The Ya-Ha-Tinda

Last night we went to the big city of Water Valley (probably pop. 20) and enjoyed wing night at the Water Valley Saloon.  John’s son Matt and John’s Dad Jack joined us.  After we all ate our fill of wings we went back out to the farm and enjoyed some visiting and Brenda’s apple pie with ice cream.  We have got to quit eating like this! 

John and Brenda have talked about the Ya-Ha-Tinda (in the language of the Stoney tribe it means mountain prairie) since we have met them—today it was our turn to see their little spot of paradise and paradise it is!  A little history, the Stoney tribe whose name comes from their method of cooking with hot stones to boil liquid occupied this land at one time.  Today the land is a federally operated horse ranch, raising, breaking, training and wintering about 170 head of horses which are used by wardens to patrol the backcountry of the national parks of Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay.

John and Brenda were married there 10 years ago, ride their horses out there and have spent many hours enjoying the beautiful scenery.  I took so many photographs today—here are just a few.

We hiked less than a quarter mile to this awesome Big Horn waterfall.  I took a movie but I need to read Rick’s helpful hints on movie insertion into blogs.

These three ladies were having a wonderful time.  All the haze in the background is smoke from a prescribed burn.

This is the brand used on all the federal horses.

John allowed us to use some more of his “heritage” wood for building a fire to roast our smokies (hot dogs to us below the Medicine Line folks).  Guacamole, baby cucumbers, cantaloupe, other chips—etc, etc—we had a great picnic lunch! 

After just a wonderful day we headed back to the farm for more eating—Brenda had thawed rib eye steaks a couple days ago and those steaks needed cooking.  We enjoyed them with salad and corn on the cob.  Ok, no more food until at least tomorrow. 

A Person Could Get Lost

We woke to a windy, cool, cloudy day but the sun finally came out mid-morning.  Michael, Emmi and I took off down the lane this morning on a walk.  Heard this noise behind us, looked and here came Mack, John’s son Matt’s dog, a big ole galloping rottweiler.  He is less than two years old and loves to play which of course Emmi loves too, that is until Mack bowled her over end over end.  OK, now that was enough of that, she gave him a wide berth after that and anytime the dog came near her she ran for Michael. He is so comical playing with this ball pushing it all over the yard.

Brenda took off for Calgary this morning for an appointment and while she was gone I took advantage of her washer and dryer in the house.  Michael and John did the usual world problem solving.  Just as Brenda arrived home Gina’s taco soup was ready for lunch, with cornbread.

Cleaned the dusty coach today and got all our laundry done—should be able to get home now!

It would be easy to get lost around here—I headed out this afternoon for Cremora, looking for a payphone.  There are gravel roads going in all different directions, I thought town was the opposite way than it really was when I reached the pavement.  I could have wandered around out here for days but finally managed to get back to the farm.

We are headed into the big city?? tonight to enjoy a Wednesday night tradition—hot wings. 

Welcome To Dogpound North

We were starting to wonder if Dogpound, Alberta, Canada really existed when everyone we met since arriving in Alberta would say “where??” when we told them we had friends living in Alberta.  But, it does exist and what a beautiful, peaceful spot Dogpound North really is.

The weather when we woke this morning was cool and gloomy—about 39 degrees or as I am in Canada, about 4 degrees!  We all decided if the weather was going to be crummy we might as well head to Dogpound where the camping was free! So off we went intending to stop for the day at Pembina River Provincial Park, nope, closed—nothing on their website and the Alberta Campground book I have said open until October 11—guess someone else was tired of the weather too?? 

When we stopped to fill the thirsty beasts Brenda suggested heading all the way home and we all agreed, pulling in to their place just before 6pm.  Looks like we are parked on a golf course doesn’t it???  John spends a lot of time mowing the grass around here we think!

John giving Michael the lay of the land and Meg hoping Michael has forgotten and throws a stick for her.

We had a nice light dinner at John and Brenda’s and we are all tucked into our quiet little spot for the night.

I sure hope those mountains John promised me show up tomorrow!

Lesser Slave Lake

Whoops—the Peace River doesn’t cross the Continental Divide-duh!!  It is the only river that crosses the Rocky Mountains!

We took our time getting started this morning as we only had about 165km to drive.  Stopped in High Prairie for groceries and arrived at a beautiful provincial park right on the shores of the huge Lesser Slave Lake.  As is usual around here this time of year only one campground loop out of five is open and there is only a handful of rigs here counting us.  A long way from anything, nice and quiet!

Took a short walk then piddled what was left of the rest of the afternoon away.  It was our turn to do dinner tonight—spaghetti, salad with artichokes/tomatoes/avocadoes, and garlic bread!  It was yummy.  Ice cream bars all the way from the states for dessert.

