Aug 14-16 Part 2 The trip there

Our morning started like many others on the day of a road trip. We had hopes of an early departure but with a realistic attitude that we probably would run two hours late. With dread and anticipation, I started to pack the camper. Procrastination and being busy is a toxic mix when trying to go away for a few days. By noon the end was in sight but it was still 2:30 pm when we finally rolled down the highway.

Our first real stop was the Mara Foodliner gas station, fruit stand, and bakery. We were just under two hours from home but wanted to stock up on some fruit before leaving the fruit capital of BC. The Okanagan Valley from Sicamous to Osoyoos is an amazing source for fruits of all kinds. August is the best time of year for an assortment of yummy, healthy foods.

The bakery part of the Mara Foodliner is the source of some yummy not-so-healthy options; just to balance out all the delicious fruit we bought. We were also packing a large box of fresh-picked plums to give away to my Alberta relatives. Loaded up with sausage rolls and chocolate muffins. We added apples, plums and blueberries, we continued on and left the Okanagan Valley behind. I have driven this road so many times I can predict the next corner and the next passing lane. Hauling a large camper on the back of the truck, passing lanes aren’t as important as they are on my motorcycle.

Recharged, we set off. Our initial plan of taking the long way through Rocky Mountain House was losing appeal. According to Google, we still had a drive of six hours and six minutes left going the fast way through Banff National Park. I wanted to make this trip fun, make it an adventure. My precious fourteen-year-old daughter was more interested in watching movies on her phone than the scenery passing by.

Jagged peaks stretched to the sky as we traveled through the Rogers Pass. Traffic was light, with most travelers going in the opposite direction. The majority of people are going west, away from the prairies. We were headed east, to the heartland of Alberta. On our way was an amazing scenic drive through the Rocky Mountains. I managed to get some reactions from the back seat, kiddo seemed genuinely impressed by some of the peaks we cruised by. Snow remained on the highest peaks above. These glaciers have been receding since the start of the industrial revolution. They continue their snail-paced retreat up the chutes above us.

The Rogers Pass elevation maxes out at 1330 metres, 430 metres lower than the village of our winter home at Big White. Yet the peaks that towered over us seemed infinitely higher. I enjoyed the experience of going through the avalanche tunnels as we wound our way over the famous pass. We began our descent out of the Rogers Pass and headed toward Golden, a beautiful town nestled in a valley along the Columbia River.

As we approached Golden we discussed where we would stop to camp for the night. It was 8:00 pm local time and we knew that the sun was setting soon behind the mountains in our mirror. Golden didn’t seem far enough, so we pressed on into the Kicking Horse Pass. I knew of a campground just past Field that hopefully would have a spot for us. I would turn out to be wrong.

Thirty minutes later the sunset in our rear-view mirror and we eased our rig into the Monarch National Campground. It was full; we drove a little further down the road to the next campground and were informed by the gate attendant that everything in the area was full. We could park in the overflow parking lot at Monarch or keep going and maybe find a site in Lake Louise. On a Friday. At 9:00 pm, during Covid…

We backed our rig in the parking lot of the Monarch campground and were thrilled to find a spot with a picnic table. It would do for the short time we were there. We were within 3 hours of Innisfail and settled in for the night.

The sky above was crowned by two of the most majestic peaks in the Rockies. These two mountains facing down on us were the some of the most spectacular we had seen on our journey. Cragged crevices stared down at the valley sharply below and a waterfall split the face of the rock and cliffs shadowing Highway 1. Perched precariously through the rock slide at the bottom of the valley carved the CP Rail mainline. This band of steal connects the country coast to coast. It is a marvel of engineering to witness: the rail and the highway pierced these foreboding peaks.

As we drifted into sleep, the rhythmic patter of rain echoed off the roof of our home on wheels. A crisp morning welcomed us, the cool air a refreshing reminder of our spot in the Canadian Rockies. I shook my darling daughter into movement and went for a walk with Krista to soak in a bit of this amazing place. A place in another world,

The park employee smiled in a joyful way as he and his partner proceeded to clean the information post. His infectious happy-go –lucky attitude was apparent the moment he said hello. I asked him how much I owed for parking in the overflow lot. He smiled and said not to worry – he didn’t see us stay the night. As we started on our walk I grabbed the box of plums and told them to help themselves to a couple. The gratitude was worth the effort and we all shared a smile and a plum. It was a great way to connect in the coronaverse; we shared our fruit.

Driving past Banff I felt a connection with my past, my youth. I spent many summers riding my bike to this part of the world and many winters skiing the majestic peaks of Sunshine, Lake Louise and Norquay. We continued on down the road, soon we left the mountains behind.

Google maps told us that Highway 1A would take us to Cochrane. From there we could go north on 22 and get to Innisfail in about the same time as going the four-lane highway. I thought it was a good idea to take the back road. I must have thought I was on my motorbike. ‘Thought’ didn’t get us very far. The road was windy, it had no shoulder and it was bouncy. Driving this route with a camper and truck was not the best move.

When I saw a sign for Morley I knew we could get back to the four-lane Highway off the bouncy back road we had elected to follow. Slightly delayed, we were still on schedule to get to our destination early. Morley has always been significant to me – it is the overpass with the fence reversed so people couldn’t jump. Now I saw it from the top for the first time. Why would anyone jump into traffic below, asked my curious kid? I was lost for an answer, why indeed?

Back driving 115 km per hour we erased the road, I drove the north ring road for the first time and skirted the city I called home for thirty-six years. It has changed a lot in the fourteen years since I have left. We merged north on Highway 2 and immediately felt the press of the traffic volume as the road expands to four lanes of vehicular mayhem.

Coming into Airdrie we decided it was time for a pit stop at Timmies – I had promised my girl a stop at Tim Hortons. Mask were much more evident in Alberta than in our home of Kelowna. We put our masks on and went inside. Right away it became obvious the shortcomings of masks in a food establishment. We left and as I got to the drivers door I noticed something missing. The fuel cap! I must have left it a Lake Louise when we filled up there. No problem, were we right next door to a Chevy Dealer, I could go get a new one. Apparently Chevy doesn’t stock fuel caps.

Time was now becoming a factor. We wanted to arrive at least an hour before the service in order set up and get ready. After a few more minutes driving in Airdrie, we found a Napa. Fifteen dollars and half an hour later we had a new gas cap and got back on the highway.

I said to my girls that it was a good thing we didn’t take the back road.

Half an hour later we pulled into the Innisfail Airport. Relieved to be at our destination, we said our hello’s all around. Hugs would have felt so much better at that moment. I miss hugs.

We felt fulfilled and relieved our journey was complete. I have always loved to travel, to see new places. To my daughter the big city and the wide open prairie seemed wonderful. To leave the mountains was an adventure in itself. Ironic in that I spent my life escaping to the mountains, now my growing kid seeks to escape from them. I guess it’s true; the grass is always greener on the other side of the mountains.