Day Fifteen - 500 miles

Today we ventured into the barn to gaze upon some of the most beautiful horses I’ve ever been close enough to touch…admittedly, I probably haven’t been close enough to touch very many horses,  but these were truly magnificent, well-mannered horses. Two very kind and friendly students introduced us to the trainer who also had recently been competing in the Olympic trials; she very graciously gave us front row seats to watch her practice with her horse as she prepares for the next competition. It was an amazing display of strength, control, and grace.  We all have a new appreciation for these amazing creatures and those who dedicate themselves to train them.

We had to cover the miles today, but it was also important that we find enough wi-fi for Amy to submit her final exam in Geometry, one of the joys of cyber-schooling.  Finally we reached Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Then, it was a matter of finding some free connection that we could tap into without a password! Carl, the amazing bus driver,  maneuvered the motorhome in and out of at least 8 different options…we were beginning to get astonished looks from bystanders when, at last, Lowe’s gave us  enough bars to warrant parking there for the next 2 hours. While Amy took her final, the rest of the crew explored The Noodle Wok, Tim Horton’s Donuts, and, of course, Walmart.

We’ll travel late into the night as far as Carl wants to go and then we’ll find a spot to pull over for the night….all part of the adventure! But, as of today, Amy is  a sophomore.

Day Fourteen - Progress 250 miles

Driving east out of the mountains and into the Canadian plains we were treated to two bull elks by the road, each with very intimidating racks.  With the pine and mountains now yielding to pasture land with hundreds of cattle, we had to bid the Rockies farewell.
 

We were now headed towards the Flying Colours Horse Farm, south of Edmonton, which is part of a cool association of private farms that make space available to motor homes for overnight stay at no charge.  This dressage stable had no other visitors for the evening, so the kids enjoyed Frisbee on the grass lawns and a bit of interaction with two of the magnificently well-trained and beautiful horses that enjoyed running synchronously in the fields. Amy definitely has the touch with horses; they came right over to the fence for her.  I think that perhaps they were quite curious about the big white beast that rolled onto their grass.

Day Thirteen - Progress 200 miles

Carley and Joel began their travel back to their Seattle home early in the morning. The good byes weren’t as hard this time because they will see us in Pittsburgh the day after we roll in to the burgh!  Still, it always gives us a little lonely feeling without the older kids.

 The rest of us packed up and headed out, our destination being north and also a bit more west into the heart of the Canadian Rockies.  The Columbian Icefield is an incredible feature of Jasper National Park with glacial runoff streams that feed the Pacific, Atlantic, and even the Arctic Oceans.  We will now roughly follow one of these flows for the coming days as it forms the Saskatchewan River and winds east to the Great Lakes. 

 Seeing bear, mountain goats, a wolf, and elk were also highlights of the drive which ended in a Jasper area campground where it remained light almost until the 11pm quiet hour restriction.   Since this was our first night with all 7 of us in the rig, bedtime was anything but quiet.  We had never really tested the wooden platform bed that Carl had engineered back at home for Ian to sleep on and now “we” were forgetting just exactly how to put the thing together….Carl persevered to the point of exhaustion at which point he decided to take a little rest atop his creation. It was then decided that a lighter candidate like Gordon should try the new bed and Ian would sleep in the hammock with an air mattress suspended from the ceiling. (Carl in his wisdom had evidently foreseen this when reconstructing the motorhome ceiling to include the perfect hooks for hanging a hammock.) Anyway, when it was all figured out, no one slept on the floor and we were thankful to be safe and fairly warm inside, while the rain pattered on our roof. 

Tomorrow our crew of the five youngest Schartner children and two parents will begin to head east on our long journey home.

Day Twelve

Emma has the rare privilege to celebrate a second “golden” birthday this day; the first one having been last year when she turned seven on the 7^th (of June).  This year, being in the actual town of Golden, would seem to qualify as well.  Accordingly, Dad took Emma and Gordon to the top of the mountain in a ski lift/ gondola and were able to spot the snow covered peaks of six different Canadian National Parks.  

Cedar Lake was also very close by and is a fun and beautiful local swimming hole that Emma and the rest of us greatly enjoyed.  Getting back to the Air B-n-B, Emma’s primary request was that all of us pack into the hot tub, which, of course, we were very happy to do after enjoying the birthday meal and cupcakes for which Carley made a chocolate ganache topping.  Some game playing and opening of presents and not driving anywhere very far away made for a great and relaxing day.

