Lyn Chrystal - Medicine Hat to Jasper

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BE SURE TO SCAN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE TO SEE MORE PICTURES.

Solos Betty Ogden, Sybil Burke, Gary Maurina and Allan Wiedel arrived in Medicine Hat, Alberta on Wednesday, June 7th and parked in Cottonwood Golf Course and Campground, which is where I have been parked for the past three weeks. Thankfully they brought some good weather with them and we were able to sit outside relaxing and catching up on everyone’s activities since we were last together and their trip thus far. On Thursday we took a touristy trip around Medicine Hat during the day and enjoyed a BBQ hosted by my daughter and son-in-law for dinner.

We left Medicine Hat bright and early on Saturday morning, stopping at the Canada Winter Olympic Park north of Calgary for lunch. Calgarians really enjoy the park year around; all the winter sporting activities are available during the winter, the ski hills are utilized as BMX (or mountain) bike runs during the summer, and the ski jump used for a giant zip-line. There are also a couple of bungey jumping trampolines set up for the kids.

Our first overnight was about 250 miles north of Medicine Hat at the Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino about 30 miles south of Banff. The next morning we heard from Ted Applegate that he was in Lethbridge and would arrive at Stoney Nakoda the next day (Monday) so we decided to stay an extra day and make a trip into Banff on Sunday and to Lake Louise on Monday. The Chateau Lake Louise is one of the premier hotels in which to stay in Western Canada; it was a great pity that the weather was so uncooperative.

Ted arrived safe 'n sound while we were in Lake Louise. We celebrated by going to the casino for a great supper and to watch the next play-off game in the Stanley Cup, (well, some of us!) We left Banff bathed in beautiful sunshine for the trip up to Snarling River Campground, east of Jasper. I have always thought that the Columbia Icefields Parkway is the most stirring experience anyone can have. The scenery is beyond verbal expression.

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Photos

Medicine Hat City Hall
This photo was taken in MH City Hall. The mural was created by Jim Marshall at the I.XL brick plant in Medicine Hat. Each brick was hand made and the mural depicts the mythical origin of Medicine Hat's name.

BBQ
We enjoyed a hamburger barbecue with my daughter Jayne, her husband, Kevin and three of the five teenage daughters that live here

Olympic Park
Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate enough that we could have a picnic lunch

Solos at Stoney Nakoda
We were able to park quite comfortably together to await the arrival of Ted Applegate

Banff
It was quite cool the day we went to Banff but no rain!

Lake Louise
Lake Louise was named for one of Queen Victoria's daughters. Unfortunately, the weather didn't show her off in her true spendor

Shopping
The exclusive stores inside the chateau were unbelievable. Sybil would've liked to take this home!

Bronze
I would've liked to take this one home! Unfortunately, I don't have room for him in my rig.

Black Bear
We were lucky enough to see this sizeable black bear up close

Black Bear
Betty and Sybil got as close as they were comfortable

Crowfoot Glacier
The lake in the front of the glacier was still frozen the day we were there

Columbia Icefields
Betty, Sybil and myself left Banff later than the guys did, we were able to get up to the Icefields Interpretive Center for lunch. Here is Betty with the Athabasca Glacier at her back

Jasper
We stayed the night in a Provincial Park just outside Jasper, the sites were somewhat tight but we made it. We left there in beautiful morning sunshine for our trip up to Grande Prairie.

Comments

[ida tompkins]

Thanks for the pictures and update . Good to hear about all of you, will write more later.

[Dottie Brunner]

Looks like fun
Hope this trip is everything you guys wanted. I can't wait till we all get together again and can hear in person about the adventure. Kym (Jerry's daughter) has returned to Juneau and is expecting to show you around when you get there. Once the "true north" gets in your blood you will be returning. Hugs to all,