September 18, 2005

September 18, 2005

Jasper National Park, Alberta

YEAR 2 DAY 93

 

Today was mostly sunny, cold in the morning and evening, pleasant in the afternoon.

This morning we drove over to the shower building and had showers, then went to the registration building to register and pay for another night, preferably in an electrically serviced site. No electrical sites were available yesterday, so we were in an unserviced site. Running the propane furnace all night ran down the trailer battery. Electrical sites were available for tonight. We returned to the trailer, prepared for departure, hitched up, drove over to our new campsite, unhitched and set up again. Joanne prepared a picnic lunch while I did preventive maintenance.

Yikes ! The cracks from the stone chip on the windshield are rapidly spreading across the windshield. The cracks now extend about a foot in each direction out from the stone chip.

First we drove up Mount Edith Cavell. The last 30 km. / 18 mi. was a poorly maintained, narrow, tight switch back road up the mountain. It was worth it. We got to the parking lot, and ate our picnic lunch before setting out on a hike to the foot of Cavell Glacier. The hike was a difficult, up hill climb for 1.6 km. / 1 mile. The reward was Cavell Pond, at the base of Cavell Glacier. The emerald green small lake was filled with icebergs which have broken off the glacier. It was cold and windy up there. Bo was puzzled by icebergs along the shoreline, but was pleasantly surprised when he licked one. HEY ... cold and refreshing after a tough hike.

We drove down Mount Edith Cavell, and over to Athabasca Falls. Quite spectacular, although a little congested with the 5 bus loads of seniors that arrived a few minutes before us. These National Park attractions must be a zoo during the peak summer months. From Athabasca Falls we drove back to Jasper town site, then up to see Lake Edith, Lake Annette, and finally, Jasper Park Lodge. Back down to Jasper town site to fill up with diesel, then back to Whistlers Campground. Whew ... we were all tired. Except for Teddy, who was in the trailer anxiously awaiting his supper. We fed the animals, and while Joanne prepared our supper, I worked on a letter to GM, and did today's accounting. We had supper, and as we were finishing, our friend Erbon Dickinson phoned. He and Lorraine are in Nebraska, heading home to Ottawa. I told him about the Class B van conversion we saw on a dealer's lot in Saskatoon that we thought he and Lorraine might be interested in. He is interested, and will discuss it with Lorraine, to see if they should drive up to Saskatoon to take a look at it. While Joanne washed dishes, I worked on today's journal entry. Maybe we’ll write some post cards before going to bed tonight.

DSK