VACATION NOTES

PART TWO

Leaving Great Falls Friday we didn't bother organizing the load for the air mattress. We just piled it all in and got ready to get on the road. Again our hosts were up and gone to work before we roused for the day. We stopped at the grocery store for ice and fruit for lunch. Since this store was out of film for my camera we drove across to Walgrens. We were fortunate a lady took a moment there to let us know we had a flattening tire. When we looked up and down the street we saw that we were only a block from a Firestone Store and went there. Turned out it was only a little screw that made the puncture and after an hour we were on the road. It's a good thing this was taken care of then as there was an awful lot of open road that day.

We arrived in Calgary and we were very warmly greeted by Baron Beothuk and Baroness Wilma. We had just enough daylight left to find a camp site, set up the tent and get unloaded. The Baroness came around just as we needed an extra hand to get the supports up on our tent; we're indebted to her for the timely assistance. We went across to set up our sunshade at the archery field before we changed into garb, then we watched a nighttime shoot with glow sticks attached to the arrows. Looked like falling stars when they came down; but I'm not quite sure what comparison to use for the initial upward part of the shoot. It was really impressive but Leofwyna and I could only think of Owain's response to this activity! We also went to the bardic fire and enjoyed a great time there too. When we finally excused ourselves we still needed to run into town for ice so it was rather late when we fell into our beds.

Saturday morning proved how well we'd choosen our campsite as nothing woke us until we were ready. We had a great spot in a grove of trees beyond the tepee area that shaded us all day but was not the least bit stuffy. We had set up our sunshade near the archery field so we'd be comfortable viewing the archery tournament and shared it with lots of lovely people through the morning. Later after lunch we were surprised and delighted upon returning to our seats to see our sunshade being bourne across the field to make it serve for viewing the rapier and heavy tournaments too. Again, the shade was much appreciated by many lovely personages, including HRH Erica the Princess of Avacal, HE Wilma the Baroness of Montengarde, and my lj friends, Minyata and Cat-Cetera.

Feast was a money-raiser put on by the folks of the Archery Center and was WONDERFUL. The roast beef meal we'd been promised was perfectly cooked prime rib, potatoes and carrots, corn on the cob and baked beans. Court was held after supper and we were surprised to be called into court for recognition and gifts. Leofwyna still had the presence of mind at this point to make cogent remarks... I was just speechless.

After dark another fire circle was formed up for entertainment. A theme of SCA memories was encouraged for awhile and later developed into songs, stories and so forth. When Calontir was invited to participate I told my morality stories that I earned my Baronial Championship with and Leofwyna performed a tune on our ocarina and told about it's making. We stayed even later Saturday than we had Friday but another ice run was required before we found our beds.

We found the Montegarde citizens to be as warm and familiar as our own MagMorons and enjoyed this part of our trip immensely!! Thank you for making it so.

VACATION NOTES

PART THREE

Okay, let's try this again...

I woke up earlier than I wanted Sunday and alarmed by the clouds talked Leofwyna into getting up and loading early to avoid wet packing.  Turned out I was an alarmist but it got us on the road to Banff in good time.   We stopped again for ice and fruit and studied the maps.  Found our best route took us past the event site so stopped back in for further good-byes and hugs all 'round.  They hug good in Montegarde, too. 

Made it to our campground at Kanaskas (selected because they advertised enforced quiet hours) and previewed our assigned campsite which was right across the road from a big military bivouac.  Having mental reservations regarding revele and early morning forced marches we headed back to the office and was pleased to be given a list of available campsites to look over.  After driving the loop a couple times looking these over, pros and cons, we selected our best choice... big level area for the tent, well off the road but still able to back the van well in towards the tent.  An excellent choice.  Also turned out the military bivouac was quiet as well.  After setting up the tent we headed into town for supplies, planning campfire suppers.  Peregrine, lady moose  Back in camp Leofwyna built a campfire and prepared smoked turkey stuffed pasta with pesto sauce and grilled zucchini while I sorted and 'furnished' the tent.  We finished the evening with S'Mores over the campfire.

