#campsites calgary

[battle-of-alberta]

Updating you guys on our south/central Alberta tour itinerary between June 8-18th ish thus far:

- Okotoks (we hear there’s a number of things there) - Vulcan, possibly Nanton - Dinosaur Provincial Park / Drumheller - Stettler and/or Red Deer

We are still budgeting out campgrounds and whether we risk first come first serve and we’re actually avoiding Calgary much more than usual this time around (sorry Calgary). Still taking suggestions for things to see and do on a fairly low budget, but I expect we are going to do a lot of museums and sketching/painting type things.

We are still debating whether we want to go to Medicine Hat (too many things are closed on the days we would visit) or Lethbridge (Nikka Yuko is open.....!) but they might be a little out of our scope... we can be persuaded though.

[fleurcareil]

Alberta Rockies (1): Canmore and Banff

After saying goodbye to Deborah, I drove out west and soon started to see the first mountains!! 🤩 I read somewhere that out of all landscapes, people are most impressed by mountains and I cannot agree more.. not necessarily for me to live in but certainly to visit!

I had been recommended to do the hike to the Grassi lakes in Canmore as a good intro to the mountains, so up I went together with a few other hundred persons 😜... this was the first time in over the two months I'm on the road that I experienced real busyness, so I was a bit annoyed at first but hey I was there too so couldn't really blame others wanting to do the same 😅.

First view was from a man-made hydro reservoir and there was also a waterfall, but then the two star Grassi lakes showed themselves.. . I must say that initially I was a bit disappointed, is this it? as they're tiny & seemed unassuming at first, but then went I waited until the sun came out I could see those beautiful green colours & agreed that they're stunning. I probably sat on a rock for about an hour waiting until the sun came through, observing the other tourists, rock climbers and even a girl in a fancy dress having a photo shoot 😀. I'm never bored when doing nothing!

As this was a Saturday evening in August in the Rockies 🙃, it was no surprise that I had had trouble finding a place to stay, so I backtracked a bit into the valley to a campground which turned out to be on a First Nations reserve. The evening prior, I had been asked whether I had ever stayed on a reserve so now I could say yes!

Basically being a big grassfield with a porta-potty it was really not much but it had an amazing view and as the reserve is its own nation, I was allowed to have a campfire whereas the rest of the province had a fire ban, bizarre! I would not have done a fire but that night was the height of the Perseides meteor shower, so I gladly enjoyed the warmth while looking for shooting stars... I saw 13 in total! 🤩

Next morning, I headed to the visitor centre in downtown Banff to get ideas on what I could do, and although the village looked pretty I was glad to leave for lake Minnewanka for one of the most glorious paddles I've done to date... blue sky, mountains, crystal clear water & no wind... SUP paradise! 😍❤ I had optimistically put on my bikini but this being my first glacial lake I had not fully understood how absolutely freezing the water is, so that swim didn't happen! 😅

In the afternoon, I drove along the pretty Bow Valley Parkway to set up camp at the Johnston Canyon, whose parking lot was overflowing & mayhem with people, but luckily the campsites were large and quiet.

When I had first been to Banff in 2010, the smoke of fires near Kamloops (speaking of history repeating itself, see my recent update on BC fires) created zero visibility so we fied Banff within a day, not having seen any of the landscape so I was very happy to experience it now with such perfect weather! 😍 Top of my list was taking the Banff Gondola which is apparently the single largest attraction, so I guess I was lucky to get any ticket at all, even at 5:30pm.... once more TONS of people but I didn't let me distract from the marvelous views. I sat again for an hour or so on a bench, watching the world go by while sipping a beer and taking in the scenery 🤗 PS I know everyone loves their children but OMG what a patience parents must have nowadays!?! 😵

After all this beauty, I was completely content to have a simple salad (and the last delicious samosa from Calgary's farmers market), make a crossword & dive into bed early.

Wildlife: NO grizzly bears, black bears, mountain goats or bighorn sheep 🤨 I did see 1 elk & 4 deer

SUPs: one at Banff

Hikes: one at Canmore

[gdmbrwiththerealcrew]

Day 4 - July 2nd

Getting started on a long ride like this requires time, adjustments, and rest. We knew we were not in the best touring shape. We knew we didn’t have enough experience on our bikes when loaded with gear. Travel, in general, can be tough on the body.

