British Columbia: Goodbye Canada

After leaving Jasper National Park we spent two days on a winding, mountainous, scenic southeast trip through British Columbia. The latter is a lovely province, but the glaciers were mostly gone, and we were observing lots of rolling ranchland and farming country. The lower altitude and warmer temperatures had helped create an abundance of wildflowers. We camped one last night in Canada at a beautiful but rustic provincial campground called Lac Le June east of Kamloops. It was clean, and the sites were large. It reminded us of the way campgrounds looked in the U.S. 55 years ago when we were still tent camping. There was no water or electric hookups, and the sites were large, level, grassy and private. Each had a fire pit and picnic table. The adjacent lake was pristine and serene. The water was cold, but that did not deter Canadians from taking an evening dip. A few boats and canoes were on the water, but they were mostly tied to their docks. Our sunny, evening hike along the shore revealed mostly small cottages that had been there for many years. Some looked abandoned, while others were being fully used. One lot was adorned with unique, rather primitive art. The artist must have had a keen sense of humor (see photo to left). Our grilled dinner really hit the spot.

The next day, we left early, as we were eager to get back to the States. At one point, Jerry got caught trespassing on a rancher’s domain to capture a photo of an old log house, but the owner was very nice about it. He talked to us for a long time about how he came to BC from California 30 years ago, purchased the gorgeous riverside ranch, and why he preserved the old barn and cabin that had caught our eye.

How nice it was to finally arrive in Bellingham, WA and find gas at $3.92 per gallon after paying an average of $5.75 for the past month in Canada. Gloria made quick use of her cell phone as soon as we cleared customs, as we had been restricted by Verizon’s high prices for cell service in Canada. We checked in at a Good Sam RV Park and stayed for three days in order to purchase three new tires, get the Tundra serviced, shop for groceries, catch up on email, and do get our laundry. Canada is unique, rugged, and beautiful beyond words, but it can drain your wallet in a hurry. Ah the good life in the USA!

Now we are heading to Lacey, WA for the week-long National Potlatch and Salmon Rally.

Jasper National Park

After visiting Banff, Lake Louise, and driving the Icefields Parkway, we thought Jasper would be anti-climatic. We were going to stay only one night. How wrong we were; we ended up staying three nights at the Whistler National Campground. Jasper National Park is the largest of the Rocky Mountain Parks, and the city is quaint and picturesque. It is less commercial than Banff and Lake Louise, and the prices are more reasonable. The interesting building rooftops are uniquely designed to resemble the peaks of the surrounding mountains.

Habitually, our first stop in a new location, after getting our trailer set up, is the visitors center. The helpful young lady there gave us some tips, and we proceeded 26 miles north of town to Pocahontas. We found the Miette Hot Springs a few miles from there. For nearly 50 years, there was an old hotel near the falls which the original owner hoped would rival the big hotels of Banff. Many people came there seeking healing via the hot springs until the struggling old hotel, Miette Aquacourt, closed in 1984. The ruins are still there as are the hot springs. What stories those old walls could tell! Driving home in late afternoon through aspen and spruce forests near blue lakes, we were fortunate enough to spot more wildlife than we had seen since our entry into Canada. There was a big mountain sheep that posed dramatically for us along side the highway. There were also three large male elk and an herd of females a couple of miles from Jasper. There can be few lovelier pictures than sizable wildlife with the Rockies in the background.

The next day we drove to the Maligne Canyon, which is incredibly narrow and 50 meters deep. Swift, gushing water is still sawing its way through the rocky canyon walls. Beyond the Canyon are Medicine Lake, Maligne Lake, and Spirit Island. Mary Shaffer, a hearty, early 20th century explorer, described Maligne Lake as the best boat tour in Canada. We heeded Mary's admonition to take the tour, and we were not disappointed. Our cute little Latvian guide added to the great beauty of the snow-capped mountains, serene water, and glaciers with her unique humor and enthusiasm. We made a brief stop and took a short hike on Spirit Island, once a favorite landing point for native Indians. As we left Jasper the next morning, it was with a slight air of sadness. We knew that during the past two weeks, we had seen the best that Canada has to offer in the way of fantastic scenery, wild animals, and warm, friendly people.

