May 20, 2012 - Big Timber, Mt. to Leathbridge, AB. (May 18)

Update for Friday May 18. The drive from Big Timber, Mt. to Lethbridge, Ab. Canada was good day. We took a cutoff on a two lane highway for 160 miles in Montana which saved us about 50 to 80 miles. We hit a high spot in a mountain range and stopped at the top. While Joanna was putting her coat on I found some snow and threw a snowball at her when she got out of the camper. She said I have to sleep sometime! Oh! Oh! We stayed overnigt at a Walmart in Lethbridge. Also bought a new GPS because I cound't reload the software update I have to...

May 11, 2012 - Rocky Mountains and Customs

Our day got off to an early start, we had a 7:45 appointment to have the motorhome serviced. While that was being done we went across the street and had breakfast at a casino. Great Falls is like most cities out here, there is a casino on just about every corner and almost every restaurant is connected to a casino. We gassed up and then went back to the campground and got the LP tank filled and got on the road at 10:15. Our constant companion on this leg of the trip was the glorious Rocky Mountains. They loomed on the western horizon,...

May 8, 2012 - Lethbridge, AB

Tue, 08 May: Canada here we come! No reason to tarry any longer in "lovely" Shelby. we outta heah... We got things ready and went through our checklist. Waste tanks dumped and fresh water tank filled. Bob drove Carpe across the street to the Cenex outlet where we bought 11.8 gallons of propane. Dinkum got hooked up and we were underway at 0915. We joined I 15 north for the 35 mile drive to the U.S./Canada border at Sweetgrass, MT and Coutts, AB. There was only one lane open and about seven non-commercial vehicles in line ahead of us. Once...

Oct 22, 2011 - Lethbridge Canada

Left Helena Saturday morning 22nd of October and intended to get to Calgary Alberta Canada.. Everyone very excited to be crossing the border today... Made it over the border very easily with the usual questions at the border.. Are we carrying weapons, $10k in cash or more.. What were our plans in Canada.. Usual questions.. The border officer thought it strange that a family would be traveling into Canada this time of year especially from Florida... After we explained.. He wished us a safe journey and we were on our way.. Or so we thought......

Jul 7, 2011 - Great Falls, Mt to Granum, Alberta, Canada

Left Great Falls, MT early morning. We saw eagles, antelope, 3 pheasants and a fox along the way. We had an easy entry into Canada. We were at the campground early afternoon. We had a nice spot overlooking a small lake. We headed outside and I promptly fell down the steps after turning my right ankle. I fell on my left side and arm. I had a couple of big knots on my arm and a swollen ankle for a few days. All is much better now (7/15). Jim installed a new bathroom faucet because the original one had started leaking a couple of days...

May 18, 2011 - Areas around Lethbridge

Today we made a little trip around the countryside. First we stopped at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. It is a 1000 ft. cliff where the Indians of the Plains drove the Buffalo off a cliff to their death and then butchered them to keep their people supplied in meat and hides for the winter. Then we drove to Waterton Park which is part of the Glacier Natl Pk. You can cross the border in this park also. But we did not go all the way to the border. Next we visited Cardston and went thru the Musuem of the old carriages. It was the best one we...

May 15, 2011 - Crossed the Border

Left Great Falls this morning after paying bills online and eating a good breakfast. Marvin cooked eggs, bacon, home fries, coffee & juice. Used up all the eggs, thawed out bacon, and potatoes left from last night. I made a meat loaf which used up the sausage and unmarked ground beef. Also, cooked up the carrots and asparagus. Made a salad and only had three tomatoes, some celery and a few onions. Guess what? They didn't even ask or inspect the coach for that stuff. We were lucky today! Didn't even ask if I had any house plants--so still...

May 14, 2011 - Lethbridge, Alberta

May 12, 2011 We had a good night at the rest area--very restful. There was one tractor trailer rig who kept us company. One other rig came in during the wee hours. The border crossing went smoothly. There was a very long line of semis, but only a few in the other lane. We waited maybe 10 minutes and then had our three minutes with the border agent. She asked a few questions, most of which we anticipated--where are you from, where are you going, how long are you staying, what’s your purpose for being in Canada. They always ask about tobacco,...

Nov 2, 2010 - Lethbridge, Alberta

Today Laura and I drove all day today, without incident, to Lethbridge, which is a city in southern Alberta near the USA border. Will be here for three nights before heading further south. Saw lots of geese going south also. (Photo of Laura taken at Slave Lake, not today. All the green in the background is gone now.)

Sep 26, 2010 - Homeward Bound

One last English breakfast and then I packed my bags, said goodbye to Paul and his great family, and took my last drive on the wrong side of the road. There was a lot of turbulance on the flight home, which was a bit unnerving. Somewhere over Hudson Bay I got a cold. My 56th birthday was 30 hours long. I am now home and up early after 8 hours sleep. It was a great trip. I learned I am fit enough and smart enough to compete with sailors my age from around the world. I have new friendships with other people who share my small-boat sailing...

Sep 22, 2010 - Day 70 - Balzac, AB to Lethbridge, AB

Today is still cloudy to partly cloudy, with no sign of rain or snow. The roads are fairly well paved and the traveling is pretty smooth. Today is a short trip to Lethbridge, AB, our last stop in Canada before entering the lower 48 in Montana. Eddi’s doing pretty good driving the coach, although she likes to complain about two lane roads and campground roads. The terrain has been fairly flat since we are now east of the Canadian Rockies. A lot of farms and pastures. We passed towns with names of: Calgary, Okotoks, High River, Nanton,...

Sep 18, 2010 - The breadbasket of Canada

Date: September 18, 2010 Tonight’s Location: Lethbridge, AB Mileage: End - 55027 Start - 54689 Total Miles for the day: 338 Weather: started sunny, ended cloudy, a brisk wind Temperature: start 29º High 44º (only hit 44 for a few minutes, most of the day, 41°) Wildlife count: geese, domestic elk, red-tailed hawk The drive today was through wheat and canola fields. We knew the wheat field, but were mystified by the canola. However, with a little research, here is what we now know. Canola, which is the producer of canola oil, grows as a...