yes, really, we were setting off to pocahontas. One thing about going to Canada this time is that my paternal grandparents have died, my gran being canadian and that aunty m talked about them visiting and what they enjoyed there, giving me a whole new impression of them. I found out afterwards that miette springs were one of their fav places to go, and my aunt loves staying at pocohontas.
my cousin K and her son came over in the morning and we had a leisurely breakfast and chat, made sure the motorhome [or RV 
] was ready to go and then set off. I don’t think aunty m gave us quite the full instructions on how to avoid the construction as we ended up wheeling off the road to turn round in a gas station and try again .
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Northern alberta tht we travelled long towards edson was pretty rural looking v early on. mostly trees, a few farms and v v few signs of habitation, but a railway line keeping pace with us, along which went the longest trains i have seen. we decided to take some road pics along the way, ideal for adding into the blog the girls did some looking, some colouring and then a fair bit of snoozing when they realised how long the journey was DH and i tried to identify sources of most annoying rattles so could dampen down, and find a listenable to radio station. He also got to grips with driving the thing and assessing its width and enjoying cruise control and i was eyes for weird canadian signs and also speed limits etc.
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We safely negotiated filling up with petrol – arms and legs severed!! and did a massive shop at edson for the main bulk of 13 days food [there goes a kidney! the exchange rate was sooo against us for this holiday that even own brand baked beans seemed whappingly expensive] getting the girls awake and made the final drive into the rockies, we could see them now – woohoo – and past a sign saying it was our last chance to go to alaska. i was keen to perhaps take that trip one day [my premium bond needs to be successful!] full of enthusiasm we finally got to the outer edge of jasper national park and the rockies.
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As the evening came on we camped in our first parks site, got told all about bears and clean sites, and that we were truly in bear country and a bt eek. we realsied we hadn’t bought matches or had much paper for firelighting, but got it going anyway. SB named the chasm of death [or something similar!] near our pitch, i made pasta and we settled in feeling truly at home, and being dined on by hungry mosquitos
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How does the bear trap work? Nominate a campsite visitor to sleep in it as a decoy? Looks so lovely. Grr to mozzies!
I love the scenic route to Alaska! And bear traps!
Dunno how the bear trap works – I imagine a bit like a giant humane mouse trap? I think it might have been the only one we saw – maybe it was more of a reminder about bears, it was right by the entrance. The emphasis in the campgrounds was very much on the ‘Bare Sites’ approach. Keeping all food stored in the vehicle/lockers (for walk-in campers), not leaving waste lying about, bear proof waste bins etc. so as to give the bears less reasons to come around the camp.
I really liked the drive across from Edmonton, roads were pretty empty, pretty straight a lot of the time, and pretty flat. Engage cruise control and relax. You could go for miles without having to do anythign else. And then getting all excited as the mountains gradually came nearer
Wonderful. God Canada is glorious!
looks lovely! We’re pondering a motorhome for america next year, so might need to pick your brains about it at some point
Bears. Argh!
Looks amazing – can well understand how much you loved it!