Oct-Nov 2013 Cross Canada to MD

Cameron Falls, Waterton NP

Pat in Waterton Lakes NP

Black Bears

When we left Fernie in early October, the initial plan was to spend some time in Yellowstone and other national parks as we headed east. But Congress forgot that they were elected to serve the people and not their personal agendas and closed all the National Parks by shutting down the government. So after picking up our mail in the US, we drove around closed Glacier NP, headed back to Alberta, Canada and entered Waterton Lakes NP. The wind blew hard for the three days we were in the park. We drove to Red Rock Canyon and saw some black bears along the road. Our next stop was Ft MacLeod and the North West Mounted Police Museum. It was interesting to note how differently Canada settled the West compared to the US. The Indians‘ rights were respected and the bison were not exterminated. In Medicine Hat, we toured the Medalta Potteries Museum and spent a few days exploring Cypress Hills Provincial Park.

In Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan we toured the Tunnels. Here Chinese Immigrants, many of whom worked on the railroad, lived underground in order to escape persecution during the Yellow Peril. The Tunnels were also used for rum running during Prohibition. In Manitoba, we camped at Spruce Woods Provincial Park for a couple days, then we drove to Winkler and had a private tour of the Leisure Travel/Triple E RV Factory. Once we digested the information from Leisure Travel RV, we determined that their vehicles could not carry the weight required by full-timers. 

Tundra Buggy

Polar Bear

Yes it was cold

 In Winnipeg, we spent a day visiting the Manitoba Experience and the Manitoba Museum.  The museum contains a full size replica of the Nonsuch, whose voyage in 1668 led to the founding of the Hudson’s Bay Company. From Winnipeg, we took a two hour flight north to Churchill on Hudson’s Bay. We wanted to see the polar bears that gather near Churchill in October and November waiting for Hudson’s Bay to freeze over. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate, and due to the snow and windy conditions, the bears were down in the snow taking cover from the wind. The overcast conditions also prevented us from seeing the Northern Lights. We rolled the dice and lost this time. We did have a great dog sled ride before flying back to Winnipeg.

Inuksuk "something that acts for or performs the funtion of a person"

Bears use these to catch tourists

Why we came

Don't wake sleeping bears! (not a live shot)

Our lodge in Churchill

Arctic Fox

Polar bear seeking shelter

MV Ithaca

Our lead sled dogs and musher

From Winnipeg, we headed south to the Born Free factory in Humboldt, IA to get some work done.  Then we saw on their web page that they had the vehicle which was now at the top of our wish list for sale. We called the factory and told them to hold it for us. It was a nearly new 2013 27’ Born Free with 6 K miles. We had many delays getting financing for the RV, but on our 31th wedding anniversary, we signed the papers. From IA we headed home in time to celebrate my father’s 91^st birthday and Pat’s father’s 86^th birthday.

Dolliver SP in IA

Anniversary Present

My Father wirh friend, Helen