Canada

Here are a few days at a time written and saved because we couldn't get access to the internet.

August 6

Another stinking hot day! We went to Kimberley, BC to explore the town. I lived there for a year when I was 6-7 years old.
We went to the house I used to live in and I took a photo of the house. The owners were standing at the window and I'm sure wondering what in the world I was taking a photo for. We drove away and then decided to go back. I knocked on the door and told the man and wife that I used to live in that house and we had a nice chat. My dad worked for Cominco Mines and when that closed he went to Cassiar BC and we stayed in Kimberley for a year. When he came back a year later I didn't recognize him.
Kimberley has the Cominco Gardens which is a smaller version of the Butchart Gardens in Victoria.Very lovely. We were going to take the train ride around the area but there was only one train a day and that was in the afternoon. We decided instead we would go to Fort Steele. Fort Steele is a heritage town - the town is set up and looks like it's the 1890's; the people there are dressed accordingly. It's quaint but because of the heat we didn't spend the hours there that we could have.
We stopped early today because we wanted to do a laundry as we expect to be at my brother's house tomorrow. We stopped at the Mountain Shadows Campground in Sparwood, BC. What a terrific spot!Each site is huge, we're in the middle of a forest and can barely see our neighbor. Interestingly we have electricity here so the good news is we can run the air conditioner to cool off. I expect that overnight it will drop dramatically as it has for the last three nights.
Miles driven=143.7



August 7

Had brunch in Claremont, AB. We stopped at a tiny restaurant in the old part of town called Chris and Irwin's. Locals were coming and going in droves - we obviously picked well. When we drove through town we then saw the other places where tourists would typically have stopped and we were very glad we spotted this tiny restaurant.
Got to John and Diane's about 3 pm. Pat and Robert hadn't arrived yet but they called and showed up about 4 pm.We all went to Boston Pizza for dinner - the place had only been open for a week. Across the street was the Ramada Inn where Rob and Pat are staying. Across the street they're building a Holiday Inn and half a block down is another hotel being renovated. The Ramada has been open for a month.It's incredible all the building going on here. High River has a population of about 12,000 but is growing by leaps and bounds.
After dinner we sat on the front steps - very pleasant temperature finally. It's still stinking hot throughout the day.

August 8

After we finally all got it together we went with John and Diane to the Superstore to buy a few groceries for the do on Saturday. We also picked up hamburgers, hot dogs, salad stuff - all for dinner that night. Rob and Pat were planning to go the an air museum but got up late and so decided not to bother. They also woke up early to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics. We also were watching it but woke up about 3/4 through it. So we all sat the watched it to the end - absolutely incredible! We then went to the Saskatoon berry farm for a piece of pie - all of us in the RV together - but still stinking hot.We got back to John and Diane's and then had to watch the beginning of the Olympics Opening Ceremony. We were all in total awe. Just before the ceremony was going to start Diane's sister arrived from Thunder Bay with her husband, son and grandson. Good thing we bought extra food so we were in good shape.
Again, after dinner, sitting out on the front steps.

August 9 & 10

Too much stuff going on to write anything each day so I'm trying to remember at least the highlights. When Jen and kids arrived John, Norm, Jennifer and the kids took a good walk to the golf course and around Polo Park where John and Diane live.We took Jen's kids for an RV ride and stopped at the park in town for them to run around and try all the stuff in the playground. They were having a ball! Meanwhile Archie, Darlene, Gordie and Caleb went to explore Nanton while Robert and Pat went to the museum and antique stores in Nanton.
At 4 pm we went over to the clubhouse where we were joined by John, Jody, Camryn and Brady along with Pam and Dave.Pam and Dave prepared a feast - we've asked for recipes for all dishes served. We had a wonderful time and stayed until well after 10 pm by which time we were totally beat. Still a very hot day.
On Sunday Robert, Pat, John, Diane, Dave, Pam and us had brunch at Humpty's Family Restaurant and then we bid farewell - Robert and Pat had a flight in the early evening. The weather cooled so it was quite comfortable.John, Diane and us went on a driving excursion through Calgary and I took lots of video but not many still shots as my camera ran out of memory and I wanted a back-up for my photos. I ended up buying a memory stick that holds 4 GB - way more than I could ever need. Of course I say that now but I'm sure someday it will be full also. In the evening we went to Mr. Mike's Steakhouse for a meal with John, Jody and kids and then went back to John and Jody's house.

August 11

We took off fairly early. Had to stop at the bakery in High River though and stock up on goods for the road. It has remained cool today(low 70's) so it's great and it sure is windy. We didn't go very far though. Drove 183 miles and stopped at Johnson's of St. Mary Campground in St. Mary, Montana. Gorgeous view of St. Mary Lake and the Rockies as well as the KOA Campground across the road where we stayed in 2004. There is a restaurant on site we we'll try it out for dinner tonight. Right now I'm in the laundromat as that and the office are the only places were we can get internet access.

Since time is short right now, I'm not going to try to post any photos here today but I will create the web album.