems to take forever as you get out of the hustle and bustle of the Greater Vancouver area. 

After a short break, Steve took over driving for the rest of the way to our overnight destination. There are just under 300 fires burning in the province so we knew we were in for a smoky trip once we left the coast. 

Here we are nearing the July Mountain wildfire...
It's burning west of the Coquihalla highway...

Next up was the Larson Hill wildfire...
We passed by a firetruck from Mill Bay on Vancouver Island...
Merritt ahead still engulfed in smoke... 
In the distance Nicola Lake where we work camped at Monck Provincial Park in 2015...
We stopped in Kamloops for lunch. Parked in the White Spot Restaurant parking lot were fire trucks we had passed on the highway from stations on Vancouver Island....Cowichan Bay, Mill Bay, Central Saanich and Metchosin. Steve got pictures of 2 of them as we left...

Very smoky in Kamloops...this picture is taken as we head north on highway 5...
North Thompson River...
Much clearer the further north we went...
457 km/284 miles and just over 5 hours later our overnight stop was in Clearwater, BC at the Wells Gray Inn...
The hotel is old but our "King Room" had been renovated. Steve relaxing before we go downstairs for dinner.
Wednesday (July 28) morning we were up and out early. Overnight the smoke had caught up to us and the car was covered is ash. We decided to drive an hour or so before stopping for breakfast. 
Highway 5 continues to follow the North Thompson River...


We stopped in Blue River for breakfast at The Grill, in the Sandman Inn. I took over driving for the next leg of our journey.







In the distance, fields of fireweed in bloom...

The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion involves twinning the existing 1,150 km pipeline and will add 980 km of new pipeline from refineries in Strathcona County (Edmonton) Alberta to Burnaby (Vancouver) BC. So we experienced dozens of construction slowdowns along our route. This will increase capacity from 300,000 barrels a day to 890,000 barrels a day.

Now on the Yellowhead highway16 we're nearing Mount Robson Provincial Park, the mountain is mostly visible thru the smoke. It's the highest point in the Canadian Rockies at 3,954 m/12,972 ft.


Moose Lake, BC...

Looking back...we stopped here to stretch our legs...





Welcome to Alberta...and Jasper National Park!
We had a couple of "close calls" through this stretch. The first one was through an area of road construction that had an electronic sign, so my attention was on it when Steve yelled "Di, car!". A car was passing a long line of on-coming traffic in my lane...I slammed on the brakes and moved towards the shoulder allowing the idiot to swerve back into his own lane. That got our old hearts pumping!

Then we were stuck following a semi for awhile and he seemed to be all over the road at times. I managed to eventually pass him. Shortly after that the traffic ahead was stopped due to an accident...well, I guess the driver of that same semi behind me wasn't paying attention and didn't see my flashing hazard lights that Steve had turned on for me. Next thing we knew, he was beside me in the on-coming lane! Good thing that there was no traffic coming...as there would have been absolutely no where for him to go other than through us! There was a concrete guardrail on both sides of the road. He backed up back into his lane and a little while later, (probably had to change his shorts...STEVE :) he came out and apologized profusely to me. He told Steve that he had a load of liquids that kept pushing him forward...what a feeble excuse! The people in the vehicles directly in front of us all commented on what a close call that was. We were stuck there for about 30 minutes.

At this point, Steve decided it was his turn to drive...well, okay then! I had been driving for 3 hours by this time. The police vehicle was the only one left at the scene which must have been a couple of kilometres from where we were stopped.
A cow Elk...
Unfortunately the mountains are shrouded in smoke...really too bad because the scenery through the Jasper area is spectacular...


Momma and baby Mountain sheep. That was the extent of our wildlife viewing...

We think this is Yellowhead Lake...




Just about out of the mountains...
We stopped in Hinton for fuel and a quick snack arriving at Dave and Leslie's around 4:00. 602 km/374 miles and 6 1/2 hours later. They have a beautiful RV lot at Pineridge Golf Course and RV Resort just outside of Seba Beach on Wabamun Lake. They are in Phase 3 of the development which has an entrance away from the main golf course entrance, so Dave met us out at the highway to guide us in and through the security gates. After big hugs, we got settled into our accommodation...an airbed set up in their garage. 
Next to the beer fridge, a Harley, and Indian motorcycles...Man Cave perfect! (STEVE:)
Happy Hour...it was great to seeing these guys again! Dave's hair has grown since we saw him last :)
After a couple of hours of catching up, we went inside for dinner...delicious, thanks guys...cheers!
After dinner, we went back outside to relax with a glass of wine...but then Dave heard his neighbours. They had a campfire going, so we joined them. Dave brought along the "adult juice box" (aka box of red wine)...it's all his fault that I wasn't very spry the next morning! Their neighbours have moved here from Newfoundland so apparently Dave and Leslie have been learning how to speak "Newfie". We learned a bit too...such as Jeet! (Did ya eat?...LOL!)

