Dinner at Tanya's

We had a wonderful evening at MA's cousin, Tanya and her husband Morton's home in Blue Springs. In this pic, the front row are three of MA's Kansas City cousins...Debbie, Tanya, MA and Berry (named for MA's daddy). The back row is Jeff (Debbie's special friend), a lamp, Morton and ole Bob.

Guys/Gals Night Out

Tuesday night, the girls played Bunco at Janet's while the guys watched the Olympics, ate tacos and drank beer at a neighborhood tavern and played Texas hold 'em at Uncle Floyd's summer apartment. This pic is Mike (Janet & Bob's son), Uncle Floyd, Joe (Melissa's husband) and Steve (Floyd & Aileen's son).

Poker Table

Bob Sherman (Janet's husband), Rick (Floyd's son) Aunt Aileen, wierd guy, and Mike (Bob & Janet's son).

Bunco Table

Lindsey (Steve & Louise's daughter), Louise (Steve's wife), Aunt Aileen, Janet (my 1st cousin), Melissa (Janet's daughter) and Amber (Steve & Louise's daughter) learning to play Bunco.

MA and Charlene (Rick's wife).

Janet's Kitchen

MA, Leslie (Mike's wife), Carrie (Rick's daughter) and Janet (my 1st cousin) in Janet's kitchen.

Business Concluded

Earlier I mentioned that we were conducting some business in Bismarck, ND. A person that I met when hiking the Exit Glacier near Seward, AK mentioned a terrific RV dealer in Bismarck. When we got to Bismarck, which was on our route, I contacted them and several days later committed to a new 39' Newmar Northern Star diesel pusher. This is a dream come true for MA and I. This is that last pic of Addie...in the midst of transferring the stuff from Addie to the Northern Star.

Moving Out

We were up until 1:30 am transferring "stuff". Still had another hour to wrap it up Saturday morning.

On the road, again, this time with "Blaze" Star.

Around the clock...at noon, 3 and 5 o'clock are Sabrina, Sebastian and Alehandro, Edgar's kids...At 11 and 1 o'clock are Syvlia's kids, Daniella and Carolina...hope the spelling is close.

OOPS! Finger slip...the pix below also has Sylvia's family, as well as Javi and Edgar's

The Family Portrait, Cuca in the center surrounded by her sons' family

This is the courtyard setting for the lunch at The Doane House in Calgary, hosted by Cuca.

Bismarck, ND

We arrtived here Sunday evening and headed straight for the Cracker Barrel. We have missed our Country Store friend for over two months so we had a great dinner, parked in their RV/Bus area overnight and had breakfast the next morning. Not that we are obsessive or anything.

Earlier we made our eighth and final border crossing. This time, we did have a problem. It seems that the USA does not approve of Canadian beef, eggs or fruit. We had to turn over about $40 worth of Alberta beef. We were (incorrectly) told that the USA only embargos live animals, not packaged products...we were told wrong.

It is now Thursday, August 19th and we are still in Bismarck. Not having problems, just working a business deal. We hope to get back on the road tomorrow or Saturday, at the latest. We have a dinner and show engagement with my cousin, Janet and her husband, Bob, in KC for Sunday night. Plus we have many relatives to see there as well.

Friday, the 13th

No bad luck day today...Javi, Ale and I went to hit golf balls and then MA and I looked over the RV dealers here in Calgary...slim pickings.
Tonight we have a farewell dinner for Javi, Ashley and Camryn here at Edgar and Anna's.
We hit the road toward Kansas City tomorrow morning (Saturday). We plan to travel thru Saskatchewan and Manitoba prior to entering the US in North Dakota (MA's 50th state!!!). I don't expect that we will have Internet access for 4-5 days, at least. So I will keep the log up-to-date so that I can publish online when we get to KC.

August 12

Today Cuca hosted us (Ashley, Javi, Camryn, MA & I) at a very nice patio lunch at the Doane House near old Fort Calgary. Then we strolled thru the Eau Claire Marketplace which was originally the site of the first lumber mill in Calgary. Then we walked over to Prince's Island which is situated within the Bow River. We briefly watched the rehersal for Shakespere-in-the-Park.
Later we celebrated Sebastian's birthday (Edgar and Anna's oldest son) with a spaghetti and meatballs dinner.

