Friday, August 25, 2017

Glaslyn, SK

Little Loon Regional Pk
Site #4C - $28 p/w, free firewood
cell, wifi at clubhouse (trickles to site)

Another really nice little park and golf course. Lac Pelletier could use some tips! Our site was large with some spruce tree dividers that provided a sense of privacy. Plus, it was an opportunity to catch up online with my photos and blog while sitting on the clubhouse deck.

We biked about the park and had an early campfire. Until the mosquitoes chased us indoors. We had almost forgotten about those buggers because surprisingly they weren't even out and about at Greig Lake.  Love the old SK emblem on the firepits!



I had texted Marilyn to let her know we were back in cell range and when she found out where we were camped, she drove over for another visit. Awesome! They had golfed here before and had discussed heading there that morning but instead chose St Walburg.

The wind let up enabling us to burn more of that free firewood... Friday night cocktails and a wiener roast! We doused ourselves in bug spray and sat out long after dark. Saturday morning we headed to Meota.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Meadow Lake Prov Pk

Greig Lake Campground
Site #67 - $30 power (x3), free firewood, no cell (at office)
Park Pass Note: 3 day/$24, 1 wk/$35
Temp 20C

Camping at this park was a first for us. I do, however, have fond childhood memories of staying in a cabin and fishing at Waterhen Lake with the Uncles and Aunts - Ray, Isabel, Ed and Marg. There are a number of small lakes within the park and we chose the campground at Greig Lake. It was a good choice. The weather was beautiful when we arrived at lunchtime and we found a great site, large and fairly private. (The attendant let us do a drive through.)

We had a most enjoyable stay. Wednesday's temp was 26, no wind!! The free firewood meant longer burning fires and sitting out after dark. It's a great biking park and we enjoyed biking through both campground and cabin areas along the Lake. We did one driving tour and checked out a couple of the other campgrounds and a few of the lakes in the area. We were treated to some awesome sunsets.



The downside was that there is NO CELL service. I did manage to find a couple of weak signals through the bush and along the lake plus at one of the cabin areas. Still, it was a pain to access and to communicate! Times have changed, I hate being 'off grid'.



cloud reflections on the lake.

Monday, August 21, 2017

Girlfriends plus 2

Time spent with long time friends is the best! It is great to catch up and yes . . . to reminisce about those good old days!

Ron and I arrived with our 5th wheel at lunch time. The road to the lake is not the best, so we were slightly shook up, but it was certainly a top notch campsite with meal benefits! We really enjoyed our weekend. We ate great food, went for walks (me on my bike) and did plenty of chatting.





We had hoped to get out for a boat tour of the lake, but the wind and big waves nixed that idea. Of course when we left Monday morning it was perfect and Marilyn and Bob were able to catch a fish before they headed home.



Sandy and Wilma left Sunday after an early dinner. I managed to convince Bob he would love the game Sequence. Just for that, he teamed up with Ron to make sure Marilyn and I were the big losers at that game.

Anyway, after one more enjoyable coffee on the deck, we said our goodbyes.  Loved the aprons Marilyn made for us!! Peace and love, my friends.

Monday as we left Turtle Lake, it just so happened that it was "Solar Eclipse 2017 Day". I was a bit sorry we were on the road and unable to experience the time via solar glasses, Internet or TV. I did catch a few comments and the occasional picture on Twitter. Loved this shot below taken by Craig Hilts of SC.
Coincidentally, he and Greg were school buddies back in Regina once upon a time!

Friday, August 18, 2017

Maidstone, SK

Silver Lake Regional Park
Site #48 - $27. p/w

This turned out to be a very nice little campground and golf course. There are a number of newly created fairly large seasonal sites in the park with trees planted between the sites. It will be a great summer retreat in a few years.

The short term sites were a bit closer together and our site was not the most level, but still decent. We set up and enjoyed a couple cocktails. We grilled porkchops for dinner and enjoyed an evening fire. After a leisurely morning coffee and breakfast, we set the GPS for Turtle Lake!

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Fall Travel Already??!

We got an early start to our Fall RV Trip due to the Girlfriend Weekend plans at Turtle Lake. So we 'pulled the pier', packed up at the cabin and headed home to ready the RV. (We will head to the lake in late September for final water shutdown.)

Unfortunately our freezer door hinge on the RV broke as we packed up on Thursday evening. Ron did a quick trip to Redcliff RV before we left town on Friday, but with no part available he did a temporary tape up. Hope there are no unpleasant accidents as a result! Anyway, at 10 am we were heading north.

After a lunch stop in Alsask and a fuel up in Unity, SK we pulled in to Silver Lake Prov. Pk just north of Maidstone.

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Lundbreck Falls Prov Recreation Area and *HOME*

Site #53: $30 p only, poor cell but can get

We headed to Lundbreck Falls with the idea that we would stay only if "our" site was available. There are only two spots in this park that we would consider camping in. I know... fussy! As luck would have it, our site was free.


Our site is pretty private and is right beside the Crowsnest River just downstream from the Falls. The rushing water cuts out highway and train noise which could otherwise be a bit of a problem. The song birds are abundant. Probably due to all the chokecherry and saskatoon bushes in the area.

