Motorhome Trip From Edmonton to Predator, July, 2017

We spend a week in Edmonton packing up our house and moving our stuff for the effective date of the Nottingham house sale of June 20. Our plan was to slowly make our way back to Predator with the motorhome. We were to head out early on Saturday, the 22nd, however, Kayden had a soccer game Saturday morning against Yellowknife, so we decided to delay and attend his game. He plays for the rep under nine team in Sherwood Park. What a great game, as these kids are extremely well coached and can really play the game. One of the best games that I have watched as the home side won 5 to 2. We got away late morning to Rosebud, Alberta where we had a campground booked. Campground was nice and a 1/2 km walk to the Rosebud Theatre. We watched a wonderful musical, if there is such a thing, called The Spitfire Grille. Rosebud is a very quaint town, that the major attraction is the theatre. The play was wonderful and the buffet was great as well. A very worthwhile stop for a fun day. We were off early the next morning for a two hour drive to Cochrane and the Bow Rivers Edge Campground, and as the name suggests, along the Bow River. A short drive to the Glen Eagles Golf Course, where we had a 10:50 tee time. Glen Eagles was a very cool course and well worth the stop. Some very scenic holes and much fun. One very dramatic down hill hole awarded a potential prize for anybody hitting the green on this par 3. Marg got on the green and we took her picture at the appropriate site but she forgot to send it in. Senior moment!

Good night at the campsite and headed off to Canmore the next morning. Nice short drive to a B & B we booked in Canmore. We tried to book a campground a month before but Canada 150 is crazy, so no campgrounds available. B & B was very nice but should be world class for what we paid. Golfed Stewart Creek that day, Monday, and forgot just how nice the course is. Scenery was, of course, over the top and played with a couple of nice guys so good day. Dinner in Canmore at a local pub within walking distance, and again a very good day.

Off to BC, the next morning for a afternoon golf game with our good friends from Palm Springs, bill and Shirley Bergman. They have a vacant lot beside them so a good spot to camp. No sewer hook up and since they objected to me running my hose into there toilet in the house, we lived with it. Reg and Edie Dodd from Grand Prairie made the trip so we had a good game that afternoon at Riverside on Fairmont, guys vs the girls. Sorry girls!

Next day, Bill had a hike planned up past the Fairmont Ski Hill that was very scenic and had lunch up at the chalet up there.  Hike was about 12 km with 1600 feet elevation gain, so not to crazy. Saw a couple of big Spruce Hens on the trip close enough to give them a whack and feed the barby! Stopped at a hot pool on the way back for the girls to soak there feet. Reg provided the fish for BBQ that night, halibut and salmon, so that was a treat. Cards afterwards, farmers’ rummy!

Golf again the next day at Mountainside! Another hot day, as they all seem to be this summer, and good golf. Had a $5.99 breakfast before that should have been $15.99, so the boys did great again. We spent the afternoon rafting on the Columbia down past Bill and Shirley’ s house. What a fun afternoon on a hot day relaxing on the river. Tons of people do this there, now, and why not with great scenery along the way. Bill and Shirley should open a cold beer concession behind their place that would do a killing! Bill, do you need some seed money!

A great stay in Fairmont that reminded us how much we loved the place when we had our timeshare there.

Off to Crawford Bay the next morning after Bill helped me sort out an issue with my electrical disconnect. Learning curve with these motor homes, but thru increased usage, and my co-pilot reading the manuals along the way, we are getting them worked out. Arrived at Kokanee Springs for afternoon golf. We have not been to this golf course since we attended a golf school here 12 years previous, so great to get back. Love this golf course with the very different holes and wildlife sightings, so another great day. We walked down to the restaurant for supper and they had a great musician playing, fun! He even played 60’s and 70’s, wow! The free ferry travels across Kootenay Lake to Balfour, so we caught the early morning ferry to get us to the other side. The Balfour Golf Course is a gem and played with a fun father and son and thoroughly enjoyed the course. We had lunch at the course and travelled from there back to Predator in the afternoon. We travelled the Kaslo route thru Nakusp, and was very scenic, but very winding and slow. Another ferry at Nakusp, cable driven, got us to the other side and back to Vernon. Beautiful scenery that would have been better had it not been for the severe forest fire issues in BC this year. Motorhome is a joy to drive so travelling is very ok. Wash the bugs off and ready for the next trip. Oh yah, stopped in Vernon on the way back to pump out the tanks at the free service at Superstore. I deployed the hose into the tank and turned the macerator on to pump the stuff. Oh, oh, the cap at the end of the two inch hose did not automatically come off, so we will get that off quickly. Darn, should have turned off the pump. Home to a shower but even so, this was no crappy trip, sort of!