Oh, Canada
So it's Monday July 7th 2025
I'm a little ambivalent, crossing into Canada has not been easy in the past. My old hippy look must set the border guards on edge.
For the second time I'm sent to the inspection area. They asked numerous questions. I suppose to try to trip me up. But I'm so innocent they have to let me go.
So here I am, inside the border of Canada.
Monday, the same day, I pick up my traveling companion and his wife from the airport. It took awhile. There was very limited signage directing me to the international section.
All we did from there was catch some zzzz's
Tuesday morning we jumped in the car and headed to Banff National Park. We actually got so enthralled we ended up in Jasper National Park as well. The pictures speak for themselves.
CALGARY STAMPEDE
Saturday we're off to the rodeo. The Calgary Stampede is huge but a little disappointing. Not a lot of actual vendors with homemade crafts, just food stands and, of course, the carnival. The crowd for the rodeo is standing room only.
After the Stampede, Sunday morning we packed up, dropped Darlene at the airport and headed for Edmonton. Our first night in the tent.
Elk Island National Park.
Just outside of Edmonton is a unique national park. Formed from the remnants of glaciers, the park has a few lakes but it's mostly bogs and ponds. The ponds are very active homes for beavers and other small animals. We did see one Buffalo and befriended one very active chimpmunk/squirrel. Wayne was his favorite because he had the red licorice. All I had was hard to open up salted peanuts
(Please note, I have plenty of accompanying pictures but due to slow speed internet they'll have to wait.)
We did survive the two nights there but damn it was cold and wet.
DAWSON CREEK
It's Tuesday morning and we're headed for Dawson Creek. It's a long day. Almost six hours of driving. Dawson Creek is mile marker 0 for the Alaska Highway. I'm surprised. I fully expected it to be a huge tourist trap. Wrong. It's well known but just another small but busy town in Canada. We find a camping site that is rather unusual. The sites are mixed in with the out of bounds area of a golf course. Yup our tent is pitched between the number 1 fairway and the number 2 fairway. We don't get hit but there was an errant ball at the tent when got there.
The next day we did cruise the streets of Dawson Creek but like I said, it's not much of a tourist trap. There are also plenty of helpful and pleasant Canadians. The attention has definitely not gone to their heads. This is true wherever we go.
Next up, Fort Nelson.
FORT NELSON.
We're about about half way between Great Falls, MT. and Fairbanks, AK. Another small town but very nice. BTW, Just so you know, we've fallen into a very workable pattern. Tear down the campsite, drive somewhere between 400 and 500 km. Set up camp. Stay two nights. Tear down campsite. Drive 4-500 km and do it all over again.
Fort Nelson is just like the other Canadian towns, small but upscale. Two different restaurants. Very modern architecture. Here I have to brag, I had the absolute best lamb shank with garlic mash potatoes ever.
My first disappointment, I had wanted to drive into the Northwest Territory just to add to my bragging rights. Fort Laird is only 200 km from Fort Nelson and is in the NW territory. We didn't make it. We got within 40 km of the provincial line but had to turn around. There's a few wild fires up here. The smoke was was so bad I had to concede defeat. However, we did get to see two small groups of the smaller red buffalo and a very entertaining baby black bear. (Pictures to follow. Sorry no BBB pics, just the buffalo.)
Next up, Watson Lake. Halfway between here and Dawson City. Dawson City is the gateway to Fairbanks and the Top of the World Highway.
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