August 11

Today, MA and I had a delightful stroll and lunch in the Stevens Avenue oper-air mall. It is 8th Ave. blocked off and there are musicians, vendors and and sidewalk restaurants. It was a spectacular day and we enjoyed the atmosphere.
Later we had dinner at the home of Pam and Roly Cumberland, friends of Sylvia, Edgar and Javi. There we about 25 people there and we ate cold ham, turkey, beef and vegetables out on the patio overlooking their five acres.

August 10

Ashley and Javi returned in the afternoon and we all went to a very nice steak and chicken dinner at the home of John and Robin Calloway, friends of Javi and Edgar for many years. It was a delightful evening!

Think Gypsy is jealous?

August 9

Less wet and less cold so I washed the coach. Still much grime from the road construction in the Yukon. Ashley and Javi took our Jeep and drove over to Banff for an overnight respite. Camryn stayed with us overnight in the motorhome...her first "camping" experience.

August 8

Another cold, wet day. Ali and I went to get Krispy Kreme donuts in NE Calgary. I don't know if KK is losing its quality control or what but, the donuts do not seem to be the same quality these days. Noticed it at the last KK stop in Las Vegas.

Spent the afternoon at Sylvia's playing hearts and ping pong and later had dinner at Chili's.

August 7

Saturday
Set up the RV in Edgar's very long and wide driveway. I connected to the 15 amp house electricity and to their water supply. All we have to be careful of is using too much shower (gray) water because our gray water tank only holds about 50 gallons. That means "camp showers"...you know, wet it down...turn it off...soap it up...rinse it off...turn it off. We are used to doing that. We once dry camped for 6 nights along the Stillwater River in Montana.

Edgar and Anna hosted a terrific steak and chicken dinner. Everybody was here except for Edgar and Anna's oldest son, Sebastian. Ali and Sabrina were delightful to be around and we really enjoyed their company.

Edgar swears that this is unusual but, it is cold and wet here for the past two days.

Camryn!

MA finally gets to hold Camryn!!!

C-A-M-R-Y-N

Ali has found a new toy (a train that spells "Camryn" from the California Railroad Museum).

August 6

Drove to Calgary today and set-up in the KOA West campground...just for one night...we are going to take Edgar and Anna up on their kind offer to stay in their driveway for the remainder of our stay here.

Immediately drove to Javi's sister's (Sylvia) home and got our arms around Camryn, Ashley and Javi. She has really grown since we saw her (Palm Sunday) and is very smart and alert. She does not shy away from affection. MA grabbed her and began feeding her. We had a great lunch at Sylvia and Guillermo's. They have two lovely daughters, Carolina and Daniella. Danny was a big help in mothering Camryn.

Later we had wonderful Alberta beef for dinner.

Danny feeding Camryn.

To: Bob & Janet

Friday, August 6
Our outgoing email is not working properly but I have been receiving your e-mails. Thanks for the nice words re: our BLOG!

We are in Calgary, got in this morning and I am at Ashley's sister-in-law's house wired in. We do not have an exact schedule for leaving here nor for our arrival in KC. But...we ARE coming. Once we determine when we are leaving Calgary, we will have a SENSE of timing into KC. Please don't change any plans on our account...we are 100% adaptable. If we are nothing else, we are adaptable!!!

We will give you a call as we leave here.Thanks! Bob & MA

Banff

August 5
Last full day in Banff. We had GREAT eggs benedict at Melissa's Restaurant in downtown Banff. I had read that their breakfasts were outstanding and this proved to be the case. We went over to the Cave and Basin National Historic Site. This is where three young men discovered the hot mineral springs within a cave in the 1880's. Thus began the history of Banff and this became the first national park in Canada, the forerunner to Banff NP.

Later we drove up to Johnston Canyon (on Javi's advice) and I enjoyed a 45 minute hike up to the lower falls. MA sat this one out...her knees were, understandably, speaking out against any more hiking this week. Later we got ice cream at "Cows". Then came the downpour! We got back to the coach before the bottom fell out. The lightning and thunder was very close. It was a dark afternoon and Gypsy was inconsolable.