Leslie, Steve, Dave, and their neighbours, Dave and Dani...
Thursday (July 29) morning was a slow start for everyone...well, except Steve who stuck to beer last night. After coffee and a good hearty breakfast, we got out for a walk around the resort. We took Dave and Dani's dog with us as they had gone out for most of the day...
The clubhouse...
Back at Dave and Leslie's, we sat outside relaxing...and drinking lots of water! Not only because of last night, but it was a hot day!
They took us on a tour of the area. This is the public beach at the community centre on Wabamun Lake...

That evening, we went out for dinner at RV Pub and Grill located in the Kokanee Springs RV Resort, just a short distance away.
The resort also has a driving range with lots of targets...
Friday (July 30) morning, Dave made us waffles for breakfast...so good! We had another relaxing morning, enjoying our visit. Steve snapped a couple more pictures of their RV lot. Now that they have finished getting it exactly as they had planned, they have sold it and will be moving soon...to some acreage. Another project for them to work on with Leslie's son and daughter-in-law.

Looking out from the back of their lot to the 8th hole on the golf course...
Shortly before noon we had the car packed up and were off into Stoney Plain following Leslie and Dave to a restaurant they had recently discovered. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Twenty Eight Urban Kitchen... Thanks for the pic guys!
And then, after big hugs, we parted ways...thank you so very much for your hospitality, Dave and Leslie! It was wonderful seeing you...we'll be back for a quick visit on our way home next week!

With Steve's Uncle and Aunt's address punched into Google Maps about an hour away, we made our way into Edmonton. The next part of our trip to Alberta is to celebrate Uncle Gord's 80th birthday as well as Gordon and Esther's 40th wedding anniversary (it was earlier in the year). They had wanted to have a big 80/40 party but unfortunately were unable to make it happen with venues being in demand with COVID restrictions being eased.

We arrived to big hugs and after unloading the car and getting settled in our "suite" downstairs, we sat out in their sunroom catching up. Wanting to get a little exercise, they suggested a walk at Rainbow Valley Park. First of all we had to check out Snow Valley Aerial Park...With over 100 games on the structure, there is something for everyone! The theme for the Snow Valley Aerial Park tower is "Edmonton’s River Valley". It also includes Snow Valley and Rainbow Valley themed elements including a ski bridge, snowboard balance bridge, picnic table, free-fall drop, and a few more surprises. The course is set up "choose-your-own adventure" style, so you can pick whichever elements you would (or would not) like to climb. The games are graded like runs on a ski hill; green, blue and black.

There's even a travel trailer up there for us RV'ers!

Then we carried onto our walk that loosely follows Whitemud Creek...
Repairs to the overhead sewer lines...

We went as far as the Whitemud Creek Ravine Lookout, took pictures and turned around...




It was hot and humid out so after our walk we stopped for a drink at "Geoscapes at Snow Valley, featuring the Botanist Garden and Tito's BBQ Patio". According to the website, they have different chefs weekly...rather unique!

Esther, Gord and me...
Back home, we sat and relaxed...the decorations are up for the party tomorrow!
A delicious rib dinner!
Saturday (July 31) was a relaxing day as we all got ready for the party tonight. Uncle Gord with a board of memories during his time as a minister...and his "80" balloons...
One of their COVID projects over the winter had been to pin-point not all, but most of the places they have been in the world. As you can see, they have travelled extensively over the years...we were even included in some...
We got the party started with some games of 'ladder ball'...

It was a small, family celebration but lovely just the same. Steve and Gord had put up the gazebo this morning and Esther and I decorated it. This time I'm going to start at the right and go around to the left...Yolande (cousin), DJ (cousin Heather's husband), Heather (cousin), Ivor (DJ's dad), Gord, me and Esther...
Birthday boy barbecuing a salmon for dinner...yum!
Heather with her Dad...just as we're ready to eat...
After a very yummy dinner, we all went into the dining room for birthday/anniversary 'toasts' and birthday cake...
Yolande and Heather lighting the sparklers...
Happy 40th Anniversary!
Yolande, Heather, Uncle Gord and Aunt Esther...
A wonderful celebration for Gord and Esther!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our most excellent adventure to Alberta!


4 comments:

  1. That is one busy week! Very cool scenery but you could have done without the smoke. And visiting with Dave and Leslie was just icing on the cake!

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    1. It’s so nice being able to see family and friends again. Even Alberta was smoky.

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  2. So glad you got there safe and sound. Looked pretty sketchy almost getting hit by a semi!

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