Sunday, July 2 to Thursday, July 6, 2023 - Road Trip - Part 1 (Coquitlam, BC, Blue River, BC and Edmonton, AB)

Sunday (July 2) was the start of our 3 week road trip to Alberta visiting family and friends. We started by spending a few days in Coquitlam visiting Chris, Angela and Isaac. It is Chris's birthday tomorrow, so we thought it would be nice to spend it with him. 

We had the car packed and were on the road just after 10:00 for the drive down to the Duke Point Ferry Terminal south of Nanaimo. Boarding the 12:45 sailing...

With the 2 hour sailing and then the drive into Coquitlam, we arrived at Chris and Angela's just after 3:30. It was a beautiful, warm day...perfect for sitting in the shade on their deck. 

Isaac and me...

Chris and Steve...

Isaac and Grampa...

Angela made pizza from scratch...dough and all...for dinner. Delicious!

Monday (July 3) was Chris's birthday, so first thing in the morning it was time to open his gifts...

Chris made his "famous" scrambled eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast...a good hearty start to the day for our hike at Mundy Park.

Mundy Park at 176 hectares, is the largest park in Coquitlam, British Columbia. The park has many walking trails that pass the park's two lakes - Mundy Lake and Lost Lake. There are also sports fields, a lacrosse box, an outdoor swimming pool, disc golf area, picnic area, and playground.

Angela and Isaac...

Isaac and Chris...

Angela and I walking ahead...

Mundy Lake...

A wasp nest...

After walking the short (1 km) trail around Mundy Lake, we wanted to carry on another trail. Isaac wasn't keen on that but then we thought we'd check to see if there were any geocaches hidden in the park. There were...and that was it...Isaac was happy going on a 'treasure hunt'!

A large nurse stump...

There were three trees growing out of this nurse stump...

We were getting a little discouraged because we couldn't find any geocaches...but by the fourth or fifth try, we had success! Whew!

Isaac was pleased with what was in the cache...but we put it back after getting a picture...

Of course, he wanted to continue treasure hunting but it was time to go home. I think Chris and Angela have a new way of getting him out walking!

Part of our birthday gift to Chris was some cans of our favourite beer from Spinnackers Brewpub in Victoria...Nut Brown Ale. Happy Birthday, Chris...Cheers!

Angela's family came over for dinner. Chris opening a birthday card...Nonna sitting with her granddaughter, Olivia (Joe and Amanda's daughter), Dorothy on the right (Marco's girlfriend)...

Amanda and Dorothy looking on as Isaac and Olivia play in the bouncy castle (ok, Isaac is playing, Olivia watching)...

A picture had to be taken from both ends of the table...left to right, me, Luigi (Angela's dad), Angela, Chris, Isaac, Lucy (Angela's mom), Dorothy, Marco (Angela's brother)...

...and continuing around the table, Joe, Olivia, Amanda and Steve...

Birthday cake time! DQ Blizzard Cake...yum!

Time to blow out the candles...

And then back outside...

Tuesday (July 4) morning Steve and I both had our annual doctor appointments. The first time actually seeing him in person, rather than via a phone or video call since COVID. Afterwards, we stopped for lunch and then headed back to Chris and Angela's to chill for the next couple of hours before going to the lab for bloodwork. 

That was pretty much it for us for the day...as we get prepared to leave in the morning.

Wednesday (July 5) morning we were packed up and on the road by 9:00. Thanks so much for your hospitality, Chris and Angela! See you in a few weeks!

We headed east on the Trans Canada Highway (#1). It was pretty hazy from the wildfire smoke that had drifted in...

At Hope, BC, we left the #1 highway and took the Coquihalla Highway (#5) that heads north. Big climb into mountains...

Nicola Lake just past Merritt where we used to workcamp at Monck Provincial Park...

The North Thompson River as we continue north on highway 5 past Kamloops...

The community of Blue River is halfway between Coquitlam and Edmonton...making it our destination for tonight. 

Blue River is a small community in British Columbia, situated on British Columbia Highway 5 about halfway between Kamloops and Jasper, Alberta, located at the confluence of the Blue and North Thompson Rivers. The local economy is supported by logging, tourism and transportation industries.

Not a lot in Blue River...a couple of motels and gas stations. Thinking I couldn't go too wrong with the Sandman Inn, I had made a reservation for the night. The room was clean...but honestly, the building needs to be updated. Our room had the smoke detector hanging down from the ceiling about a foot, some of the trim was missing from the around the door...generally rundown. But as I said, it was clean and was fine for one night. Oh, and it had A/C but the fellow checking us in said to not have too many other things plugged in when we run it.

We relaxed in the room with some beverages for a couple of hours with the A/C running and then went to dinner at the restaurant that was attached to the motel, "The Grill". 

Apparently the roof in the restaurant had a leak...so they "fixed" it by making a funnel out of a plastic jug with a hose attached that went outside thru the entrance. Too funny!

Thursday (July 6) morning we were back on the road by 8:15, continuing north on highway 5 until it ended and we turned east on highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) towards Mt. Robson Provincial Park. 

Mount Robson Park is the second oldest provincial park in British Columbia. This popular park offers everything from vehicle-accessible camping to remote, rarely visited valleys. Mount Robson itself guards the park’s western entrance. At 3,954m, it is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, towering over the surrounding peaks. Winter or summer, this is one of the finest views in the Rocky Mountains.

Today, we can see the mountain but it is shrouded in wildfire smoke...

We stopped at the Visitors Centre for a bathroom break...

...and a selfie with the mountain in the background...

When we came thru here two years ago you could barely see Mount Robson from the wildfire smoke...sadly, our new normal it seems.

We stopped for a picture of Moose Lake...

We crossed over the border into Alberta...still very smoky...

About 20 minutes later we were driving through Jasper National Park, following the Athabasca River...

Look at the colour of that water!

We stopped at a very busy rest stop to get a picture of this lake...but apparently its a wide spot on the Athabasca River...

Very shallow...

This rather shaggy Rocky Mountain Sheep wasn't in the least worried about being on the highway, we had to drive around him...

More Rocky Mountain Sheep on the side of the highway...

We arrived at Steve's Uncle and Aunt's (Gord and Esther) place in Edmonton just before 4:00. After big hugs, they helped us unload the car. We got "semi" settled in the guest bedroom downstairs and then joined them in their sunroom. So wonderful seeing them again!

The house smelled wonderful...Esther had been slow cooking a brisket for dinner. Here is Gord finishing it up on the barbeque...

Dinner time! The brisket was so tender...a delicious meal, thanks so much!

So nice to be here...stay tuned to see what Gordon and Esther have planned for us!