We spent an enjoyable evening around the campfire talking and laughing.  I was the only one to enjoy a roasted marshmallow!  Can you believe that??? 

Lesser Slave Lake is one big body of water--

Canada has the best provincial parks and many of the ones in Alberta have power hookups!

Tomorrow we are starting south. 

The Peace River Valley

Jeez, it rained hard this morning, been a long time since we’ve heard rain on the roof!  And it rained for a while making for a soggy walk but we preserved.  This campground is part of an old historic trading post and mission.  The Visitor’s Center and all the old restored buildings are closed for the season—we just walked around the grounds and peered in windows. 

The bridge is one of the largest in Canada and crosses the Peace River.  The church was built in the late 1800’s.  After our walk we loaded into John’s pickup to take a drive through what John was pretty sure would have been the land available for homestead in 1963 when the Montana gang tried to come up here. 

That is one big river! The Peace River Valley, leaves are starting to change around here in this country. We noticed this interesting church by the roadside and pulled off to take a look.  No plaques to explain what it was, the inside of the church was empty of pews, etc.  But what a gorgeous, old log building!

The gravestones in the cemetery had Russian sounding names and a couple of the gravestones actually stated the person was born in Russia. 

We came back to the campground and that dang Brenda insisted we all go for ice cream again—it was just as good as we remembered from yesterday!  Brenda made chicken fajitas for dinner—YUM.  Visiting around the campfire before the cool air drove us inside. 

And Michael Makes It To Peace River

After a leisurely morning, a trip to the pumps for some more fuel for the thirsty motorhome and some bug removal we were off towards our original destination, Peace River Valley, Alberta, Canada.  Why Peace River??—when Michael and three of his buddies, Sarge, Royal and Glenn were all 17-18 years old they decided to try their luck at homesteading in the Peace River Valley of Canada.  After spending many hours out in the cold one night installing a transmission into Michael’s 1949 Ford they set out north.  Less than 50 miles from town they were stopped by a patrolman who informed them, “boys, your parents don’t think this is a good idea and you better turn around and go home.”  Someone told on them!!  Michael has always wanted to see the Peace River, so here we are. And it looks like we are in Kansas and not Canada, too.  Lots of wheat fields and rolling hills—hey, what happened to the mountains??

The Peace River Valley—a huge river, John said it is the only river that crosses the Rocky Mountains.  We are camped in Dunvegan Historic Provincial Park right on the banks of the river.  We found another premium campsite, a double spot big enough for both our rigs with power hookups.  John and Michael quickly sat down to solve the world’s problems We had a great afternoon just chatting and yakking.  John, Brenda and I walked down to visit the Dunvegan Gardens, a combination gift shop/Christmas shop/you pick garden/produce shop.  Beautiful things, Brenda and I got some local produce and a lessen in how not to conduct a business!

Brenda made wonderful hamburgers for dinner which we had with a spinach/raspberry salad and a caprese salad.  And since we ate so healthy we all walked back to the Gardens where an ice cream place just happens to be located!  Hey, we all had ice cream, I just happened to have the camera!  And we did walk to get the ice cream. 

More stories around the campfire and it was off to bed—another great day in Canada!

Company

For the first time since we have owned a motorhome, we slept with the air conditioner on all night.  And slept very well I might add!

Walked Emmi this morning—down below this RV park is an area with a paved walking/biking path and an area for parties/weddings set aside—trees, picnic tables, power, an arbor, so that’s where I take Emmi.  Later Michael took her down there again with her soccer ball—she came back one tired little pooch!

We were headed to Costco, about 5 miles from here—Canadian Costco’s have the best soft gingersnap cookies in their bakeries.  On our way out we passed a motorhome and it wasn’t until it was past that I said, “that was them!”  So we turned around, visited for a bit then Brenda and I went to Costco and yep, those cookies are every bit as good as I remembered!

Spent the afternoon sitting outside, talking and snacking.  John finally gave up, couldn’t stand it anymore and took his truck to the car wash.  I used the washer/dryer in the rig to do a load of clothes.  If you have a lot of patience and time, the WD works well—you just can’t be in a hurry!

We are having filet mignon’s for dinner with roasted potatoes and Greek salad.  When Brenda is around, you eat really, really well! 

Michael and I are excited, John and Brenda are going to travel for a while with us—showing us some of Alberta we have never seen. After dinner Mike took Emmi down to the park with her soccer ball—they were back soon—Emmi had popped the ball.  Nothing would do but we head off to Wal Mart to buy the dog another ball—we came home with not one but two and both Dad and Emmi are happy!