Day 18 – Edmonton to Calgary
Our drive started out gorgeous, but soon we were driving in all the rain. We set up camp that way, too.
We didn’t feel we got to see Edmonton, really. What we did see was on the far south edge of the downtown area. So, we made a point to drive a long way through Calgary on our way to a bar.
The city is super-duper clean. We saw no drug use and no people living on the streets. National Health Care goes a long way.
The buildings are unique. Everywhere was Canada Day (belated), Pride (also belated), and preparations for the Calgary Stampede. I’m not sad we missed it this time, but if we are ever back up here, we might have to try to hit their version of music-festival-rodeo chaos.
The bar we picked was closed for a private event, but we found a wonderful dog-themed brewery and a nice Irish pub.
Day 19 – Calgary to Revelstoke
Our drive this day was cloudy and dreary, but without rain. Our friends did have a bit of bad luck, though. Despite grand efforts to find large gas stations, we are stuck with ones that have very narrow lanes. On the way out of one, they clipped the corner of their fifth wheel and did a little damage to it. It’s minor, but it still sucks.
We crossed the Province line and into Pacific Time. This should be fun since our body rhythms were already messed up from so much daylight.
Once at our campground, though, all was forgotten. We ran the dog until she gave up, had dinner, and headed for the hot springs. There were only two pools 30ºC/86ºF and 40ºC/104ºF. I had been having a bit of knee (my whole life) and shoulder (just slept weird) pain and the nice soak fixed both.
We rounded out the evening with a little camp fire.
Day 20 – Revelstoke
We started our day with a Dam tour. I thought we were going to look at the dam, so I was quite surprised when we got to go inside the dam, up to the top of the dam, and that there was a full education center both for the dam’s history and operations. There was also a section about the tribal lands of the area, their people, and the customs and traditions.
After the dam touring, we drove across the two bigger bridges that join the two halves of the town.
We also drove through Mount Revelstoke National Park (as far as we could due to snow).
For dinner, we hit a cafe downtown where we learned that in Canada, a burger can’t be served less than medium well (by law). I changed my order to a vegetarian one.
After a trip to an insanely busy grocery store, we sat outside with our friends in the lovely mountain air.
Day 21 – Revelstoke to Lac Le June
Our drive was another pretty one. We were in an area very much like the Columbia River Valley–but a lot more green–where it was road, river, and railroad all in a line. We drove past the very long Shuswap Lake. And then, right as the lake, ended, we were greeted by the South Thompson River and through the Houseboat Capital of Canada. It all made for a gorgeous drive.
Our lunch spot was the final spike where the Trans Canada Railroad was finished. It’s a cute little stop complete with a tiny gift shop.
For this stay, it’s a Provincial campground, so we are boondocking at this bare-bones place. Our campsite itself is nuts. There is one “driveway” for two campers; we even had to book under one name to get this buddy site. It’s also uphill, and t-shaped, which made it a big challenge for our friend to back in. I’m guessing we’ll have a similar experience trying to get out.
For dinner, our friend cooked burgers. We provided homemade mashed potatoes and threw some asparagus on the grill.
After dinner, they took the dog and went to the water with some toys to play. We sat at the campsite under the lovely canopy and just enjoyed the evening in a more still kind of way.
We also ordered some firewood for the two nights we are here, so we burned one of the bundles among the pink clouds of a sunset and a few sprinkles of rain. It was nice to enjoy a cool evening.
Day 22 – Lazy Lake Day at Lac Le June
This was our first real down time of the trip. After breakfast, we both had some computer stuff to do.
It was also a gorgeous day (which is nice when you are boondocking and don’t have AC). Our friends got our their water toys and took the dog to the water. We joined them for some of that time.
We spent the whole evening just chilling at the campsite and enjoying our second fire.
quite different than the ones in Colorado,
which are not the same as the bluebonnet ones in Texas.