Day 2 - Calgary, AB to Moose Jaw, SK

Day two of our adventure started out with me trying to find a Second Cup in Calgary in order to start our 683 km day off on the right track.  I knew that this would probably be my last Second Cup fix until we hit Winnipeg - or "the point of no return" as my husband called it.  Winnipeg was home to the  last National airport west of Hamilton - the last place where we could drop off our rental mini van and hop on a flight if things weren't going so well.  So, armed with a Large Maple Latte, skim milk, no foam, we were off!

As we drove south and left Calgary behind us, I couldn't help but feel sad to leave the city that was our home for a year.  We met so many amazing people and had so much fun learning to ski in Banff, travelling through the mountains, playing hockey almost every day of the week (these people are crazy) and waking up to the most beautiful view in the world.  I will miss you Calgary and don't worry, I won't tell any easterners that your winters are really no worse than those in Ontario...

The day was fairly uneventful since we had so much prairie to cover in southeastern Alberta.  Loads of Bison and wheat fields and not much else.  We did drive past the World's Largest TeePee in Medicine Hat, but that was about as exciting as things got for us that day.  I had several Laura Ingalls Wilder moments throughout the day looking at all of the vast, open prairie and was mostly thankful that I wasn't wearing a long calico dress, 4 petticoats, a bonnet and homemade woolen stockings.

In the early afternoon we crossed the border into Saskatchewan and of course had to stop at the visitor's centre to take a photo of our progress (very clean washrooms in that place).  One more province down...or 3 more centimetres on a large map of Canada.

Saskatchewan Visitor's Centre

After that, it was a 2 hour drive to Moose Jaw.  Why Moose Jaw, you ask?  Well obviously because there is a spa in Moose Jaw.  That's right folks, if you are crazy enough to drive across the bloody country with your two kids, you make a point finding any and all spas in existence.  Turns out, this one was right on our route, so of course, I booked a room.

Here we are relaxing after a soak in the warm and soothing mineral waters that flow beneath Moose Jaw.  Temple Garden Spa is the name of the hotel and although it is starting to show its age, the giant indoor and outdoor mineral pools were well worth it.

Well, that's Day Two down and four more to go!  The kids are being so good and it really is fun spending this time with them.  I'm sure they are getting tired of me pointing out EVERY historical fact or landmark that we speed past, but who cares.  This is going to make one helluva Geography project/speech/science fair for them at school this year. - You're welcome kids.

Day One - Vernon, B.C. to Calgary AB

Day one of our adventure took us 631 kms from Vernon, B.C. in the beautiful Okanagan Valley to our adopted hometown for-a-year, Calgary, AB.  We started out at 8:00 am because we had to cover a lot of road and had many sights to see.  On the way towards the Rocky Montains, we passed through Sicamous, which is the house boat capital of North America (who knew).  Our day got really interesting as soon as we started to enter the mountains just before lunch time.  We stopped at Roger's Pass, which is a "short cut" across the Columbia River for the CPR and the Trans-Canada highway.  Known for its avalanches, both controlled and uncontrolled, we made sure to stop only in designated areas!  We had to stop at the tourist centre at the top of the pass so my daughter could look for a "shaky-shake."  She has an impressive collection of Snow Globes and wanted to add to it during this trip.  Snow Globe in hand, we headed across the mountains and entered Alberta.  One province down, four to go...

Roger's Pass, Revelstoke National Park


As soon as we got to Banff National Park, we knew we had to stop at Emerald Lake, one of the prettiest lakes in the world.  We only had about 20 minutes to spend here as we had at least three more hours of driving, but we made sure to snap some pictures and of course, buy another shaky-shake.

Emerald Lake

Next stop, Moraine Lake, just a short drive from Lake Louise.  Moraine Lake is my favourite place in the world.  We spent so much time there last year climbing, collecting heart-shaped rocks (another past time) and taking in the peaceful setting.  We had to go for one last good-bye visit and it was totally worth it!  If you ever visit, be sure to check out the Hoary Marmots, or as my kids like to call them, the hairy midgets!

Moraine Lake, Banff National Park

After that, we booked it to Calgary.  We stopped at Sport Chek to buy our last pair of no PST shoes for back to school (hey, why not), then surprised my son's best buddy with an impromtu visit.  We arrived at our Hotel at 9:00 pm and were too exhausted to eat, so we ordered french fries and beat soaked scallops from room service and called it a night!  One day down, five to go...

In My Travels...

When I was a kid, we had a camper.  It was one of those drive in, sleep in, 1970's concoctions that had a kitchen, bathroom and slept 4 safely and 2 hygenically.  We typically crammed 6 bodies and a large Siberian Husky into that thing.  My family believed that the best way to learn about our country was to travel it.  So we did.  Constantly.  I have been to Flin Flon, Moosonee, Terrace and even Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump.  I have had my skin turn blue and/or red from the ink of an air matress soaking into it while sleeping in a leakey tent in a rainstorm (after I put a stop to sleeping in the camper).  I have bathed in every single Great Lake.  Yes, I said bathed, not just swam.  I also used Irish Spring soap and No More Tears Shampoo during those bathing expeditions, so if you every go for a swim, you are drinking some of my filth.  We never seemed to mind the fact that we would travel for hours and days at a time with nothing more than books, travel sized Mastermind, and our imaginations to occupy our time.  Well, it must have rubbed off on me (not the air matress ink - that stuff took forever to remove), because now I will drive my kids just about anywhere if it gives them the opportunity to learn about Canada.

Last Summer, we rented a cottage in Vernon, BC.  I got a crazy notion in my head to drive back home to Oakville, Ontario with my two kids.  My husband, thinking I was nuts promptly booked a flight.  I, on the other hand bravely loaded up a rented minivan with clothes, a camera, 2 ipods (I'm not totally insane) a seven and a ten year old and made the incredible 4,000 km journey in 6 days. 

This Blog is the story of our travels...

 

Cross Canada Adventure 2012 - Day One: Vernon BC to Calgary, AB

 

 

First Official Blog Post

Here it is...my first official Blog post.  Let the adventures begin...