Goodby Montana, Hello Canada

Goodbye Montana, Hello Canada!

Sorry - This is out of sequence by one

On Monday, Anna drove us to the Swift Dam where we had a beautiful hike. On the way, though, we observed that local custom of waiving at everyone who drives by you. In fact, when we drove by a local ranch, two guys working outside on the tractor waved at us, too. We concluded Montanans like to wave and hug. It certainly does make you feel right to home. The old Swift Dam failed in the early ‘60s, wiped out Dupuyer and went all the way to Valier, about thirty miles. Several people were killed. The new dam looks in pretty good shape (see picture). The hike was about 400’ vertical to get around the dam and back to the lake. The most fun of all was had by Camas, their dog. Anna’s going to be a good parent, though, because she wasn’t afraid to discipline Camas with the shocker when he went too far away. This might work good for their kids, too. The reason Anna wanted to keep Camas close was because last year a mountain lion got a little kid on the trail. He was bringing up the rear, instead of being in the middle. He didn’t die, but he was severely wounded. Anna tells Mickey this after the walk! We experienced several old people revelations. The first for Gary being that Andy Kuipers at Lokers Shoes is a God-send. If you need inserts, he’s the one to go to. Plantar fasciitis no more. Anna was very gracious and not condescending when she would regularly ask how we’re doing. We were doing fine, once we started going back downhill. After a picnic lunch and a faux paux by Gary when he, thinking a pear core would add to the environment, was reminded by the girls to “pack it in and pack it out.” Camas packed it in; he got his ear twisted by Anna.

That evening we enjoyed a roast beef dinner that Kurt’s and Anna’s cow friends regularly give them. Anna suggested Mom take a shower that night, because it sounded like dad was going to be up at the “butt-crack of dawn.” (She was right, by the way!)

Tuesday morning we said our goodbyes, which is always hard to do. Anna was planning to go to Great Falls to get her yellow fever shot for her trip to Argentina. When she went to get her immunization record, she found out her yellow fever shot she got in 1999 has one more year to go. She was so happy to have a whole new day to stay home and work in the yard. And she didn’t have to spend $103 either. However, her car was full of recycle, as they take their recycle to GF because there is no recycle in Conrad…yet! We crossed the border at Sweet Grass on the way to Calgary. We passed on Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump Monument because we’d been there before. Probably one of the most descriptive named monuments that we know of. Ask Di the story of it. Between the GPS, recommendations from Julie at the visitor center and Mickey’s map reading, we got lost in Calgary. Not really lost, just undecided I guess…undecided where to go next. We arrived in Banff mid afternoon and took our afternoon nap (Gary had been driving the whole way (7:30-3:00). We arrived at Tunnel Mountain Campground, Banff, where we stayed with 14^th Streeters (and Jacob deBoer) in 1996. The views are still spectacular, even though cloudy and rainy, but no elk in the campground this time (however, elk dodo!). Banff is pricey but the Spaghetti Factory was an all-inclusive meal and it’s where we ate with Zach and Ren four years ago. Memories were everywhere! The only sadness of the day was listening to Boston lose on XM Radio!

Wednesday, being an odd day, we took our showers and headed out to Icefield Parkway. The Parkway extends from Banff to Jasper for about 120 miles. It parallels the spine of the Rockies and is the most beautiful North American mountain drive there is. Our views were slightly diminished by rain and low ceilings but it was still spectacular. We saw our first bear (see picture) and mountain goats. We drove down to the Columbia Glacier, which, because of the retreat of the glacier as evidenced by markers indicating position and year, prompted a discussion on global warming. Global warming being a reality, how much of it is a result of us versus a natural cycle. Mickey, in her wisdom, said it doesn’t matter; we still need to do our part to decrease it. It was easy to pass up the restaurants in Jasper in favor of a tortilla sandwich lunch. The camper lunch was healthy and economical, which is needed to offset the “we haven’t hit $5 per gallon yet gas but we’re close.” And it’s worth every penny!! We heard more comments from some of you. Thanks and keep them coming, even though our internet connections won’t be as regular from now on.

We camped at Mt. Robson Prov. Park and started with a hike to Kinney Lake. It was about three hours round trip, but with only about 500 vertical feet, it was a beautiful walk, paralleling the Robson River. Gary got to try out his new hiking stick and would recommend one highly. Our campsite was right next to the river and after a great pork rib dinner and a bottle of Canadian Shiraz (oaky, with hints of currant berries), we introduced ourselves to our neighbors. After shaking hands, I asked where they were from. With a familiar brogue, they said they were the DeGroots from Holland. I said we’re Vander Veens from Holland. He said, “Ya, vell, all long time ago, maybe.” I said, “no, Holland, Michigan,” and they had a good laugh. We showed them the Tulip Time parade pictures on the computer as an introduction to and education about Holland, Michigan. We learned that Dutch dancing in wooden shoes isn’t very common anymore in The Netherlands. But their flowers and tulips are something they are very proud of. The DeGroots are members of the “freer denomination of Dutch Reformed.” We had an opportunity to educate them about Christian Reformed and that, unlike the strict Dutch Reformed denomination, we don’t wear black socks on Sunday, in fact some of us don’t even wear socks.

After a good night’s sleep, we hit the Yellow Head Highway and did breakfast at a rest stop on the Fraser River. Breakfast was bacon and eggs and fresh coffee made by Mickey, while Gary took pictures! Our goal today is to reach the Cassiar Highway, about 130 miles fom Prince Rupert on the Pacific. The Cassiar is the alternative route to Alaska, hooking up with the AlCan at Watson Lake. It’s about 1/3 gravel, but the gravel can be better to drive on than the frost-heaved AlCan, sometimes. Stop the presses!! We just saw our first grizzly! The distinctive brown fur with silver tips on its back and its massive size confirmed this was not a black bear. It was attempting to cross the highway, but quickly disappeared into the bush when we drove closer. Mickey decided not to get out and try to take a picture! Immediately thereafter, while still typing the info about the grizzly, we saw two black bears having breakfast. They also disappeared before we could get a picture. Now back to the Cassiar… fuel stops are few so good planning is required. Stop the presses again!!! Found another black bear having breakfast right next to the road. Gary got some fantastic pictures!! From the first sighting of bear to now was about five minutes. This is a whole lot more fun than John Ball Zoo! Back to the Cassiar again…Mickey’s looking forward to stopping at Jade City again, where the local industry is jade mining. Four years ago, when we stopped, they had just (and I mean that day) gotten phone service! So our next blog will probably be from Watson Lake in three days. Truck’s running great; the camper is feeling like home. We’re even getting used to the thinner mattress. However, we miss Tuck! We’re still planning on trying to sell our “little house on the freeway” in Alaska, but like with any home seller, there’s always some remorse involved. So if we end up driving back, that’s o.k., too.

We thought we were done with this blog, but “bear” with us. When we went to load the pictures on the computer, the Type II media was in the USB card reader, i.e., no bear pictures! The tech problem being we’ve got the GPS plugged, the computer charging, two cell phones, a USB card reader all going at the same time! How did our forefathers make it? (Mothers didn’t [don’t] need all these gadgets!) We “bearly” started shutting the computer down when, lo and behold, another bear!! Mickey quickly grabbed the Type II media, removed it from the USB card reader, holstered it into the camera, turned it on, gave it to Gary and he clicked away, “bearly” keeping the truck on the road as he backed up to get a better shot. That’s all for now, unless we come across a moose!