Since Ed needed a bike adjustment and we all needed a rest we decided to take some extra time in the morning and shorten our ride in the afternoon. 20 miles instead of 56 seemed reasonable. And it boasted our spirits to think that we might be in camp before 5pm.

Understand that we had a target destination but no idea on nightly accommodations. We believed there was camping but we didn’t have details. Regardless, this is an adventure right! We moved forward.

We left Fernie after lunch and found gravel roads to avoid some tough single track. We didn’t realize that we also shaved about 5 miles off the day and we were happy to discover that later. While the road was generally up and down, we all felt good and we were not fatigued by the effort.

Lovely scenery.

Our destination was Elko, a town of 140 that supposedly had camping. Three or four miles out of town we started to notice more cars on the road and a few potential primitive campsites. As we rolled along, three people walking with towels and backpacks asked if we passed the trailhead for Silver Spring. Within a tenth of a mile there were at least 100 cars parked along the road with more coming in. We learned that there was a big party going on at Silver Spring. If it wasn’t a 1500’ hike with a significant climb we would have gone to check it out.

A mile or so later we dropped across a river and saw a few more primitive campsite in the hills near the water. We passed on those in the hopes of finding better. Elko had nothing.

We rolled out of town to find construction on our route. We stopped at a C-Store that was packed with Silver Spring party goers buying ice and beer. There, we researched camping and found an RV park about 10 miles down the road. Oh well, so much for a short day!

We bombed down a hill, crossed the Elk River, and climbed up the other side. Seconds later we rolled up on a dairy bar with a line of people placing orders. We jumped on line too! What the heck, it was a short day so why not hit all the stops!

David and Jose ordering excellent ice cream.

David with a cone.

After a couple miles of highway we turned off into a gravel road that took us through meadows and lightly forested hills. Generally downhill, we cruised through the miles. The road was quite dusty and any approaching cars weren’t exactly happy to see us. We wondered what camping in a nearby RV park was going to be like.

Nope, we’re not going that way today!

PR RV Park and Campground was near capacity with full time trailers and RVs. There was a shower, laundry, and, unfortunately, an outhouse. They gave us the first space next to the entrance. The camp host made a special point of telling us that they test their water weekly and it met all standards. If he told us twice he told us four times.

Not bad at all!

We were settling in when our neighbors in the next lot came home. Kevin & Shelley had a full time space in the park as did a few of their relatives. They immediately offered us chairs, firewood, and weed. We accepted 2 of the 3. Kevin came back with beers for all of us a few minutes later. He gave us a little of their story and then went back to his place. He’s a truck driver, Shelley is an account for an oil company and does the books for a few companies on the side. She also has a janitorial services company. They come down to the Baynes Lake area from Calgary and spend as much of the summer as they can there. They have a pontoon boat and they go out on Lake Koocanusa to fish for their 15 limit of Kokanee Salmon on a regular basis. It ticks them off that Americans have a 50 limit on the same lake.

Kevin bearing gifts! (And Vladimir Putin in the background).

Oh, and Kevin is a musician. He plays guitar, banjo, and mandolin. He loves to rock out the RV park on special occasions. He was good enough to leave country music playing for us until 10pm.

And a little while later Kevin came back with more beer and more stories. He just met his 67 year old 1/2 brother who his mother had given up for adoption when she was 16. The brother and his wife like their liquor and usually start drinking after their morning coffee. They usually polish off a 40 (1/2 gallon) every day.

Kevin with more gifts.

Regardless, Kevin and Shelley are salt of the earth people. They were generous and engaging. They didn’t hesitate to tell us their story and ask us ours.

After Kevin and Shelley headed down to the relatives to play cards we burned some firewood and hit the sleeping bags by 10:30pm.

All in all, a very good day.

Jerky, dried mango, dried apricots for snack.

Thanks for the firewood Kevin!

Winding down!

Cheers!

Ride stats:

Miles ridden: 31.1

Elevation gain: 1,151 ft

Max elevation: 3,494 ft

Start time: 12:49pm

Moving time: 3:10:09

Elapsed time: 4:52:17

Ave speed: 9.8 mph

[canadasnowbirds]

Choose us to Get best experience in Snowbird RV resorts

With the introduction of Covid-19, more individuals in Canada are turning to nature for its unmatched therapeutic and health advantages. Being surrounded by nature and the trees is beneficial to us all. The same is true for snowbirds. A rise in demand for RV facilities that can meet and accommodate to their unique RV, leisure, and health and wellness demands has resulted from Canada's rising Snowbird community.