Ashley, Javi and Camryn made the crossing from Greenville, SC to Calgary with no problems. Ash says that Camryn was perfect on the flights. We will get to see them tomorrow when we get on over to Calgary (only 128 km).

Athabasca Glacier

Bob's on the Athabasca Glacier, too.

To: Banff

August 4
We made the short drive down to Banff from Lake Louise on the 1-A back road, called the Bow Valley Parkway. Beautiful drive but we were unable to stop at Johnston Canyon because there was no parking that would accommodate the RV. We had no problem getting into a nice pull-thru campsite at the Tunnel Mountain campground with full hook-ups. It will be nice to not have to be a tightwad with electricity and water again.

Javi's brother, Edgar, invited us to dinner this evening. We met Edgar, his wife, Anna, and Javi and Edgar's mother, Maria Elise (Cuca) for dinner at Murrieta's in Canmore, about 15 miles southeast of Banff. We had not seen Edgar and Cuca since Ashley and Javi's wedding in April 2003 in St. John, USVI. It was great see them again and to meet Anna. Edgar invited us to "camp" in his driveway when we get to Calgary. We will probably take him up on the offer for part of our Calgary stay.

Columbia Icefields

The Columbia Icefields, halfway between Jasper and Banff, Alberta.

Athabasca Glacier

On the Athabasca Glacier.

Natural Bridge

The Natural Bridge over the Kicking Horse River in Yoho NP.

Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake in Yoho NP.

"Meeting of the Waters"...

The "Meeting of the Waters"...where the Yoho River meets the Kicking Horse River in Yoho NP.

Takakkaw Falls

Takakkaw Falls in Yoho NP, BC.

Yoho National Park

August 3
Today we drove over to Yoho National Park, just over the border in BC. We stopped first at the overlook for the Spiral Tunnel engineering feat. To reduce the grade coming down the western slope of the Rockies from 4.5 to less than 3 degrees, the Canadian Pacific Railroad engineers designed two tunnels that route the train back over/under itself. We waited for a long freight and got to see it in action. We actually saw the train on three levels.

Next we drove to Takakkaw Falls, one of the tallest in Canada (1,200'+) and hiked to up near the base. Then we drove out to Emerald Lake and ate lunch at the Emerald Lake Lodge in the woods.

We wrapped up the evening with a short drive out to Moraine Lake, about 15 miles out of Lake Louise Village. This lake is surrounded by 10 peaks...it is so pretty that is has appeared on Canadian $20 bills.

August 2

Drove south on the Icefields Parkway today. We stopped at several spectacular turnouts and then...the Columbia Icefield! WOW! We rode in a one-of-a-kind "Snow Coach" out onto the Athabasca Glacier, got out onto the glacier for about 20 minutes. An exhilarating experience! The "Snow Dome is nearby where water from snow that falls here ends up in THREE oceans...Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic.

We ate lunch at the Icefield Center and then drove down to the Village of Lake Louise. Grizzly Bears love this town. Several years ago, an adult male Grizzly casually walked into town and into the Laggan Bakery...scaring to death everyone in the store. This bear was so "habituated" that he had to be sent to the Calgary Zoo. I would assume that he ordered a bear claw at the bakery...what do you think?

We got situated at the Lake Louise Campground and then drove out to the Chateau Lake Louise, a classic hotel right on the shore of the lake.

Pyramid Mountain

Pyramid Mountain from Pyramid Lake in Jasper.

Mount Edith Cavell

Glacier at Mount Edith Cavell.

Riff-Raff

They let in the riff-raff at Jasper Park Lodge.

Athabasca Falls

Athabasca Falls south of Jasper.

Sunset in Jasper

Sunset in Jasper

August 1

Today we drove up to Mount Edith Cavell, about 20 miles from Jasper, and hiked the two miles to the viewpoint of the glacier. We took the easier trail...someone taking the longer, more difficult trail, fell and was evacuated by helicopter. Don't know how that turned out.

Mary Alice is really being a trooper in this hiking business. Her right knee is "bone-on-bone" and needs to be totally replaced. Yet, she does not want to miss out. You have probably seen some of the pix that show her with a big-time brace. It helps.

Later we stopped at Athabasca Falls...spectacular! The beauty here is stunning...and becoming routine. Maybe it is sensory overload.