The Caravan Begins

Well, we arrived, intact and ready for fun.  The route to Drumheller was a bit circuitous with closed roads and dead ends but we eventually found our way to the dinosaur capital of Canada!

The Dinosaur Trail RV Park was about 5 miles out of town, past the golf course.  The road was very rough, and you don’t realize a series of huge bumps was coming until you hit it at 40 mph…ouch!  And the fact that I traversed that stretch of road multiple times, looking for the park, I eventually learned to go slow.  As I was heading to the park, I came upon another Airstreamer who was turning around (a move I previously did).  I honked and waved him over and said to follow me.  I slowed them way down when we got the series of bumps and dips which saved their rig.  Later, we got know Bobby and Sandi from San Diego and enjoyed their company.  

I love it when our club comes together for a rally or caravan and take over the place.  Other SOBs (Some Other Brand) owners paraded around us, gawking at the many Airstreams with questions like “where are you all from?” and “are those red numbers your rental numbers?”.  Nice people but…Geez.  All 20 of us got there and were ready to explore.  The first call of action was a welcoming meeting in the large building onsite.  We had to test (COVID) prior to the meeting and were spaced apart as best we could.  Masks were required.  Everyone tested negative but that didn’t last (more on that later).

We met in our first of seven GAM sessions (Greet And Meet) which allows the various folks to meet each other and tell their stories.  It’s a good way learn about each other and start to create relationships.  As said before, we have met some great folks on these caravans that are still close friends years later.

While in Drumheller we visited the Royal Tyrrell Museum of dinosaur artifacts.  Most found locally.  We also toured around the badlands with their Hoodoos and other rock formations.  I played a little golf with our friend Jim and helped another friend change a tire on his Airstream.  The highlight of our stay was a dinner at the Last Chance Saloon and it was a last chance.  Heading out of town, we crossed seven bridges until the road eventually disappeared and there stood the saloon.  It had a western, cowboy-like atmosphere with saddles at the bar.  We ate outside and had great BBQ and drinks.  A great evening!

I was wondering why most of our rigs were a bit dusty but, there were one or two very shiny, clean ones.  I found that they hit up the truck wash in town before heading the campground. One of our campers was seen dusting their rig with a feather duster….seriously?  This became a game to learn who attended the most truck washes on our caravan.

From Drumheller, we headed SW to the Bar-U-Ranch, a historic, active ranch that is also a national park. No camping is allowed with the exception of our little caravan.  The  advanced team showed us how to park our rigs, nose to tail in a double semi-circle in the field.  This would be our first boondocking site.

Bar U Ranch Parking.

The Bar-U-Ranch had a central meeting hall and many outbuildings, paddocks and barns.  A stream flowed through the ranch offering a good place to bring out the flyfishing equipment.  The problem was the weather.  Huge, black clouds surrounded the area and strong winds whipped the trailer door from your hands. No fishing today but the guided tour and information on how the ranchers lived and worked the land was rich.  Our evening included music, storytelling by a local rancher and a hearty steak dinner.

The next morning, we all moved out like a heard of cattle.  Some headed to the buffalo jump-off memorial and others (us) headed south and west to our next stop at Fairmont Hot Springs.  Jim and Cheryl were behind us as we passed through heavy downpours and strong winds. We made a stop at the Frank Slide Interpretive Center.  Plenty of room in the parking lot for 4-5 of our rigs.  Others from our caravan had the same idea to stop of go through the museum of this horrific slide the killed many in the small town of Frank.

We arrived in Fairmont Hot Springs and parked together in the upper lot.  Wide spaces but the power stations were showing and issue on our surge protectors.  An open ground issue kept our surge protectors from supplying power to the rig.  Our options was to move (Bobby and Sandi did), stretch a cable across the empty site to a power box that worked (I did) or not use the surge protector at all (not advised).  The sites had great views out across the valley and big tall pines. The hot springs were a welcome change and we headed to pools which are drained and refilled nightly from the springs.  

We took a short drive to the little town of Invermere.  Very artsy with excellent little shops and eateries.  A fun stop.  We made sure to fuel up and learned that the government stabilized fuel prices so no matter where you filled, the prices were all the same.

Radium Hot Springs Cut

From Fairmont Hot Springs we headed north to Radium Hot Springs and turned onto Highway 93 toward Lake Louise.  At Radium, there is a channel cut through the tall cliffs and we drove through a spectacular sight. If there was an opportunity to pull over, I might have been able to get a photo of one of our caravaners coming through.  As we crossed the Rockies again, we came upon the Continental Divide at 5,280 feet.

We visited Lake Louise before, when the girls were young.  It was nothing like what we found on this trip.  Large, flashing signs on the highway urged drivers to NOT go into town, the lake or the lodge.  But, rather, head up to the ski resort parking lot and take a shuttle.  All parking lots are full, the sign said.  We camped in the national park in large spaces with power and water.  Train tracks foretold of the many trains that transited the line included the Rocky Mountaineer passenger train.  Whistles blew each time one came through, all day and night.  But we got used to it and it added to our stories we would share later. 

Lake Louise

We did get out to the lake and the Fairmont Chateau.  I felt like I had to play Moses and part the sea of humans just to see the water. This was very different from our previous visit where we were one of the few to sit and take in the majestic waters and mountains.  It is quite beautiful but next time we will pass and just head to Emerald lake.

We had a ride up to the top of the Lake Louise Ski Resort. This offered a spectacular view of the surrounding area. The area around the ski lift was fenced off with high metal fencing…wondering why, we spotted a momma grizzly and her cub. I guess our safety was key.

Peyto Lake Overlook

A planned trek, around the lake to the Tea Room at the far end of the lake, left early in the morning.  Having done that hike previously, we opted to sleep in.  And good thing we did.  Others, who hiked it, said the trail was packed full of tourists doing the same thing.  It was so busy, one said, that they felt they needed to wear masks because of all the bodies along the trail.  No thank you!  We decided to carpool to the Peyto Lake overlook.  What a spectacular sight.  The lake was emerald green and the Rockies and glaciers provided the backdrop to the views. The 1 mile trek straight up was a tiring hike.

The next day was a planned drive to Emerald Lake and the Spiral Tunnels at Kicking Horse Pass.  The spiral tunnels are an engineering feat, requiring trains to enter the lower tunnel, which spiraled within the mountain only to exit and head to an upper spiral tunnel to gain elevation to transit the pass.  Trains were long enough to be seen entering and exiting both tunnels. I loved watching this.

Then heading to Emerald Lake, we took a detour up a narrow, switch back road to the Takakkaw Falls.  At one point on the drive, the road does a steep 180 degree turn that was so sharp we had to do a 3-point turn.  Luckily there was no other traffic.  

Emerald Lake was spectacular and a must-see place.  We never would have experienced this had we not joined the caravan.  The Emerald Lake Lodge is made from hand-hewn logs and massive stone fireplaces.  Cottages or cabins slope down to the lake which is true to its name…emerald color.  There is a path around the lake that can be hiked but we had no time as we met there for dinner.  And what a feast it was.  We sat out on the wood deck, with drinks in had and watched the setting sun.  Glorious.  What a way travel.

Next, our trip from Lake Louise to Jasper.

Emerald Lake Lodge