Across the nation, new RV park resorts are springing up, with Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario leading the way. Resort builders are taking full advantage of the increase in demand in the industry, and many of them have begun construction on brand-new full-service private RV resorts. Others are upgrading their existing RV parks to draw in more visitors, including the 380,000 Canadian snowbirds who travel to warmer climates in RVs during the winter. This huge, mobile, and somewhat affluent group has several particular requirements, including proximity to restaurants, RV parks with complete amenities, including full electricity and water, close medical services, hospital facilities, and restaurants. A resort developer from Calgary named Pinnacle Lifestyles has made significant investments to turn well-liked, historic campsites into luxurious, distinctive, and hospitality-focused RV parks. offering upmarket services like concierge assistance, bill-to-RV lot services like delivery of camping essentials and wood, as well as other classes of goods that local RVers regularly use. The goal of the business is to improve the Snowbird RV resorts experience. Revelstoke Campground, located in southern British Columbia at the foot of Mount Revelstoke, is the company's newest Snowbird RV Parks .

While being nestled into a fantastic, secluded camping area, in among the woods, just a few miles from town, Revelstoke Campground is well positioned near to all of Revelstoke's neighborhood services and facilities. A large selection of serviced pull-through RV campsites, an outdoor pool, a camp shop, a playground for children, an outdoor adventure center, and a climbing wall are all available at Revelstoke Campground. The helpful staff at the on-site Flexpeditions outdoor adventure center accepts direct reservations for guided kayak, whitewater rafting, and canoe activities. In order to turn the formerly KOA campsite into a full-service resort destination that meets and surpasses campers' expectations as well as Pinnacle Lifestyles' high, contemporary standards, modifications are being made there during 2020.Visit us online at https://www.canadasnowbirds.com/

[battle-of-alberta]

Our campsites (and hotel in Lethbridge) are booked and our itinerary for our June trip is set!

(I think @quatschmachen is shocked i made fan art of a google sheet she made)

(Cal is just grumpy that we are driving straight through Calgary for once)

[quebectoalaska2023]

August 3. Today was an amazing drive. Really no words to describe the scenery. We drove the Icefields Highway from Jasper to Banff. A beautiful clear day to start but unfortunately after 40 miles or so there was a heavy haze of wildfire smoke. We could still see everything but not clearly. We would definitely go back. One part we didn’t like was the end in Banff. We will not return there!! Not our cup of tea. When the gas station convenience store rest room has a bidet and heated toilet seats we know it’s not for us. A little too hoity toity!!

We found a nice campsite in Bow Valley Alberta. We are between Banff and Calgary.

[campizon]

Get Best Camping Services from Us at Affordable Pricing

This campsite for families offers basic, no-service camping in a lovely forest setting along the gorgeous Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A). The campsite, which is just 32 kilometres from Banff, is suited for tent camping or small RVs (up to 24 feet) and is close to surrounding sights including Johnston Canyon and Silverton Falls. A short distance from Banff's centre, Two Jack Lakeside Campground offers unserviced Private RV Resorts and tent camping spots. Showers and flush toilets are available. This magnificent alpine lake, which is genuinely teeming with species, is accessible by canoe, kayak, and swimming.

At this campsite on Elkwater Lake, there are 14 lakefront spaces. The distance from your Private RV Campgrounds to the coast is around 30 steps, and it takes two minutes to get to the sandy beach area. Throughout the summer, a number of food trucks stop by, and you can rent bikes, boats, and other watersports gear. Located 90 minutes west of Edmonton, it has a nature loop walking route, crown land quad trails, spring-fed swimming holes, a cedar sauna, a new games room, a café, a kids' bike park, a sports field, a sand volleyball court, laundry facilities, showers, and bathrooms. Sundance Lodges provides luxurious canvas teepees, cosy trapper tents, and unserviced campsites for glamping and adventure travel. Forested, serene, and convenient to plenty of outdoor activities. between Banff and Calgary.

