VACATION NOTES

[patable2010]

PART THREE

Okay, let's try this again...

I woke up earlier than I wanted Sunday and alarmed by the clouds talked Leofwyna into getting up and loading early to avoid wet packing.  Turned out I was an alarmist but it got us on the road to Banff in good time.   We stopped again for ice and fruit and studied the maps.  Found our best route took us past the event site so stopped back in for further good-byes and hugs all 'round.  They hug good in Montegarde, too. 

Made it to our campground at Kanaskas (selected because they advertised enforced quiet hours) and previewed our assigned campsite which was right across the road from a big military bivouac.  Having mental reservations regarding revele and early morning forced marches we headed back to the office and was pleased to be given a list of available campsites to look over.  After driving the loop a couple times looking these over, pros and cons, we selected our best choice... big level area for the tent, well off the road but still able to back the van well in towards the tent.  An excellent choice.  Also turned out the military bivouac was quiet as well.  After setting up the tent we headed into town for supplies, planning campfire suppers.  Peregrine, lady moose  Back in camp Leofwyna built a campfire and prepared smoked turkey stuffed pasta with pesto sauce and grilled zucchini while I sorted and 'furnished' the tent.  We finished the evening with S'Mores over the campfire.

Monday after a cold night (should have packed more wool blankets) we hit the HOT showers (Wonderful hot showers!!) and headed up into Banff where we took the Bow Valley Parkway.  We saw lots of beautiful scenery and wildlife.  Back in town at the end of the day we located a resale shop where, joy of joys, we found two wool blankets.  Bank in camp between heavy rain showers I managed a big campfire while Leofwyna prepared foil-pocket potatoes and carrots and grilled salmon steaks with dill.  Cooking was completed and the meal whisked into the tent as the next rain began pelting down.  Leofwyna added a couple logs to the fire as she came and that kept burning for the next hour; I would never have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself.  Later Leofwyna went out in the rain and toasted marshmallows over that fire and put things away in the van for the night.  Blessings on her as I was able to stay dry in the tent beefing up my bed with the 'new' wool blankets. 

Tuesday morning it was raining again and again.  I had slept much warmer, thank you very much!  We finally got up and by the time we'd dressed and packed up inside the tent the rain stopped long enough for us to load up.  Wet tent, blech!  Needless to say, we didn't bother setting up the back for sleeping this time.  The hot showers were appreciated though and we were checked out in time and on the road back to Montana.  We did manage to get into Great Falls early enough to visit with Jodi a bit before heading to bed.

Oh yes, I was driving when we came back across the border.  Their lanes and stuff are rather confusing and I missed a stop sign.  You'd have thought I'd crashed a barrier or something 'cause half a dozen guards poured out of the building.  There was only one car in front of us though and we were through after the normal questions and a brief, "Watch the stop signs, we put them there for a reason."

Comments

[ellid.livejournal.com]

This sounds like a lovely vacation/event.

[etienetteblue.livejournal.com]

I didn't get finished with this last night but the computer locked up and I dealt with it by going to bed. More to come as I've only told the first half of the trip.