Summer, finally

We came out of the mountains into rolling hills and then onto the plains.  The clouds got left behind with the tall peaks.  Sun and warm temperatures welcomed us with open arms.  So did the bugs.  Very enthusiastically.  They could see my pale, and finally uncovered, skin for miles.

Now that we were in Alberta, we were obviously in farming territory, as the cattle and the fields stretched for miles from the highway.





We spent Canada Day in a small place attached to an amusement park. It was full of kids and bugs and surrounded by open fields. Unlike the Americans who have their flags fluttering over many of their motor homes and trailers, regardless of the time of year, we were the only ones to fly the Canadian flag at this park. We kept it up for the full time we were there, the only celebration of Canada Day we were given. Because of the proximity to a small airport, no fireworks were allowed to be set off in the park.




Although we never found a stetson that we liked in Texas, hubby saw a cowboy hat here in Calgary that was perfect.  It even matched his bermuda shirt!

We visited Calgary during pre-Stampede week. It is a very walkable place, with statues and sculptures placed all around the downtown.  And it was fun to watch the Stampede preparations going on. They were putting up rustic pine fencing and bales of hay around the numerous outdoor pubs and cafes. It would have been an experience to stay for the main event, but with 1.2 million people expected to attend, we didn't think they'd miss two.

Our next stop-over was up by Edmonton, picked so that we could visit old friends that had been so far away when we were chained to a house and job, but accessible now that we are on wheels. It's always great to catch up.

Our daughter drove up to spend several days with us. She and her daddy paddled the North Saskatchewan River that flows past the campground. It was no hardship for me to run into Edmonton to pick them up at the other end of the one-way trip, but it was a little confusing. Very few streets in that city go right down to the river. And when the paddlers landed they really had no idea where they were. Asking questions of the locals got one misleading direction and had me parking at the wrong spot. But we connected in the end and an enjoyable day was had by all.

The last place we stayed in Alberta was called Ol' MacDonald's. It was kid heaven. The friends we were visiting had children and it was a perfect spot for them. There is a beach, a shallow lake for wading, a petting zoo, several playgrounds, hayrides, and a kiddie train.  We only stayed 3 nights, and the weather was hot and sunny the whole time.

Then it was back on the road again, heading towards Saskatchewan. Towards flat lands and straight roads.  Towards small towns that you can see coming long before you even get close to them. Towards the open fields of green and brilliant yellow canola punctuated by oil rigs.

Also towards road construction.  If we had known they were filling the road cracks with fresh tar on our route, we would have gone a different way. Despite the mud flaps on the truck, our trailer got splattered and the hubby got upset.

We stopped at the Buffalo Rock on our way.  This is a huge rock that attracted the attention of the buffalo herds back in the day. They would walk around and around, rubbing their itchy hides on it, creating a depression in the ground that it sits on and rubbing the rock smooth in spots.  Just one of the fascinating bits of trivia we come across while we are travelling.





So now we are parked on the curb in front of our daughter's house. The plan had been to park in her driveway, but renovations being done next door has prevented that, so, for the moment, we are kicked to the curb.

It's a comfortable spot, on a wide avenue in a quiet part of town. A place to be out of the mosquitoes that terrorize this area.  Ahhh, summer.

W