Cottonwood Cove offers both relaxing and tranquil experiences as well as adventurous vacationers who want to fill their days and evenings with resort excitement. Utilize the many water sport activities that the Shuswap lake lifestyle provides. Amazing houseboating, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, tubing, jet skiing, and swimming on the stunning waterways of the Shuswap. Private RV Parks owners and their visitors are welcome to lounge poolside in the resort's outdoor pool under the sweltering heat. The resort hot tub is a wonderful, relaxing nighttime escape when the day begins to chill down. There are no more private RV lots available in Cottonwood. Opportunities for resort reservations are becoming harder to come by as more individuals seek out a simpler lifestyle. Visit us and reserve a space at Cottonwood Cove RV Resort. For 25 years, Cottonwood has been a popular vacation spot. Visit us online at http://www.campizon.com/

[alphabetsoup-blogposts]

"Campsite"

Spice—MAT (Tampico, Air Mountain, Tifton Henry)

Micas—TPE (Taipei)

Mica Sept (7g or September)

Ice, Amp—TS (Air Transat)

Ice, Amps—T (Toronto)

Caps item

Mist—Cape [Town]

among other things, where Spice is Clockwork Orange, Mica is Microdot, Ice and Cap or Caps are Stone, Amp is No-Doze but Amps are Tens and Mist is Elephant.

But,

"Camp"

Amp—C (eg, Calgary)

C—MAP (MAP Linhas Aéreas, BR)

Cap—M (eg, Montreal)

M—PAC/CAP (Panama City, Cap-Haitien...)

Mac—P (Peterborough, Panama...)

P—CMA (eg CMA CGM)

where M is Mother, Mac is Skid and P is an Australian term for Zip.

[shiftpolh]

Mountain tattoo

#Mountain tattoo full

Located in the beautiful Bow River Valley at the foot of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, the shop is only a half hour from the mountains in the new Embers of Fireside. Having moved to Cochrane in 2019, they were excited to make this small, scenic town their tattoo base after a long career in Calgary. Small Tattoo Ideas – These terrific small tattoos for men are great for adding more charm to a large tattoo or simply placing somewhere smaller.2021 marks ten years in the tattoo industry for Saga and the beginning of Blue Mountain Tattoo with his girlfriend and co-owner Heather Ashley.Take a look at these funny tattoo ideas for inspiration. They are sure to bring a smile to everyone’s faces and make you giggle every time you think of them. Funny Tattoo Ideas – Add some humor with these fun and playful tattoos.Here are 89 of the most inspiring Semicolon Tattoo ideas. The semicolon tattoo is a popular symbol of an internal and silent struggle. Semicolon Tattoo Ideas – Each tattoo is unique and a representation of its wearer’s style, emotions, and life.If you like these mountain view tattoo ideas then you will love these other ideas! Full Wrap: This is so detailed and perfect! Geometric View: So obsessed with this geometric view.ĥ1. Happiness is: This is such a sweet quote!ĥ0.

#Mountain tattoo full

Chest Tattoo: Feeling bold? This chest tattoo is full of adventure!Ĥ7. Star View: A starry lover would adore this mountain view tattoo!Ĥ5. Modern Mountain View: I love this modern mountain tattoo!Ĥ2. Simple Mountains: Looking for something simple? Then you will love this!ģ9. Jeep Mountain View: For all the jeep lovers!ģ8. Mini Mountain Finger Tattoos: Another one of my favorite mini-mountain tattoos!ģ6. Mountain Duo: These mountain duos are perfect for matching tattoos!ģ4. Colorful Diamond Mountain View: Add a little color with this pretty tattoo!ģ3. Mountain Campsite: For all those camping lovers.Ģ9. Circle View: I love the circle view for a mountain tattoo.Ģ8. Floral Wrapped Mountain View: Adding a pretty flower pattern to a mountain view add a fun feminine element.Ģ7. Perfect Coordinates: If you have a favorite mountain spot, or a great memory then adding your coordinates to a mountain view is perfect.Ģ3. Small Moutain View: This small mountain tattoo is perfect for anyone looking for a little fun.Ģ2. Forearm Wrapped Mountains: This forearm mountain is so perfect!Ģ1. Adventure: This is the perfect tattoo for the adventure lover!ġ7. Mountain Bear: I love the way they used the bear as an outline for the mountain view.ġ6. Perfectly Pretty Mountain View: I love the floral around this detailed mountain view.ġ5. Sun Peaking Mountain View: The sun peeking up over these mountains is the perfect tattoo idea!ġ4. Collarbone Mountains: I love the placement of this mountain tattoo!ġ2. Finger Wrapped Mountain View: This finger wrapped mountain view is simple, fun, and so so perfect!ġ0. Mountains full of Trees: I love this mountain view full of trees!ĩ. Reflection: A perfect mountain view reflection.ħ. The Climber: This tattoo is perfect for the avid mountain climber.Ħ. Geometric Mountain Tattoo: This geometric tattoo idea is so fun and such a cool new take on a mountain view.ĥ. Wrist Wrapped Mountain View: I love this cool wrist wrapped mountain tattoo!Ĥ. Good for your Soul Mountain Tattoo Ideasģ. If you’re someone who puts a lot of thought behind your ink, think about how a mountain might represent the obstacles you’ve overcome in your life, or the deep relationship you have with nature. We also climb metaphorical mountains when the hum-drum ceases to be so banal, and instead throws adversity our way.Ī mountain tattoo can be fraught with personal meaning. We climb mountains to get away from the hum-drum of every day life. Mountains have long been a visual used in literature to illustrate the strength, consistency, or pure tenacity of someone or something. John Muir once wrote, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” A mountain tattoo is the perfect choice for someone who wants to always carry the majesty and calm of nature with them. What Is The Meaning of a Mountain Tattoo? The mountains not only make for a great week end escape, but also a beautiful statement tattoo! Whether you’re looking from something minimalist and dainty, or a design as monolithic as Pike’s Peak, we’ve got you covered. Some of us, however, find it in the mountains. There are those of us who find comfort in a cobblestone street or a city skyline. Inside: 51 Good for you Soul Mountain Tattoo Ideas. Home » Nature tattoos » 51 Mountain Tattoo Ideas That Are As Good As Fresh Air Nature tattoos 51 Mountain Tattoo Ideas That Are As Good As Fresh Air

