More Old Friends

Relaxing by the fire, waiting for Sue and Lora to arrive.



Sue reading a story to Stuart and Mary



Lora and Lucas checking out pictures





Former members of the spinsters club

Old Friends

While Alan went to Saskatoon, I stayed at Brightsand and hung out with two old friends, Lora and Susie, and their kids. We usually get together once or twice a year (we call it the spinster club reunions - ask me about it some time). This year was special since both Lora and Susie turned 40, and we figured we would try it with kids! Susie has 4 children: Stuart, Annie, Mary and Sam. Lora has 1: Lucas.

Mental note: kids should be almost self sufficient before trying this yourself!

The weather was on the cool side, not one beach day! The weather pattern was to rain overnight starting at about 5pm, clear up to a beautiful blue sky in the early morning while the wind blew the grass dry. Dry enough to go outside at about noon as it clouded over again...

While some frustrations were occasionally evident, I really enjoyed hanging out with Susie, Lora and their kids. I got re-aquainted with Stuart and Annie and got to know Mary, Lucas and Sam. And I got to see my friends as Moms. It is amazing when friends turn out to be the types of Mom you always figured they would be.

Alan got back to the cabin Friday night, Saturday morning Lora and Susie packed up and headed home. Alan followed Susie home to pick up some good Matthews beef and I cleaned the cabin up. We headed out that afternoon.

Thanks PEVE for letting us use your cabin!

Saskatoon

The rain we drove through Monday was part of a horrible storm that produced 200mm of rain in an hour out here. Flooded basements, etc. Part of the Yellowhead Highway was flooded and down to one lane. The water eroded the roadbed and the highway buckled. It will take them a month to fix it.

Just read in the Star-Phoenix this morning, this is on pace to be the coldest August in Saskatoon ever. There were frost warnings all over the country last night.

Man! Who misses that flipping hot July?

So back in my hometown - what is that weird feeling? Not quite nostalgia, not quite nausea. Driving in and starting to see the familiar sights, you get flashbacks to strange places that you thought had long been purged. And then to go to those places one of two things happen, either the place is gone or it hasn't changed a bit.

But things are changing. Saskatoon is busy. Drove into a couple of traffic jams that don't quite match the Glenmore mess but are close. Do I want to move back here...?

More Sask

"Dead Weight Guy" lends a hand.

Brightsands Lake, Saskatchewan

Well, after swimming across Alberta we splashed down at Shar's bro's cabin. There was a terrific rainbow Monday night.



In good Saskatchewan fashion they put us to work right away. We had to bring our own tools, food, and house, of course.

Rain

Lloydminster - worst rain in years. Blah. I'm evolving gills.

Vegging in Vegerville

Leaving Mt Robson

Lazy Friday around the camp

More horny salmon

Salmon spawning in Valemount

Rearguard falls

Thursday we went looking for salmon. They are known to jump Rearguard Falls but not when we were there.

How to go from 18 to 65 overnight

Last night, after taking our drink order the waitress at BP warned us we would need picture ID if the police showed up. Needless to say I gave her a big tip.

Today we ended up camped in Vegerville, in the shadow of the big easter egg. The girl in the camp office wondered if I qualified for the senior's rate.

18 to 65 in less than 24 hours.

Oh yeah - if you are expecting genuine Ukrainian food in Vegerville - you're out of luck. The camp girl gets todays quote: "It's retarded." Like, duh.

Edson Saturday night

Friday we hung around the camp and chilled. We read and ate and napped. Then we checked out the camp show in the evening - Mountain Mayhem - all about climbing Mt Robson. Great fun.

We broke camp this morning and headed east. On the way we noticed all kinds of hikes and things we are going to have to do next time.

We landed in Edson this afternoon at East of Edson RV Camp. Edson is doing their faire this weekend - Sidewalk Jamboree. We walked up and down just as they were rolling up the sidewalks. Now we are having dinner at Boston Pizza. Ahhh...let someone else cook and clean...civilization!

Shar's quote: "What day is this? Oh, we could've stayed another day! Doh!"

Alan's quote: "The Riders are playing the Eskimos for first place!"

Call off the wake OR The cat came back

The rumours of Misty's end are apprently just that - rumours. Our excellent house-cat sitter, Carolyn (thank you again) reports that Misty showed up last week. Huh - go figure. We must have missed counting a life or something. At least we assume its him. Maybe she let some strange cat in...

