Jasper National Park | Whistlers Campground
Jasper National Park: After the big party
of last night and not getting to bed until 1:30 a.m. (hey, it was Lisa's
fault, she is such a party-girl!) we really didn't want to get up and get
Lisa to the airport by 6 a.m., but, of course, we did. When we arrived at
the airport, we all groaned - the lines filled the departure area and snaked
out the doors for 200 yards in front of the terminal! We were sure Lisa
would never get on her flight! DT estimates there were 2,000 people at
Edmonton International. We walked in and made our way to the Alaska/Horizon
desk and there WAS NO LINE! Horizon has only one early morning flight out of
Edmonton, and they use a small plane. Lisa checked in, filled-in her customs
form and we said our goodbyes! I was already a blubbering mess, though
well-contained, at the thought of not seeing her for weeks and weeks - but I
can assure you all she had arrived safely home in Beaverton and will be
departing for GW on the 19th. She is being protected tonight by Snickers,
Beagle Extraordinaire.
And just a quick note from the local papers (given to us "free" by the
parking lot attendant at the airport): 7 defections in total now, with the
office remaining open for a few more days for stragglers/drug test failures.
Edmonton is really patting itself on the back for their spectacular games
and riveting closing ceremonies. We liked the games, we liked Edmonton - but
they were not by far the best Worlds in the World.
Except for El Guerrouj.
We went back to the motorhome and began packing-up after an 11-night stay.
We spent 11 days in Sacramento for the Olympic Trials last summer, so this
was our 2nd long stay in one place. It was so early, actually too early to
start up a diesel engine, so we politely waited until 8 a.m. before leaving
Edmonton. We pulled-in the slide room, using the motor (that is now hanging
from its frame). Finally, a new motor and motor housing is being shipped to
our home-home. We headed straight west on Highway 16 and made it to Jasper
National Park just a little after noon, making only one stop for a stale
"always fresh" Tim Horton donut in Edson. Canadian Maple, of course.
Along the way, we saw a few deer (several of them actual still alive - not
dead - on the side of the road), one osprey, a herd of bison (as cattle) and
for some odd reason, a horse - untethered, walking aimlessly through the
Alberta wilderness. After entering
Jasper National Park, we were treated to a small herd of mountain sheep
and a few elk... it is like Parks Canada places them at the entrance to lure
in more visitors. We pulled into Whistlers Campground,
secured our site, set up camp and were asleep by 2:00 p.m.!!! (Hey, we are
old - we can't stay up until after one and get up at five and drive all
day!) We had made plans to meet TC for dinner at 6:00, so at the
predetermined time we found ourselves in a local pub having a cold one, with
the shining Rockies looming above us. We three made our way down the street
to a restaurant DT and I had frequented three years ago. For some odd
reason, DT remembered the waitress from our past visit to the pizza place.
She was French and blonde... maybe that is why??? We had a nice dinner and
caught up with Tom. We left the restaurant under thundering and rainy skies!
It was about 85 degrees in Jasper today - so you can imagine the Rocky
Mountain Thunderstorm that could bring! Now back at Goldie, we plan to
resume our rousing gin rummy tournament - abandoned during The World's. We
are "dry" camping - no electricity, no water... no nuttin'... no worries.
Electricity? We don't need no stinking electricity.
Campground:
Whistlers