[fleurcareil]

West Ontario: Thunder Bay and Kenora

It feels like ages ago that I left Sleeping Giant as I'm currently in Calgary, three provinces further west 😅 but been busy traveling with very little internet access, so will aim to catch up by writing shorter posts! 🤞

On the way to Thunder Bay I visited the Terry Fox memorial - for non-Canadians, he was a young man who ran a "marathon of hope" to raise awareness for cancer; having started in St John's in Newfoundland, he ran 3,339 miles across Canada close to here, where he had to stop as his cancer returned & he died shortly afterwards. Supporting Terry Fox runs by friends were the first donations that I made in Canada (I must admit I never ran myself) and he has rightly so turned into an inspiration for many. The memorial serves both as a reminder that our health is the very first thing we should take care of, and as a motivation to never give up on life... ❤

In Thunder Bay I did the usual errands plus an unsatisfactory visit to a BMO bank branch, where I had hoped they would reinstate my credit card after a suspicious activity... however, they only could send a new card to my friends in Dundas (where I'll be back end September 🤔) so that stressed me out but luckily with the help of great friends 😍, I received the replacement card this morning in Calgary so I can now worriless continue spending 😝.

Half an hour west from Thunder Bay I breaked for lunch at the Kakabeka Falls, the so-called "Niagara Falls of the North"... although pretty (& in a more natural setting than Niagara Falls), the comparison doesn't really hold true 🤣

After that it was a 2hr+ drive to the little village of Ignace where I stayed in a lovely inn on a lake, run by a couple that used to live in Toronto but had moved here during the pandemic in search for a quieter life (which it certainly is with its 1,200p population!) .

Along the drive, the trees were still the same boreal forest (which I probably will never want to see again after this roadtrip 😁) and it was grey and boring so couldn't wait to stop for the day... the only interesting thing is that I changed another hour back in time, similar to Labrador not at a provincial border but just randomly somewhere 😅. Meant I had an extra hour to sit with my legs up!

Next day, I made the last 3-hour push to arrive in Kenora, the most westerly town in Ontario and famous for being on the massive Lake of the Woods. The roads were much busier here with several links to the US border, and suddenly it became agricultural with rolling fields west of Dryden, a change from the forever-forest!

