Sunday, July 4th, 2010
START: Banff, AB - 11:00 a.m.
STOP: Canyon Hot Springs Resort, Canyon Hot Springs, BC - 3:00 p.m.
WEATHER: Cold and rainy almost all day with a few rude, misleading moments of blue skies and sunshine
After contemplating robbing the fully stocked outhouse at the overflow campground of their toilet paper, as it was RV friendly, we decided not to leave the rest of the campers without and headed back downtown Banff to re-fuel and find the skateboard Mike had been eye-balling the day before. So while waiting for Mike and Dad to come back from their 30-block walk (Steph: "I swear it's not that far from the gas station!" WHOOPS! Sawrry.) Mom stocked up on "groceries" at the Husky while I did nothing useful whatsoever.
Luckily, there was a multitude of construction happening on our route that slowed us down just enough to snap some pictures of that beautiful, big-horned bastard (t'is an elk) above, who didn't seem put off by the commotion whatsoever. After that, we hit the B.C. border around 1 p.m. and took our time stopping to see whatever sights we could make out through the rain and clouds, while Mom brewed up some tea for everyone - "Who needs Tim Hortons, anyway?" (They're hard to come by 'round these parts.) After tea time, she regaled us with tales of when she "used to be a griz whisperer." "Sure thing, Mom." "I was. You don't know me!"
We encountered some precarious mountain roads heading toward Golden, B.C. and more "dickheads" than one could shake a stick at. People apparently get their cheap thrills around here by passing at the very last second even when heading towards an oncoming Beula and then squeezing back in whether there's room or not and forcing someone else onto the shoulder. One "dickhead" in particular almost smashed into us from behind trying to pass on the right, which sent Dad into a blind rage because we all would've been sent careening off the mountain's edge. He kept his eyes peeled for him at every rest stop so he could pull over and give him the ol' one-two, but he escaped our clutches.
Around 3 p.m. we crossed into Pacific Time, which bought us yet another hour, putting us officially three ahead of you noobs at home. Just after making it through all the mountain tunnels in Rogers Pass, we hit Canyon Springs, B.C. and pulled into the first RV park we saw. Turned out to be the most expensive one yet, but you couldn't beat the view and it was nice to finally be in a legitimate campsite for a change.
After trying to hike up Mom's cargo pants (which are the same colour as his shorts) the other day ("Why are these so small? ... Are these mine?"), Mike pulled on Dad's swim trunks like it was nobody's business and declared, "The shorts you bought me are way too big, but I tied them tight." Mom: "Yeah, that's Dad's bathing suit." He'll get it right some day, hahaha. Bless. So while Dad napped, Mom, Mike, and I decided to go check out the "mineral pools" which appeared to be nothing more than a swimming pool and hot tub, but I'll take their word for it. They were outside and showcased a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains, so all in all, not a bad way to end a night.
Tomorrow we hunt down a laundromat.
Letting the good times roll,
Rogers Pass! Your mom and I stayed in a hotel there, took a dipp in the pool and watched people ski down the mountain. That is when she was stalking your dad and we went out together..LOL, we had so much fun laughing our heads off. Wish the weather was better for you!
ReplyDeleteYes, Dar, I was looking for that pool on the way through Rogers Pass, I remember that well and have pictures of us in that pool. I wasn't stalking Darcy then though, we were a couple. haha The weather is great now, hot and sunny and supposed to be in the 30's in Vancouver which is where we are going tomorrow for a few days. We have reservations there for 3 nights, maybe more. We are going to go to the island as well to visit my aunt in Chemainus, a beautiful little town with murals everywhere....I was there with Ruth and the kids in 1997.
ReplyDeleteJudy,that sounds amazing! You are a lucky girl, what a life, you deserve it. I think that hotel checked into was like a chalet, A frame kind of place. We laughed so hard on that trip, much to Audrey's annoyance! I was teasing about Dacy!..lol
ReplyDeleteu missed the "enchanted forest"!! ahahah
ReplyDeletea blind rage is putting it mildly. picture this, we approach a passing lane so I move over to let some cars pass me. two cars go by, and a third dude farther back is speeding up to do the same. All of a sudden dickhead #114 makes his appearance by trying to pass car # 3 on the right because he figures he is not moving fast enough. I was doing doing 90, so car #3 was doing 120?, anyway #114 floors it (140-150?) trying to overtake #3 before he slams into the back of me. Car #3 is not cutting dickhead #114 any slack and they are both racing toward me. I am now watching my mirror more than the road. I see the rhubarb coming so I pull over as far right as I can. Dickhead #114 now has no choice but to keep going as he has committed himself as he reached the point of no return so he cuts over at the last second missing us by about three feet. I lean on the horn shaking the ol fist. Had he hit us he would have send us over the edge of a large drop off probably killing us all. He is extremely lucky I did not find him up the road as he would have been on his way to the dentist via an ambulance for dental reconstruction surgery!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOME PEOPLE!! GEEEEZ1
ReplyDelete