Short Camping Trip

We had a great time on our camping trip last week. We were at Pembina River Provincial Park and it had electrical. Although we just dropped in and took a 'first come first serve' site, we checked out the reserved ones to find out which ones we liked best and we definitely will come back again. They are all close (within a short walk) to the river and if you are tubing people, you could tube down the river without problems. Or, you can just sit on the beach and watch the 'crazy people' go down the river on their tubes!

It was relaxing to just relax! We did do a drive-around tour of the area. It looked like rain one day so we drove to Mayerthorpe and toured about the 'Fallen Four' memorial site. Very interesting. It is hard to believe that the 4 mounties were killed in 2005. It only seems like a few years ago, not seven! The town has done a great job on this facility. While driving about we saw rain clouds all around us but missed it everywhere we went or only got a few raindrops on our window. By the time we got back to camp, the rain had fallen and was dried up so we can say we 'did not have any rain' while we were away!

I would like to go camping more often but there is some organizing needed to do this. I did forget to bring a few things as I had removed them from the trailer and then forgot to put them back in again. Thankfully, we didn't 'really' need them but it would have been nice since we had power (popcorn)!  We watched a video on our tv as I did remember to throw in a few movies (just in case it rained). It wasn't raining but our neighbors were pretty loud (laughing) so we moved inside to enjoy our trailer!

We did not put out our 9x12 mat as we thought it would rain and it needs to dry but maybe that was our life saver as it didn't rain. If we HAD put it out, the story may have ended differently!

A short trip

Wouldn't you know it. Just when we plan a short camping trip the weather changes. It was quite a light show last night and it rained quite a bit too. Thankfully, it has stopped raining (for the moment) but is overcast and dull. Cooled off to 15 but without the sun it is feeling dreary! Not the best weather to take off for camping but maybe we can just relax, bundle up and read a good book. We will be close enough to home that if it gets too rainy, too dreary, too boring...we'll come home!

The kids left at 7 am this morning. They were not anxious to head back to Vancouver (mostly because of the 13 hour drive) but also they have enjoyed themselves with cousins and grandparents and new friends here in Alberta!  Yesterday they were at the farm and riding horses and driving club cabs so life was pretty good! The day before they are swimming in the lake. Oh to be a kid again!

Anyway, us adults will enjoy our few days away - not as action-packed as the grandkids but we will enjoy it anyway. Even if it rains, it will be fun to sit in our trailer! Can't believe we are past the half way mark in August already. Where did the summer go? Hopefully we will have a wonderful and warm autumn! Oops, sorry...shouldn't talk about it yet - way too soon! Come on sunshine!!

Summer Vacation

Well, we are back at home and getting into routine once more. Having said that, we are planning another short getaway next week.

We have been to Radium, BC and enjoyed the warm weather there and the electricity for our trailer which we didn't really use except for our reading lights! Although it was hot, we did not need the AC going as it was comfortable in the trees.

We took off to Bear Creek near Kelowna BC and enjoyed more camping with our daughter and family. The weather was hot there and unfortunately there was no electrical but still we did not need the AC unit. I would have liked to use the micro once but hey, we're camping!

Our next trip will be to a campground which has electrical so will enjoy all the trailer's feature this time and it will be a time to relax before we get back into the Fall schedule - harvest time for John and my organizing for the Stephen Ministry fall training. We'll see whether there is more interest this year than last.

Here's a few pictures to tell the story...



Our site in Radium





My brother David & wife Myrna - 45th anniversary





My nephew Darin's 'slinkies'





Nephew Darin & wife Monica @ Radium




Hike at Bear Creek near Kelowna




Beautiful flower in the long grass




Beauty even in a burn area




Grace & Alicia in their new b'suits




Two beautiful granddaughters!




Threatening but still hot!





Our site at Bear Creek

 On our return home from BC we stopped at Mount Robson Provincial Park. We have passed by many times but never checked it out so this time we overnited - two nights actually!  We would go there again. Nice large sites, great tables and even had showers in one of the sections. We headed out on a walk on one of the many hikes but were not prepared so only went half way before turning back. Oh boy, another thing to do in the future!




A visible Mt Robson




Our site at Mt Robson Prov Park




4km hike - beautiful!




Interesting tree growth




Beautiful undergrowth

 The final evening at the camp was gorgeous. What a beautiful evening - not sure if you can 'feel' how warm it was in the campground with this picture. But...it was.

Beautiful warm evening...

Is it any wonder why we like camping??

Home Again

We got home from vacation on Tues afternoon. We had a great time with great weather. No complaints at all. Even the mosquitos were ok, meaning just a few, occasionally. I will provide pics later when I am not so tired.

However, one bad thing did happen while we were away. We did not know until we came home though. The house was closed up and smelled a bit stuffy but we opened windows and doors and thought that would help. Going downstairs to do a wash, I noticed something under the deep freeze. I opened it up to see if it was a leak (dah...a leak in a deep freeze???) and got a dose of a putrid smell. Yes, it had died! Not sure if it was a slow death or not but it was DEAD. All the meat was now in bloody water (literally) and it smelled something awful.

The next order of work was to clean out that deep freeze as once it was opened, you could not get rid of that smell. YUK! It took me the better part of an afternoon to clean it out and under and around. Today, two big men took it outside and put it in the garage. It will need to be taken to the recyle place but at least it is gone. However, now we live from day to day as we have no frozen meat or other goodies.

So, we're back and not yet into routine but getting there! I still have a few more days of vacation left and I am going to enjoy them!