In the evening, the lake at my campsite at Rushing River provincial park became dead still and massive clouds turned pink when the sun set... pretty! 😍 As a really great plus, there were no longer flies and very few mosquitos which makes being outside so much nicer. As a really big negative, there was a snake that came my way when I was sitting at the picknick table chatting with a friend. After booing it away, I researched Ontario snakes and although the common eastern gartersnake is not poisonous and doesn't normally attack, I was less than pleased when it showed up next to me again! 😵

In the morning, the water was still very calm so had a beautiful paddle before breakfast. I never cease to be happy when I'm on the water!! 🤩

Thereafter, I drove into town for a boat tour on the MS Kenora along tons of islands, rich houses, "devil gaps", spiritual rocks as well as 6 bald eagles. It was pretty but very hazy due to the smoke so then everything turns into the same gray-yellow hue... 🤨

After visiting an art gallery dedicated to a local painter and an interesting exhibit on the 150th anniversary of Indigenous Treaty #3 - " which will last as long as the sun will shine and the water runs, that is to say forever", it was patio time for a drink & snack with view on the lake! ☀️ Back at the campground, it was so sticky hot that I went for another little paddle to the beach and a refreshing swim 🤓

There was too much wind in the morning for another paddle so spent some time cleaning out and repacking the car, throwing away any items that I hadn't used for the last two months, no point in keeping those!

Although it was a great spot on the water, the campsite was a walk-in on a slope so I ended up hating it going up & down endlessly to my car... mental note never to book that again!

Before heading out, I did a small hike along the namesake rapids that the park was created for, but it was hot & humid so not enjoyable.

Time to say goodbye to Onario and off to Manitoba!

Wildlife: 1 deer (Dryden), 1 common eastern gartersnake (twice!), 6 bald eagles and 1 loud flying loon (Rushing River/Kenora)

SUPs: two at Rushing River

Hikes: one at Rushing River

[gdmbrwiththerealcrew]

Day 3 - July 1st (Canada Day)

Yes, I’ll say it again, last night’s campsite was the worst ever. When we got up, the five of us (including Natasha) decided to go for breakfast at Mel’s instead of cooking in camp. When we got there we learned that it was closed but that the Lions were holding a pancake breakfast at the community center. Sure enough, when we found the community we were able to enjoy some local hospitality for a good cause, whatever it may have been. By the time we left breakfast, we already had 5 ride miles logged.

The route out of Elkford started with a 1000 foot climb on pavement over 3 miles that took us north of town. At the top we turned onto a gravel road that was soon rutted with 4 wheel drive tracks and mud puddles. About 10 miles in, we looked into the valley below to see Elkford. We had gone north only to pass Elkford again as we came south and it took us about two hours to get there. That mountain road continued through high meadows with lovely mountain views. Fortunately it was taking us downhill.

Since it was Saturday and Canada Day we got to see how the locals enjoy the mountains. Let me tell you, it was on bicycles. Our first encounter was with a half dozen 4-wheel drive trucks and jeeps speeding their way higher into the mountains. Our second was with a couple trail motorcycles. Everyone slowed as was necessary but probably would have been more happy if they didn’t have to.

Somewhere along the way.

Eventually we reconnected with the Elk River Trail. This time it was a few miles of flowy single track. Fortunately not technical but definitely up and down. We popped off that and onto some secondary roads into Sparwood. As we approached town we could see the coal mining operation that was reducing a nearby mountain to 1/2 its size. The coal was hauled away by train, one of which we saw rolling by but never saw its first or last cars even after watching for 5 minutes.

You’re looking at a coal mine. Zoom in to see current operations. To the left of that is previous operations.

In Sparwood we checked out the worlds largest truck (a monument to big coal) in the center of town. That gave us a chance to have lunch and just sit in the shade on a patch of grass for an hour or so.

Big truck! Used to move coal.

After we left Sparwood we ended up on a stretch of gravel road that was so rocky it was like riding on the cobbles in France. Again, bone jarring. It required all of our concentration to stay upright.

Steep AND rocky!

Later we found some smooth gravel then some double track that required a little hike-a-bike. Back on smooth gravel we found the road’s end at some railroad tracks. We had to carry our bikes over the tracks to get on pavement for the final miles into Fernie.

Busy tracks!

Throughout the last few hours of the day we were hammered by a constant headwind. It both slowed our progress and drained our spirits.

Insane winds.

Finally at our hostel for the evening, we quickly ordered beers and sat out on the porch overlooking the street and the mountains beyond. Two women were there and, naturally, we sparked up a conversation. They were in town from Calgary to see a band they liked, Daring Greatly. They didn’t have tickets so they needed to get to the club early for the 10pm show. They were already 3 drinks into their evening at 5pm so it was going to be interesting to hear their reviews on the show. It turned out they didn’t make it to the 5th song.

Beers upon arrival.

We, on the other hand, filled our afternoon with laundry and a good meal downtown. Upon returning to the hostel we met an attractive young couple that said they had just moved into the area. They were quick to invite us into the bar for shots. However, they just gave off a grifter vibe and we all thought better of their offer. Our bunk beds without AC were the better choice.

