It was an early rise in Hanna Alberta. J and I knew we had quite a long drive a head of us. The girls even woke easily, a rare occurrence with A! She and I headed down the breakfast room and loaded up on continental goods for the family. Back in our room we chowed down, showered, dressed and crammed back into the van all by 8:30 am! Look out Penticton we’re on the way!
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| J "making good time!" |
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| crammed in |
Even though this half of the drive would be hours longer, (8 hours in the car to Hanna including being lost so far!), our moods were a lot better than the previous day.
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| except little S wasn't lovin the drive |
From Hanna we went through Drumhelller. A, had been obsessed as a little girl with dinosaurs. Her life long dream had been to go o Drumheller! But being 13 means denying this in all ways, shapes and forms! I guess dinosaurs are not the in thing!
Rain started right after Drumheller. And maybe I shouldn’t say rain but tiny water bombs! The rain wasn’t coming down in sheets, it wasn’t windy, but the drops were so big they sounded like hail! It rained off and on throughout the mountains of Alberta. But it was peaceful and rather nice to not have to drive with the a.c cranked!
Excitement started to rouse as we drew closer to Banff. We had been there as a family the last time we were out at nana’s. We had stayed a night there on our way back home. And if you’ve ever been to Banff you know there is no way you can resist falling in love with the place! Plus it means only 6 more hours of driving ….. According to J! ;)
We passed by the turn into the village of Banff to save on time. J and his “making good time” thing. But topped at Roger’s Pass to stretch our legs, nurse, and take pictures. And I must make a point of mentioning how amazingly well behaved all the girls had been! Even little S who is just a baby! We took a few pictures at the continental divide and were back in the van.
We came across the animal bridges built over the double highway we were on. Explaining to E that they built them so that the animals could cross safely and that us humans are not allowed up there. She thought that was pretty cool.
Within minutes of going under these bridges we came to a spot where a bunch of cars were pulled over. People were all lined up on the side with cameras. As we pulled over we saw what they were so excited about. A baby grizzly bear was running around behind the giant chicken wire fence! OK!!! SO now we’re ridiculously excited!!! We had never seen a bear (once in a zoo in Bismarck, ND. But not a real live wild bear!), not one of us had! As the van came to a stop and as we pulled the camera out he ran off. We never got a picture to remember the moment, we all, at the same time, saw our first bear. But I’m sure we won’t soon forget!
Back on the road. And urgently needing to pee! This messes up the “making good time” thing, but the girls and I didn’t much care! We pulled over in Lake Louise. I just need to make a note of how different men and women are. And maybe it’s different in your family, but my side and my husband's are similar in this way. The men don’t need to eat. At all! Not when they have an agenda at least. Somehow hunger seems to recognize the much important “making good time” issue and pass right on by them. Yet it seems to find us women and the children every darn time! So needless to say J lost out this time and we found a restaurant in Lake Louise and filled our bellies!
Back on the road. The rain finally stopped just after our lunch break. The sky was clear and it was hot! And the only hope now was to get to Penticton before the sun went down! How absurd to finally get to the point of your destination in the dark!
The drive became a little more interesting the further into B.C we got. With many up’s and downs into the mountains, many , many twists and turns. Before long both A and E were feeling car sick! Thankfully and surprisingly we never had one emergency pull over! Not one accident in the van either!
As we rounded turns and topped hills we found little towns quaintly built into the side of the mountain overlooking the lakes. We started to fall in love all over again with the beautiful nature surrounding us. And with each town counted Penticton was growing near!!
After 14 hours in, and out, of the van we made it to Penticton!!! Annnnnd the sun was still in the sky. Barely but it still counted!
A quick trip to Safeway to pick up some necessities, then back in the van for the 10 minute drive to nana’s house. S was not cool with this in and out of the van, 14 hour drive!!! And she screamed for 5 minutes on the way up the mountain!
Now, we aren’t used to S screaming!! She is quite a happy baby. She obviously has her fussy time and days. But never ever has she screamed like this!! Both big girl were frightened, and I had to jump in the back to try calm her. After what seemed to be years I remembered she loves to scratch! Ya I said scratch! Anything new around her she scratches at it! So I put a book bag at the end of her seat and started to scratch it. After a minute or so she calmed and started scratching with me! Hahahahaha! What a kid!
Within 10 minutes we were unlocking the door to nana’s house at St. Andrews on the Lake! We made it!! A totally drive time of 22 hours!
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