Whirlpool One Skate for Peggy

Yesterday evening, after 2000 km since leaving Whitehorse, we rolled the rig into Jasper. The drive from Fort St. John was easy going and the best part was our approach to Grande Cache when the sunset behind the Rockies. This is our recreation destination #1 and we are stoked to be here. Today we ventured down to the Whirlpool valley south of Jasper on hwy 93A for a skate ski. We set out from Meeting of the Waters and ended up at Moab Lake for a round trip total of 18 km along a gentle-groomed road. The kids and Sonnet were real troops and well ready for dinner when we returned to the hotel. Now its time for some celebration as we bring in 2013. Happy New Year everyone, we wish you all health and happiness in the coming months. This blog entry is dedicated to my good friend Peggy Carels who passed away earlier today. We love you Peggy...

Grande Cache glory

Sullivan and Sonnet cruising up the Whirlpool valley

Sofia and Sonnet stop to take in the view and some beef jerkey

Does it get any better!!

Goulash in the Northern Rockies

We are 2 days into our drive to Jasper and it has been beautiful. Our pre-dinner soak at the Liard Hot Springs yesterday was more than welcome after a 7 hour drive. We soon realized that there is probably a system for rustic hotspringing such as what to wear (or not wear), undressing at warp speed and organizing your stuff for the brisk exit. The scene was very tranquil with only a couple other hardy souls enjoying the full moon rays through the frost laidened trees. Our accomodations were another 40 minutes down the road at Muncho Lake where our friend Rosie has a great cabin overlooking the lake. As we approached the lake the temperature was still cold at -20 and we thought about bailing on the cold cabin and opting for the Northern Rockies Lodge. Then something very unusual happened, it went from -19C about 2 km from the lodge to -3C at the lodge! It was down right balmy and the cabin was back on. First we needed food and pulled into the Northern Rockies lodge at 20:30 making it just in time before the kitchen closed. We were all super hungry and inhaled our delicious goulash, spatzli and steamed veggies. This set us up for a very peaceful sleep at Rosie's. The beautiful driving and abundant wildlife viewing continued through the northern Rockies and out onto the plains towards Fort Nelson and Fort St. John. No those are not Christmas tree lights out in the middle of the forest, they are oil and gas rigs, busy with people hard at work doing their thing so folks like us can roll up to the pumps and continue our adventure, much appreciated.

Liard Hot Springs

Frosted trees desparately reaching for the hot springs

Thanks Rosie!

Northern Rockies

North of 60 auto glass art

 

Less than 12 hours til departure!

Epic day of packing, cleaning, moving things from here to there, running around town, selling the car, buying chicken food, chopping wood and saying goodbyes. What has become increasingly noticeable is the shear amount of excess stuff we have! When we return I am not even sure we will want to unpack it; the house is better off the way we will be leaving it.The plan is to be on the road by 7am tomorrow, I think we will be lucky to be out of here by 8 or 9am. Nevertheless we have done well and sometime tomorrow we will pull into Liard Hotsprings, located in the northern Rockies, on the first day of our 365 day adventure. It's an internet-free zone so we will update from day 2 when we cruise into Fort St. John. Hard to believe it is here, 3.5 years of saving and it is finally here!

2 Days til departure - Boxing the house on boxing day

With only 2 days left to pack and clean the house there is no time for procrastination! There is a chimney to sweep and xmas decorations to deal with. Time to get after it Sullivan says!