Downtown Fernie

Couple observations from the day: First, it may look easy on paper but… today was our toughest day mentally and physically. Jet lag, lack of sleep, head winds, rough terrain all made it difficult. Second, sometimes people give off a vibe and you know there’s an agenda. Follow you gut and avoid a situation.

Cheers!

Ride stats:

Miles ridden: 49.53

Elevation gain: 2,027 ft

Max elevation: 5,075 ft

Start time: 8:07am

Moving time: 5:21:05

Elapsed time: 8:04:46

Ave speed: 9.2 mph

[ellewritenow]

[stoneycampgrounds-blog]

The Way to Receive the Optimal/optimally Camp-site Feasible For the Loved Ones

Selecting an ideal softball is quite valuable for your own camping expertise. In the event you place camp up while in the inappropriate site your whole trip may turnout to be much about survival compared to comfort and linking with these weather. Planning is equally essential to your camper along with the newcomer alike if picking the gazebo and also a camp site.

 Measure 1:

 Does your own homework. You'll find a lot of on-line resources that let one to achieve that. Establish exactly what type you prefer to keep at. C-all Kananaskis campgrounds and have concerns. Assess costs, location and amenities. Various households have various requirements and requirements. Can you would like your website in order to be near bathroom amenities, drinking water centers and swimming pool, and so forth? Might it be near to your drinking water source which brings a great deal of insects? What's the wi fi relationship? Could there be actually a wi fi relationship? Is there any plenty of bushes? Have you been an hazard or another sort of creature? What diversion can be found? Would be your manicured neighbors silent? Might it be feasible to shift location in the event that you aren't joyful or your own demands aren't achieved? What size is your website? It's better to produce a set of queries, preferences and needs. Read notes also permit time for you to select which campground would be your most appropriate for you.

 Measure Two:

 early bird receives the optimal/optimally camp site. Reserve your own internet site early. As ancient as achievable. Campgrounds may refill pretty quickly, especially within the summertime. Advanced level bookings which can be manufactured as soon as you will probably give you an benefit to having the optimal/optimally site potential. If you're camping throughout winter , a sluggish year or also the campground is still really on a first come first serve basis simply take a stroll throughout the campground, then picking out the good thing that talks for your requirements loudest. Even better, create it a game for your own family members. Children really like to go involved and help .

 Measure 3:

 Arrive early. Even when you get a booked distance that you ought to earn certain you access for your website since you possibly can. In case your internet site ends up may perhaps not be precisely that which you anticipate many luxuries make it possible for one to locate a camp site that's ideal fitted to the own needs provided that they're still empty. In the event you access into a internet site overdue then you will possibly perhaps not possess this alternative. Additionally it's a great notion to prepare camp and receive yourself a wonderful sense of the own surroundings. Consistently require the campground sponsor if there's just a in depth map of this campground readily available.

 Final Notes & Guidelines:

 You are certain to receive good in selecting the optimal/optimally camping web page for time. Exercise and expertise may provide you a exclusive seasoning which it only suitable for your family members.

 Respect wild life and also cure your hosts using gratitude and honor. Never alter your own campsite by detatching any type of vegetation, plants or rocks.

 For those who are in possession of a huge set you may desire to look at friends , should they're readily available. You might constantly make new bookings for longer this you camp site directly close together and on occasion maybe the full location.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

You'll be able to legally drink beer in all of Alberta's provincial parks this May long weekend, Premier Jason Kenney announced Thursday — but only in your campsite.

"Today is the beginning of the end of the war on fun," Kenney said in Calgary.

The premier says he will lift bans on liquor consumption in eight parks where restrictions have been in place:

Aspen Beach. Miquelon Lake. Garner Lake. Dillberry Lake. Pigeon Lake. Whitney Lakes. Jarvis Bay. Wabamun.

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[eyesopen2019]

On the road again.....