The Icefields Parkway of Alberta

The Icefields Parkway is the most beautiful drive of all the thousands of miles we have driven. The Parkway was built for the sole purpose of enabling travelers to experience Canada’s powerful Rocky Mountain natural landscape. Because it is a scenic drive and not a transportation corridor, one needs a Canadian National Park pass; large trucks are not permitted. We may be having a gasoline high-price crisis, but the many RVs traveling this awesome 143 miles belies that fact. This includes many Europeans who rent C-vans and think they are getting a bargain compared with their fuel prices back home.

As we drove north from Lake Louise, we climbed steadily to the Bow Summit, the highest point on the Parkway. Broad sweeping valleys, vast wilderness of magnificent peaks, ancient glaciers, and chilly, pristine mountain lakes gives one a feeling of being in a wonderland close to heaven. Wildlife is prevalent. The great horn sheep are majestic as are the elk with their huge racks. Grizzly and black bears are visible in the distance, but they seldom are as close as the elk and the sheep. The unsurpassed mountain scenery parallels the Great Divide; the high altitude parkway marks the water shed point at which all water flows either east or west. Be sure to fill your gas tank before leaving Lake Louise as there is only one station between there and Jasper. Drive up some of the side roads to view wondrous sights like Glacier, Bow, and Peyto Lakes. They are photo opportunities not be missed. Sunwapta Falls, Athabasca Falls, and Kerkeslin Goat Lick are also must stops.

Why did we enjoy such a drive: Good roads, no billboards, wildflowers, clean air, perfect weather, blue sky with fluffy clouds, mysterious mountains, rushing cold rivers and winding creeks that turn to solid ice in the winter, powerful waterfalls, beautiful reflective lakes that duplicated the snow capped mountains, and meeting friendly people in the pull-off places. Our new Toyota Tundra, with its powerful engine, six-speed transmission and 4.3 rear end, towed the big five-ton Airstream up the steep grades with ease.

Famous Lake Louise

A one hour drive (for most people) north of Banff is Lake Louise, another famous place to tour in the Canadian Rockies. We chose to travel the slow, scenic route via Route 1A. Castle Mountain was one of the high points of our trip along with glaciers, serene lakes, and waterfalls. If you visit this famous tourist stop, be sure to stock up on gas, food, and other supplies before arriving. It was the most expensive place we visited in Canada, and we limited our stay to three days.

By the time we got to the park campground, there were no sites with amenities. But that was not a problem, as we arrived with a full tank of water, and our solar panels provided all of the power we needed. We had our trusty generator, but the bright sunshine and long days were kind to our solar panels.

Lake Louise was clearly visible from our gondola all the way up and down the mountain. Our ride began with a sumptuous, complimentary buffet breakfast. At the top, we took a guided hike, learned about the wildlife on the mountain, and enjoyed a welcome cup of coffee at the cafe. While Lake Louise gets most of the press, we thought Emerald Lake and Lake Moraine were equally charming. Takakkaw Falls was spectacular and provided a windy, free "shower!"

Banff National Park

We have been in this fabulous national park for the last four days. It is one of the top places to visit in world. There are no highway billboards, and the little city is quaint despite the many tourists. We learned about the area's rich history on our first day in town by spending a few hours in the Whyte museum. What courageous souls those early settlers were who braved the harsh elements of nature to put Banff on the map. The city is surrounded by tall, snow capped mountains, and through it runs the Bow River, which rushes over the falls near the grand old Banff Springs Hotel.

The Whistler National Campground, where we stayed, was nearly full, but we were able to get a lovely mountainside site with electricity. The park contained an abundance of wildlife. We greatly enjoyed our evening cruise around Lake Minnewanka, but the highlight of our stay was a raft float trip for 18 miles down the Bow River. There were many obstacles, but our huge, able "Mohawk" oarsman, Ron, was experienced, able, and river savvy. One high point he showed us was the Valley of Seven Peaks. At the end of the trip, we were picked up by a bus near the City of Canmore and returned to the falls in Banff. Now it's time to move on northward to Lake Louise.