To celebrate Emma’s birthday on our trip is really very appropriate, because she is one of the big reasons we decided to venture forth in another vintage motorhome.  She was not even two when we took our last big adventure, so we wanted her and Gordon especially to have memories of their own.

As she was falling asleep tonight she told us that this was her best birthday ever.

Day Eleven

 I apologize that we have been off-line…We got behind a few days for fun reasons and then it has been challenging to find service, but we are all fine and the bus has not broken down.  Don’t give up on us and thanks for all your prayers.                                                   

Having the luxury of driving Carley and Joel’s relatively small vehicle gave the girls and me the chance to do some exploring of our own heading over the mountains to end up picnicking in a garden park in Banff. The guys stayed in the Golden area to find a hike up a river canyon that featured mountain goats living close by.  Sure enough, a mother and baby goat were spotted halfway down the several hundred foot cliff on very steep rocky terrain. Of course this added more excitement to the adventure as the hikers tried to get closer to momma and baby…I can imagine what took place, but have decided not to go there. Gordon did inform me that it was good that I was not there….not sure how to take that!

The motorhome was struggling today but the boys pulled over on their boys' day adventure, cooled her down and put more coolant in and off she went.  Just another few days and we will be in flatter terrain, but we are so thankful for the way our bus has risen to each new challenging climb in the Rockies.

  Today we had to say goodbye to Anna, but before we did we were able to do one last special thing…. visit Lake Louise (in Carley and Joel’s car), a place that has been meaningful to me (Cindy) because it was one of my dad’s favorite spots.  It is good to remember my dad and my mom and us kids standing in front of Lake Louise, gazing at that beautiful scene with admiration for the One who created it all…..so many memories of days long gone made even more precious as I share them with my kids. I hope that this trip will be one of those memories for them.  And maybe someday they will stand in front of Lake Louise with their children.

Day Ten - Progress 300 miles

Operation Move Out of the Air B-n-B and Get On the Road to Canada went off without a hitch, since we had both Anna and Carley leading the charge; we even left on time and I don’t think we left any valuables behind! I also made a thorough search of the motorhome to ensure we did not accidentally have one black and white stowaway; the kitty had at one point this morning decided to follow Emma right into the big white bewooga, as Emma calls it.  (I’m pretty sure she means beluga, which may have influenced Carley to refer to the vehicle as the “land  whale”.)  Anyway, kitty could not defect to Canada on my watch.  Once on the road, the drive north into British Columbia through the Columbia River valley is astoundingly picturesque with sweeping views of snow topped peaks running north to Canada’s Glacier National Park, and abruptly rising from the wide, almost tropical verdant green farm-lined river basin.  The final drive up to the 2^nd Air B-n-B was a two-mile 6% grade climb which taxed the land whale, but rewarded us with two black-bear cubs crossing the road toward momma bear who was waiting patiently in the nearby trees.  We also learned of a grizzly bear sighting the previous day in an adjacent field.  We all gathered together tonight to have our own church service.  We have seen in so many ways how God has carried us through these days.

Day Nine - Progress 150 miles

The cat living at this incredible Airbnb house and property – kind of a nature preserve – was not used to having to sleep outside on occasion and woke us up meowing and pawing at the windows.  But it was wonderful to rise early and study the features of Flatrock Lake to the front and the abundant wildlife of the wetlands in the rear.  A little later, the little kids enjoyed beating a huge African drum as a rallying cry to get things going.  On the way to Glacier National Park’s west entrance, we followed the Flatrock river up and up into the mountains with its lightening hues of aqua blue catching your breath at every turn.  We had learned how the crushing weight of the glacier fields pulverize the underlying rocks into mineral silt that produce the unique light reflecting properties of glacier-fed lakes and rivers.  With the world-class “Road to the Sun” drive not yet fully opened for the season, we parked at the Avalanche Lake trail head and hiked the 2 ½ miles to one of the most amazing sights of the trip.  Snow covered peaks fed three high waterfalls which flowed into the high mountain lake featuring three distinct hues of aqua blue.  This same water would find its way to Flatrock Lake far down in the valley.  Towards the hike’s conclusion, Andrew was watching his watch as the Penguins’ game neared and, without too many local fans for either team, we still found a table for 10 at a microbrewery with plenty of TV’s.  The pizza, meatloaf, and local brews all tasted fabulous and, fortunately, were fully consumed before the overtime period when everything seemed to leave a sour aftertaste.  But even the short drive through this gorgeous lake and mountain region restored our hopeful and thankful hearts in remembering God’s creation and this remarkable day.

                                                                  by Carl Schartner