We picked up our 30ft, 6 bed RV in Calgary on April 25th.  The kids were all excited to check it out and there were the usual arguments about who was sleeping where, which was eventually resolved by myself.  After stocking it up with our Costco shopping and treats from Anh we set out for Jasper.  It was difficult to say goodbye to everyone and I know we will all miss you. We drove the 420kms past Banff and Lake Louise onto the Columbia Icefields.  With mountains in all directions and for as far as you can see the scenery in this area is breathtaking and we really enjoyed the drive.  It seemed that around every corner was more beautiful than the last.  I don’t think I could ever get sick of seeing the snow topped mountains all around me like that.  The trip took us about 5 and a half hours and by the end we were all pretty tired.  We arrived late and found a RV campsite just out of town in the Jasper National park which was basic but had great showers and was close to town.  I’d premade a dinner of spaghetti bolognaise in Calgary and it was quickly gobbled down by all.  The next day we spent the morning checking out town and visiting the tourist office. With so many things to do in Jasper, especially hiking, it was difficult to decide what to do.  That afternoon we drove out to Maligne Lake which was mostly frozen over still.  We had a walk around and the kids all enjoyed the snow.  The area felt pretty isolated and was very quiet and we were all a bit freaked out by the possibility of seeing a bear.  The kids all were making a fair bit of noise so I was hopeful that was going to be enough to keep them away.  Hung bought along the bear spray which Tu had given us.  There was some discussion about how to use it and Hung admitted he had no idea.  Aiden got hold of it and had a good look and figured out how to use it if needed.  He did wonder if after pulling off the safety latch do we spray it or throw it, like a grenade…….We didn’t see a bear while out walking but we were lucky enough to see one only a few kilometres from town on the way home.  We stopped the RV and watched it from the car until it disappeared up a hill.  It was awesome to see a black bear in the wild like that.  We also saw deer and caribou by the side of the road and in the river.  

We had planned the next day to go on the Columbia Icefields Adventure Tour and Skywalk but luckily I was unable to prebook tickets because it was sold out, as we woke to a snow blizzard and freezing temperatures.  We drove (carefully) to see if we could visit hot spring nearby but got most of the way there and found the road still closed for the winter.  We stopped at a park by the side of the road and made lunch and hot chocolates.  I went for a little walk with Leon and Lani with the snow falling all around and covering the ground which was lovely.  We weren’t really dressed for the snow and quickly felt the cold, with Leon commenting that it ‘was colder than it looked in the movies’.

That night Aiden and Leon went to see Endgame in 3D while Kai and I went to Tim Horton’s to have coffee and use their free wifi.  Hung and Lani had dinner in the RV in the parking lot outside the movie and were both asleep when I came back.  It’s great to have a mobile kitchen/dining room/bedroom with you wherever you go. With a gas fuelled heater it is also really warm and cosy inside.  In Jasper, Aiden bought a HelloKitty belt made to look like an airline seat belt which was pretty cool.

 The next day we woke to a beautiful sunny day with clear blue skies.  We drove the 90mins to Columbia Icefields along the parkway again. Initially I was a bit annoyed we hadn’t realised the skywalk was so far away and we had to backtrack to get to it. This quickly disappeared as I enjoyed the drive back again so much as it was so different in the opposite direction. On the tour we were driven out onto the Athabasca Glacier with our kiwi tour guide imparting lots of interesting facts and knowledge to us.  We were able to walk on the glacier and see several other glaciers all around us.  It felt really special to be able to access this area and learn about its formation and development.  Hung was most interested to find out the trees, which would have been only 4-6m tall, in the area are 280-400 years old as they have a very short growing time of only 6 weeks a year due to the weather.  We were taken out to the Glacier Skywalk which is a glass floored walkway suspended 280m over the Sunwapta Valley floor.  The kids enjoyed trying to scare Hung as he walked out onto the walkway and eventually we all made it around.  We thought about Aunty Cuc and how she would cope!

At the end of the glacier tour we cooked our late lunch/dinner in the RV before setting out on the road.  We didn’t really know where we were going to stop.  We drove a couple of hours and stopped at Valemount for the night.  We hadn’t quite decided which route we were going to take to Vancouver, either through Kamloops and stopping in Salmon Arm or trying to see Whistler also.  After visiting the tourist centre in Valemount we decided to take the scenic route to Whistler then onto Vancouver.  We drove much of that day towards Clearwater….

[don-lichterman]

Homeless in Canmore: Living rough and fighting off wildlife

Homeless in Canmore: Living rough and fighting off wildlife

Cody says it’s been three months since he set up camp and started sleeping in the woods in Canmore, the mountain town about 100 kilometres west of Calgary. His unsanctioned, illegal campsite includes a couple of wooden pallets that form the base of his outdoor bed in the dense woods not far from Main Street. It sits next to a towering tree, underneath several large branches. There’s a thin piece…