Blogs from Hinton, Alberta, Canada, North America

Up at 5:30, temperature 41°, supposed to go into the 70s today. Today was basically a travel day with limited stops in between on the way to Dawson Creek. The The first leg of the route took us on the Bighorn highway toward Grand Prairie. The big horn highway is a 204 mile route connecting yellow head highway 16 and I weigh 43. It is a two Lane paved highway with moderate Grades and curves and good mountain views. We saw much logging activity as well as signs noting re-four station projects within the first 45 miles of the road. We stopped for a picnic lunch at Kakwa River recreation area. Peggy insisted on walking in the woods looking for bears and caring her cowbell despite the fact that the bell is supposed to scare ... read more

From the title, you should be able to figure out that our patience is growing thin. We really like this country. It's very beautiful, quite diverse, and the people are for the most part friendly (except when they are driving in cities). We also feel this country is a bit wide in the middle. Unfortunately, laying off the honey or doing stoutness exercises may have worked for Winnie-the-Pooh, but I believe it won't work for Canada. Just to prove to you that Saskatchewan is not all flat, please see exhibit 1. This photo shows one side of a hill near the western edge of the province. Do you notice the downward slope from left to right? Also, the road began to have bends. The U-shaped valleys become more pronounced. (Thanks to Mr. Hincks, grade 9 geography ... read more

The big event for the day was how to back up the trailer with no experience. After a few missteps (right is on the other side, turn the other way, stop, go forward, get it straight, it's not too late, to whip it...) I successfully backed the trailer into the parking lot. Three hours later it was full of all my worldly possessions and I was moved out! All my possessions, except the lovely dresser from Gerry's childhood. Where is it now you ask? I strapped it to the roof of the Vibe and drove to the Eco centre. Unfortunately, the Eco centre had too tight of a turn for me to drive in. So, I unstrapped it and carried it by hand. As you expect, everyone else in the line asked who the eccentric was, ... read more

Ce soir je ne vais pas être dérangé par les camions de l' Alaska Highways. Bucolique le mot est un faible. Ce matin départ comme d' hab 7h30. A la sortie de Dawson Creek, je quitte la Colombie Britanic, province dans la quelle j' aurais passé pas mal de temps, depuis mon arrivée a Vancouver. Avec de tres bons souvenirs Vancouver belle ville, l' ile de Vancouver, Ucluelet, et surtout la traversée Port Hardy- Prince Rupert le plus marquant a ce jour, avec les glaciers d' Alaska. Je rentre a Alberta, direction Grande Prairie, le nom a été facile a trouver, effectivement c' est au milieu de tres grandes prairies. La route rien de terrible, Je traverse Pouce Coupe, mais la je n' ai l'explication sue le nom. Il y a en ce moment, de gros ... read more

CANADA ON THE RAILS, WEST THRU THE ROCKIES We woke up in Edmonton on Sunday morning, September 25, where our train was stopping for an hour to add another dome car for Rocky Mountain Viewing which was in our future today. While the various crews were getting this done, I did my constitutionals, at 6:30AM, walking fro and to, and to and fro, along our thirty car caravan, stationary for now outside the limits of the city airport strip. The new dome hitched in, we were on our way, settled for a ride into the Rockies. We floated along, taking breads, tea, coffee and yogurt, self-served. As we travelled west, intending to veer south for the Rockies when they would come, a few wild horses made their way parallel to us. We registered that the conifers, ... read more