Travel through Kicking Horse and Roger's Passes and then down the Coquihalla

 Left Strathmore Oct 24th and travelled around Calgary to Revelstoke through the Roger's and Kicking Horse passes.  So beautiful, once we travelled out of slushy roads.  Hoare frost decked the conifers which glistened with the sun sparkling on the laden branches as we travelled through the mountains. The roads dried and the snow disappeared as we approached Golden and Revelstoke where we stayed at Canada West RV Park. Water was on as was the cable, electric and sewer. Nice stop!
 Continued on Thursday to Rosedale BC
via the Shuswap, Three Valley Gap,
Kamloops, Merritt, Hope and then
Rosedale where we are presently camped
 at Camperland and Bridal Falls.  Very quiet
 here as there are only two other campers.
Followed this Albertan towing his wee Smart
 down the Coq. Big bus, small toad!
A bit of snow at Logan Lake exit but
 from there on only a skiff on the roadside as we travelled further south and west.

Rain now...everyday!  Welcome to
Vancouver area!  Liquid sunshine!
 Better than snow and cold though!

Strathmore Visit in Snow

Icicles! Warm as Toast Inside!

Caper loved it!

 Fearing the snow forecast for Spruce Grove Oct. 23, we packed up and headed for Strathmore to visit Fred and Doreen, escaping snow, or so we thought.  20 cm were predicted for that night and more the following day and snow it did...a foot plus and the wind blew, drifting all around us!  We did not put out our slides or place our jacks. The only happy soul, was Caper as he nosed and frollicked in the snow...a pup again!  Fortunate we had our boots with us!  We left the next morning, putting on water, dumping our tanks and "shovelling" the drift with my pizza pan!  LOL!  WE do not or plan to carry a shovel!  Slushy roads in Strathmore but on our approach to Calgary, the roads were dry or with wet spots.  Heading to Revelstoke via Kicking Horse and Roger's Passes...next post!

Drifting!  My Pizza Pan became our Shovel!

The Edmonton House

 Michael, Nadine and Daniel officially moved into the house October 20th and slept there for the first time that night.  Most of their stuff had been moved in the weeks previous, but the big stuff required a big truck and some muscle.  Ryan, Rea, Michael, Nadine, Dad and I all got into the act.  My job was to care for Daniel.  Love it!
The house is undergoing a kitchen remodel and new flooring that is not yet complete.  The kitchen cupboards were to arrive today, the floor next week and then counters and appliances sometime in November.  It will be very nice when complete.  We have a bedroom in the basement with some of our clothing, so we can call this home when we need a a place to stay.  Otherwise, we will continue to live in the motorhome in parks in Alberta and British Columbia, allowing us to travel as long as we can...Canada for 6 months and the southern US for the winter.  Life is good!

Sunset and Snow at Glowing Embers RV Park

The Western Sky

YUK! Snow!

While at Glowing Embers, we experienced so many different forms of good and bad weather.  Sunsets, sunrises and pink skies are my favourites.  There is nothing more beautiful than a sunset in the Western Sky.  A few days later, we received the first snows, just enough to cover the ground.  It didn't stay long, but it was a reminder that we needed to get packed up and ready to head west, then south!  October snows are not unusual; in fact we are told that it can snow every month of the year in Alberta.  YUK!  It would be another while, October 22, before we could leave.  The kids need to move to their new house first.  More of that in the next post!  Stay tuned!

Daniel at the Park!

More Grandad, More! Higher, too!

One of our favourite outings is to take Daniel to the local park.  He loves the swing and he especially loves Grandad to push him higher! Grandma tries to swing beside but can't keep up.  When we ask if he wants to slide, he says "more Grandad, more!"  How wonderful, that God allows us to become kids again through the eyes of our grandchildren! 

Around and around I go!

Love it!

Daniel loves this "spin-a-roo" as I call it.  For now, until he is older, it is safer if he sits on it while Grandad spins him around. Great fun!  The slide really does not interest him much at the moment. He is such a neat little boy as he always remembers to empty his shoes of sand and leave it at the park.  Mommy especially likes this.
 We walk to and from the park and Daniel loves us to lift him and swing him over the puddles.  Squeals of delight!  Lots of fresh air and exercise yields an appetite for a hearty lunch of grilled cheese and fruit.  Yum!

Cowboy RIP October 5th, 2012

Cowboy, with Caper, the week before Cowboy died

Cowboywatching us from the top of the MH steps, when he first arrived, January, 2012

 Sadly, we had to say "good-bye" to my walking buddy, Cowboy.  I know that he is waiting at the Rainbow Bridge, frollicking with all his canine buddies until Caper joins him.  It was a difficult decision, but we know and take comfort in the fact that he is no longer struggling to survive.  Back in July, Cowboy began to have seizures that we thought were diabetic and so treated with honey.  He came around shortly; he had a seizure each month from then on and always we were able to "bring him back". However at noon on Thurs Oct 4th, he had one seizure, came around and then had another from which he needed help.  Off to the nearest veterinarian, Spruce Grove Veterinarian Hospital, for that help.  His temp and blood sugar were off the chart.  Several worked on him, revived him and then sedated him.  They kept him for observation for the afternoon, then advised that he needed specialized observation for the night.  Guardian, a Veterinarian service in Edmonton that is open 365/24/7 with all the equipment such as Cat Scan, MRI and sophisticated xray machines, all manned by 6-8 veterinarians, was recommended so we transported him there with IV intact.  We called every two hours and then at 6 Fri am, we got the dreaded call.  He was awake, but not doing well...paws and legs were curled under him, he was confused and disoriented, vomiting, incontinent and struggling.  We made the decision to have him put to sleep, but we were on our way,  We said our "good-byes" at 7:15 that morning.  A difficult day!  I miss him so!  We both do, but we know that with a diagnosed brain tumor, we made the right decision.  We feel so badly as he was in perfect health otherwise and this took us by surprise.  He was our rescue; we are proud to have been a part of his life and only hope that we gave him some good times in his last few months.  He certainly loved to travel and travel he did!  So long my friend!  You are truly missed!

My Walking Buddy on the Confederation Trail in PEI this past Summer