The Fabulous Calgary Stampede

This past week we have been attending the Region 10 WBCCI Airstream Rally being held near Calgary, Alberta. Each day has been filled with sumptuous group meals, evening western entertainment, magnificent mountain drives, and a bus tour of downtown Calgary. During one drive we saw two huge grizzlies climbing the slope of a mountain that had lots of green grass mixed with patches of snow and ice.

The highpoint of the week was the Calgary Stampede; our tickets for two days were provided as a part of our rally fee. This may be the biggest rodeo in North America. On the final night, we were thrilled by the national chuck wagon races. The winners of each event (national champions) took home $100,000. The final show was an all-star event that included a couple hundred swelt, young dancers/ singers wearing several changes of bright costumes and a set that would rival anything produced in Hollywood during the golden age of musicals. The evening ended with a huge array of fireworks that rocked the stadium.

This is indeed cowboy country or the New West as the people of Alberta call it. Of all Canadian provinces, Alberta is most like Texas. We attended a cowboy church service with fellow Airstreamers on Sunday and liked it so much that we went back to their Tuesday evening service.

Today we are leaving Calgary and heading west toward the Canadian Rockies.

International Airstream Rally In Bozeman, MT

The 51st Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI) rally is complete, and it was a big success. While fuel prices affected rally attendance, nearly 1000 trailers and motor homes gathered in Bozeman, MT for adventure, fun, and fellowship. Bozeman was the perfect location with gorgeous, snow-capped mountains surrounding a friendly city. Warm, sunny days and cool nights were perfect for our needs. The local people love it when the “Wallys” arrive. This is especially true of the merchants, because we do spend a lot of money wherever we gather each year. Not-so-gentle breezes kept our flags flying proudly. While we fly the Texas flag, we continue to be members of our Northern VA Unit (NORVA) where we have been members since 1995.

Each year the rally lasts from June 27 to July 5. It honors the birthday on July 4 of our founder, Wally Byam, who was first in the world to initiate travel trailer caravanning. He also invented the Airstream Travel Trailer back in the 1930s. It was the only travel trailer company out of 400 that survived the Great Depression. One can still visit the Airstream factory in Jackson Center, Ohio. The company continues to send parts, accessory products, and quality mechanics to every international rally. This year the latter installed two windows for us.

Many vendors show up for the rally each year and nearly every evening we have high-quality entertainment from outside groups. There are frequent drawings and free ice cream bars. This year a few entertainers offered their Christian witness while providing their songs. The local rancher musicians don’t worry much about political correctness. Everyone has a great time, and after the entertainment, we enjoy dancing to the big band sounds provided by the Wally Byam band.

Volunteer members manage the rally, and they make up over 100 committees. Nearly every attendee has an assignment. This year we worked in Property Management and Wally Byam Control. Jerry was elected First Vice President of the latter and will have a major responsibility next year in Wisconsin for the 24-hour CB radio network that makes periodic announcements and responds to member needs or requests for information. Gloria was elected Secretary for the Classic Airstream Club, a club within WBCCI that promotes fellowship and caravans with members who own the traditional aluminum rigs made popular by Wally Byam rather than the big fiberglass motor homes. .

Crafts, art, photography, and indoor-games capture the interest of attendees at each rally. There is the annual competition for each event, and our photos won three ribbons. Jerry also won second place in the three-day Bridge competition. Units compete for the best float during the 4th of July parade, and there is also the parade of vintage trailers, which must be at least 25 years old. Often they are towed with vintage cars and pickup trucks.

We are looking forward to seeing old friends at next year’s rally in Madison, WI and the following year in Gillette, WY. We are pleased that both presidents of these two rallies reside near us in our North Texas Airstream Community (NTAC) in Hillsboro, TX.