Monday after a cold night (should have packed more wool blankets) we hit the HOT showers (Wonderful hot showers!!) and headed up into Banff where we took the Bow Valley Parkway.  We saw lots of beautiful scenery and wildlife.  Back in town at the end of the day we located a resale shop where, joy of joys, we found two wool blankets.  Bank in camp between heavy rain showers I managed a big campfire while Leofwyna prepared foil-pocket potatoes and carrots and grilled salmon steaks with dill.  Cooking was completed and the meal whisked into the tent as the next rain began pelting down.  Leofwyna added a couple logs to the fire as she came and that kept burning for the next hour; I would never have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself.  Later Leofwyna went out in the rain and toasted marshmallows over that fire and put things away in the van for the night.  Blessings on her as I was able to stay dry in the tent beefing up my bed with the 'new' wool blankets. 

Tuesday morning it was raining again and again.  I had slept much warmer, thank you very much!  We finally got up and by the time we'd dressed and packed up inside the tent the rain stopped long enough for us to load up.  Wet tent, blech!  Needless to say, we didn't bother setting up the back for sleeping this time.  The hot showers were appreciated though and we were checked out in time and on the road back to Montana.  We did manage to get into Great Falls early enough to visit with Jodi a bit before heading to bed.

Oh yes, I was driving when we came back across the border.  Their lanes and stuff are rather confusing and I missed a stop sign.  You'd have thought I'd crashed a barrier or something 'cause half a dozen guards poured out of the building.  There was only one car in front of us though and we were through after the normal questions and a brief, "Watch the stop signs, we put them there for a reason."

VACATION NOTES

PART FOUR

Wednesday we slept in late before getting on the road to Yellowstone.  Golden Eagle, Sandhill Crane, Elk, elk herd, brown bear  Found a nice motel room (the last one there) in Montana at Yellowstone north entrance around four o'clock.  We headed into the park to do the near loop.  Cascade Falls, Heart of the Caldara, Tower Falls.

Thursday was the only time this trip we woke to the alarm clock.  We wanted the full day for the Park.  We were last at Yellowstone when Leofwyna was ten and I was fifteen.  It's just as strange a place as we remembered.  We got to Old Faithful around noon with 25 minutes to the next eruption so we ate lunch while we waited then headed in for the show.  After an unpleasant experience with some bikers holding extra seats (for themselfs, not even for someone else) we got a good spot when the Ranger finished her talk.  We took her spot right up front when she left.  Turned out another geyser erupted at the same time as Old Faithful and hopefully we got good pictures of them in the same frame.  During the afternoon we completed the second loop and saw places we'd never even heard of... new things for us as Dad always motored through things and rarely took trails for anything.  In consideration of the altitude I was careful not to do much climbing... level trails for me, folks!  Buffalo, osprey

Due to the time we left the park late afternoon without going on up to see Upper and Lower Falls that Leofwyna had hoped for.  We were a day and a half from home and she had to work Saturday.   Once she had us out of the mountains I drove awhile.  We stopped for a steakhouse supper a couple hours short of the I-80 interchange in Wyoming and after decided to find another motel room there.  At some point during the day we finished Outlander and switched to Dragonfly in Amber. 

Friday was a long road day and we took turns driving.  I took a turn through the level part of Wyoming and a long turn from Sydney to Grand Island in Nebraska.  I think I wore Leofwyna out this trip as everytime I drove she dozed in the passenger seat.  Not saying I didn't take my turns dozing too but not all the time.  Pelican  We pulled into Lincoln about 1am and crashed. 

Throughout the trip we watched for license plates and we saw 45 states, 7 provinces and St Thomas Island.  We were only missing Vermont, Rhode Island, Arkansas, North Dakota and Hawaii.   

A perfect trip is one where you're glad to be home... this was a Perfect Trip!!

(no subject)

SATURDAY

Before heading to work Leofwyna helped me get things out of the van.  She cleared the ice chest out and then got ready to go to work.  I spread camp carpets, sunshade and tent out on the drive to dry, mowed the front yard and ran a few loads of laundry.  In the evening I folded and put up the camp gear.

SUNDAY

With Leofwyna at work I put the tent out in the sun again and ran a few more laundry loads.  I also relaxed a good part of the day going through email and blogs, reassuring the cat and journaling the trip.