Aug.9,
left Salmon Arm before 9am. Den and Eva preparing for their daughter Lynnette's wedding Aug. 20.
sister Ethyl staying from Aidrie. They are the most generous and kind people we know.
back in the Sardine can.......for OldsAug.14' 2014
happy Birthday Sonja today.
We are on our way to Medicine Hat...time to catch up on notes.
Spent some fun days in Olds visiting with Noel  and checking out his new apartment and delivering the few items we managed to stuff into theVW.
We packed up theMH,where it was  on Terri and Sandy's farm.
terri and Sandy were helpful in getting us on the road and helping us transition from the packing, unpacking,moving mode.
We had a good visit with Ralph,Jean Fred Gary and Leslie. The Notley side of our family.
It is interesting to see the prairie way of life which is quite different from ours on the coast. It makes one appreciate what our grandparents must have experienced when they arrived from England at the turn of the century.

The motorhome was serviced in Red Deer and we dry camped in the Waterus lot before we headed east. the company in in the middle of many companies that service the gas and oil industries to the north. We watched as 2 convoys of specialized drilling trucks pulled out in the evening 10 each at least.The drilling industry is alive and well.

We headed east yesterday and found a provincial camp site near Brooks.
We got mixed up with directions 4 times, signage in Alberta not as comprehensive as in the USA so we have to learn. the BCCA camp book even had wrong directions but we made it despite ourselves. Thankfully Tony has a better sense of direction than I do.
Our neighbors in the campsite had very sunburn necks......their use of the English language was limited to mostly profanity...they had young children with them and one wonders  what their future will be. They  partied loudly till past 2 am...somewhat entertaining and educational anyway.

We started today by spilling coffee all over the duvet after Mamie made a flying leap on to the bed to wish us good morning. Susie escaped and led merry chase all over the campground...a kind gentleman  reminded us dogs were to be on a leash.
     lATER on the road to Medicine Hat. Unhooked at the travel center and checked out the very historic downtown the street lights are still lit by gas. The Medalta pottery was made here...think we have some at home.

On to Saskatchewan...vast vast fields,  flat so easier on fuel.Aug. 17
1000 leaving Comfort plus campground east of Regina..a friendly family style location front lawn is a dog park much to the joy of the pampered poodles.We had 2 nights here first night a big storm rolled through the prairies..we woke to be surrounded by lakes and mud.
A young  women in the park, who is here from  Estavan with her children told me her neighbor was completing a  complex barn and had it collapse during the storm.
We drove into Regina yesterday and toured the RCMP Heritage center, on huge ground where all RCMP cadets have their 6 months initial training..saw street arrests etc in progress.
We went to the sunset retreat ceremony in the evening which was spectacular with horses, marching bands and troop drills.They shot off a canon and had a rifle salute.The sun was setting and glinted off their very shiny boots, buckles and spurs.The sun shone between the old brick buildings directly on the large Canadian flag as it was lowered and folded in military ceremony and tradition. We are proud and lucky to be Canadians.
We have not, in our 2 day stay mastered the Regina Ring road system...we have to leave that puzzle  behind us.

We had spent the previous 2 days going through Swift Current and Moose Jaw. Swift Current was a  Walmart stop, we were entertained by a  youths riding around the parking lot in an old car riding on 3 tires and 1 rim.

Moose Jaw  city center reminded us of Victoria and Duncan in the 1950's buildings, signs etc. a blast from the past. Moose Jaw is famous for it's tunnels where bootlegging was the highlight during the prohibition years.

The roads across the praries are straight, flat, 4 lanes and few overpasses for cross streets. many of the fields have been cut already.