Salmon and stuff

This has been a very busy couple of weeks for us. Last week our Virginia and Christopher left for their new life in PEI. Apparently they landed on Saturday, put an offer on a house Sunday, accepted on Monday and got reno quotes Tuesday! Nothing like moving in a hurry! Good luck guys! I'm sure it will all work out OK!

Last week we also lost one of our old friends. Our Misty disappeared one night and we assume has gone to cat heaven. He was with us from the start and helped Virginia make a start in Calgary. After she left home he became my buddy and we enjoyed many long hours in front of the TV. I hope the end was quick and he is now chasing many angelic mice and birds, he has a warm spot to curl up in and that his food dish is always full.

Of course, this week we are hiking around this big honking mountain.

Today, Thursday, we are watching the salmon spawn!

I'm sure there is a circle here somewhere, just have to tie the knot.

Sharon quote: "This hat is a pain in the butt."

Alan quote: "Why are you wearing your hat on your butt?"

Kinney Lake

This is the little bump we climbed on Tuesday to the viewpoint.

On Wednesday we did a big ass 14 KM hike to Kinney Lake. Shar was very happy.

And the lake was incredible!

If its Tuesday it must be Overlander Falls

Robson with no clouds - a rare site!

We hiked around the Fraser to Overlander Falls


And then up to a viewpoint - the Robson Valley on one side and the Mt itself on the other

Monday and Tuesday

Our campsite in Robson Meadows.

Beaver Falls
Shar's new friend
Animal tracks in the mud (wolf? coyote? dog? elephant?)

Live from Valemount!

Hi Guys! No internet service at the campground so we are sending this from the Valemount tourist centre.

Landed in Mt Robson without much incident - busted trailer cable plug on the truck which means we came down the hill without trailer brakes! Didn't even notice until we were parking. Good truck! We can recommend Monashee Motors in Valemount - brilliant salts o' the earth.

Spent the first day driving around the area Beaver Falls is very pretty. Took the back roads around Dunster - saw a black bear.

Today we got the truck fixed and now going to hike around Robson. Will try to post pics later.

Shar's quote: "We are behind schedule!"

Alan's quote: "What schedule?"

More pics

Moraine Lake (where is Alan's hat?)




On the road and at the Icefields (Alan found his hat.)

Some pics

Camp at Lake Louise - Alan trying to be GQ.

Jasper Pt Deux

Alan quote: "I have to teach you how to be a snoop."

Shar quote: "You're a one speed Hoiland, aren't you?"

Columbia Icefield & Jasper

We left Louise this morning - it was +9 in the trailer when we got up. Thank gods for the furnance! Got on the road in good time - about 9:30 and the sun broke through about 10:00. Got to the Icefield about 11:30 - love those 8% grades! Had lunch and hung at the gift shop - crazy busy! We need to come back and do the glacier bus tour. Back on the road by 12:30 and into Whistler campground about 2:00. Got setup and took a tour of Jasper.

Now we are making supper and enjoying the "ambivance."

Shar quote: "Both camera batteries are dead?!"

Things forgot

A bottle opener! Why am I leaving the house without a church key???

Corkscrew - check.
Can opener - check.

We gotta have something...beer cans are very convenient but Shar's girly drink ain't a twistoff. I could go outside and use the edge of the camp table but alas! I have always been wanting in that department.

Ah-ha! There is a bottle opener built in my bbq tool! I am now a hero!

Sharon quote: "I forgot my slippers."

Moraine Lake

How beautiful can one place be? Valley of Ten Peaks ringing a lake blue blue blue with glacial silt. Pieces of ancient seas tumbled about in the form of shale the size of cars. Rain clouds hanging over the peaks. Oh yes - more rain. :-) Water in the lake, water in the sky. Water on my glasses. Water.

Why was Alan running about without his hat?

A Sharon quote: "I wondered why you didn't take your hat."

Lake Louise

Well, we left home in the rain drove in and out of the rain and now in Lake Louise it is...raining!

Quote from Shar: "I'm gonna miss my long underwear if this rain keeps up."

Jumping on the Blog-wagon!

Always on the trailing edge - Sharon and I live and breath technology and so we often ignore it until we have a need. After all, I work with the darn stuff all day long and the last thing I want to do at the end of the day is more PC communing. However, we are starting a new adventure this week so thought it would be a good idea to document the enterprise. Yes, we recently bought a fifth wheel trailer and are about to drag it up the mountains! Stay tuned!