Tuesday, June 5, headed out and spent the night in Onowa, Iowa.
Wednesday, June 6
Dear One and All,
This trip is already being an adventure. We spent the better part of the evening last night in the ladies room of the KOA just outside Bismark, North Dakota. We were joined by most of the campers ladies and gentlemen alike. It was a lovely social gathering only slightly marred by all of us listening for the Tornado Siren to go off and send us to the basement. The already hard winds and hail had forced everyone to take cover. Ken tried to read his Zane Gray Book but, the folks would have none of that. If your going to be sitting in a ladies restroom riding out a storm, you WILL enter into conversation. Finally things died down and we all returned to our coaches.
Today wasn't much better. We hit the road by 8:30 a.m. and it was hard rain and amazing wind with gusts that dramatically threw the coach around. Ken was white knuckling the wheel just to be sure it wasn’t ripped from his grip. It did tear the bindings for the awning and that was an exciting moment. The noise alone was enough to wake the dead. We climbed out and repaired it with bungies and moved on.
Needles to say a stop at the next Wal-Mart for the right thing to hold the awning down was a necessity.
When I talked to my husband, Randy, he said this was another one of those super storms that reached from Texas to the Canadian border reeking havoc all along the way. Global warming, what fun, now we all get to be slammed with bad storms at the same time…
We were back on the road and finally going across the Canadian border. It was an easy crossing. Even when the Border Patrol Officer asked if I had mace on board and I told him about my Bear Spray. Very interesting, Mace they will confiscate, Bear Spray they will not. They do not consider that a weapon. I bet the Grizzlies wouldn’t agree to that one!
Finally, the weather cleared and we had pretty smooth sailing except for an odd gust of wind that took Ken by surprise and almost sent us sailing off the road. Yikes!! What a day! We said a nice grace at dinner to especially thank God for seeing us safely here.
The plains are not boring or at least not at this time of the year. We have seen all the new crops coming up at various stages. Everything is lush and the low hills look like green velvet. Here in our campground, the Lilac is in full bloom. It is just spring here, while it is already summer at home.
Must close and get some rest, tomorrow is another long day. We will make it to the Rockies and Jasper Canadian National Park for a two day respite. It will be good to see these magnificent mountains again. I have ground very fond of them.
Love,
Mom/Momack/Susan
P.S. It’s 9:00 p.m. and it looks like four in the afternoon. A strange sensation, I must say.
Friday, June 8
Dear One and All,
The drive today was uneventful and beautiful!
Canada, at least Alberta, is just lovely. The people are really nice too. We are now camped at the base of the Rockies and the view is spectacular! Tomorrow we are going to Jasper and tour the park. Giclée gets to come, as dogs are allowed in this park. It promises to be a really fun day.
Ken is staying in a cabin tonight and it’s 10:00 p.m. and still daylight. The sun is just now starting to set. The campground is really filling up fast with weekenders and lots of kids. We went to the local fish restaurant and had good food and fascinating company. There is a Safeway here and a Wal-Mart. It’s really odd how homogenized the world is getting. This place is not very unique in terms of business. Strip malls with Kentucky Fried, Arby's, McDonald’s and Subway. The chains are everywhere.
This is a logging town and the big burly loggers came into this restaurant by the droves. It was a happily noisy, very lively bunch.
I Love You All,
Mom/Momack/Susan
P.S. I'm finally getting used to the long days. They are really nice in so many ways. You can sure get a lot done!
Sunday, June 10
It's been a great trip so far.
Yesterday was the highlight. We spent all day in Jasper. Our day off just messing around and ended up getting great shots of a Black bear, a Black Bear sow and her cubs, Big Horn Rams, Big Horn ewes and lambs, and scenery that took our breath away, and this is still Canada. Just imagine what awaits us in Alaska!
We are all healthy and Giclée is an amazing traveler. She really rolls with the punches, not to mention Ken, what a trooper. There was some hard driving to get here and there is more to come before we reach Alaska. He's a smart, tough guy and just gets it done, on schedule I might add. He's a real schedule kind of guy. I am his biggest challenge! But, he is very good natured about me keeping him waiting.
We'll be on the Alcan Highway to Alaska tomorrow. I will be back to a campground with wireless by Wednesday if all goes well, but we have not scheduled campgrounds on this road, so don't expect to hear from me. Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers this is the toughest part of the journey..