Our stay was pretty relaxing. Ron did a couple short hikes to the Falls and around the grounds. We had a Thurnderstorm and rain on Thursday evening so had to nix the fire.




Friday was sunny but very windy. We made the decision to spend one more night and then head home. We had toyed with the idea of Writing on Stone, but weekends can be busy. We took the opportunity to drive to Beaver Mines Lake area to check the camping there. It's a beautiful drive through these foothills with the mountains in the distance -- all the trees, rolling hills, pasture land, vivid greens -- very lush and pretty. There is some nice camping around Beaver Mines Lake and in Castle River area. We also drove up to Castle Mountain Ski Resort. There are a lots of new chalets, townhouses, beautiful big homes and a large area of permanent RV's. This area has all be re-furbished, re-built and improved with many new staging areas and trails for quads. They are hoping to see it become a year round resort rather than just a ski hill.
he came from walk bearing pretty flowers 💘
view of our campsite from upper area
Back at the campground we sat out and enjoyed Friday night cocktails and an evening fire despite the wind. We might have stayed an extra night, but when it was still blowing Saturday morning, it was an easy decision to head home. It is always a little sad to see our spring camping concluded for another year. but we are looking forward to some deck time in the Hat!

Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Kikomun Creek Prov Pk, Jaffray, BC

Site #29 - $35 n/s ($40 power) Temp 17C

Our last few stops have been pretty short jaunts between campgrounds. We are 'close to home', but putting off going there. So we ended up 89 km south of Wasa at Kikomum Creek Prov Pk which is south of Jaffray, BC. Somebody was camped in 'our' site (the nerve!) so we parked in a new loop overlooking Koocanusa Lake.



That campspot was rather unique in that they created 'hills' between the sites for privacy. It's was nice enough, but I do like our other spot better! More of that "forestry feel". However, the $35 charge on this no-service site is pretty steep and the highest we've paid in a Provincial Park so far. It may be our last visit here.

It was a warm calm evening and we were treated to the sounds of meadowlarks and some beautiful reflections in the lake.








Nice! We might have considered staying another night except for that $35. Oh, and cash only, which we were short of. Anyway, we enjoyed the stay and a fire until 10 pm. That wood Ron found in the group campsite was on them!

Tuesday, June 06, 2017

Wasa Lake, BC

Site #3 - $30 n/s, (cell, Shaw at entrance)

We always enjoy our stay at Wasa Lake in amongst the Ponderosa Pines. Plus it was a little warmer and a little drier than Yahk. The park attendants are too dam efficient however. They were out cleaning sites and taking any leftover wood before Ron had a chance to get to it. I did manage to find small armful of wood that I hid in the bush. Sure enough park guy was there to clean the site as I drove away on my bike. He took the one larger log that I didn't hide well, but he didn't find my other stash! We will enjoy burning it this evening.

We always enjoy biking on the paved path around this small lake. Thanks to the Lions Club for providing that!

And Sunday was Rib Night! Good food, good wine and good company!

Today, Tuesday, we are headed south once again. I believe to Kikomun Creek Prov Pk south of Jaffray.

Sunday, June 04, 2017

Yahk Provincial Park

Site #17 - $21, n/s Temp 16-20C

We should have taken advantage of the internet while camped at Woodbury to check the Balfour Ferry schedule. We just missed a sailing and ended up waiting over 1 1/2 hours for the next boarding. Oh well, it's not like we have deadlines and we did have free internet while we waited.

It was lunch time when we arrived at Crawford Bay, so we pulled over for another break. That gave our fellow ferry traffic time to disperse and we had a nice leisurely winding drive along the pretty Kootenay Lake with no vehicles behind or in front of us.

We spent the next two nights at Yahk Provincial Park. Some of the campsites were roped off due to flooding concerns and the water was certainly high at our site. We left the truck hooked up in case we had to make a quick move. When the campground operator came around, she assured us that we would be fine. The creek had peaked and unless it rained, it should start receding.



There were only three of us camped, so it was a quiet weekend. It is a nice campground, but it is located in town. Also? Trains! We were far enough back that it wasn't a huge problem. The fast moving creek noise helped. I didn't hear them at night although Ron heard one quiet whistle. Another complaint - mosquitoes. ugh.... And then later Saturday when it started raining and our evening was spent indoors. By Sunday, I was happy to be moving on.

We did enjoy both a wiener roast and a pancake brunch during our stay there. Both were firsts on this camping trip!


We drove in to Jim Smith Lake Prov Pk further up the road, but decided not to stay. Instead we drove on to the old reliable Provincial Park at Wasa Lake. I expect we'll hang here for a couple nights.

Friday, June 02, 2017

Ainsworth Hot Springs

Woodbury Creek Resort & Marina
Site #104 - $38 p/w/s, cell and internet

I have nothing real exciting to report about our stay at Woodbury RV Resort. It is one of those places where you are shoe-horned in with the neighbours canopy just inches from your slide. There was no one camped on our front side however, so we did have a pretty decent view down the lake. It was gray, cloudy and spitting rain on our first day. There was also a little flooding going on in that front row.



It was nice to have the power, water, sewer and internet 're-charge time'. Plus three big loads of laundry were taken care of! It was a productive rainy day.

Day Two and things were looking up weather wise.  We spent a couple hours at the Hot Springs. That is always welcome treatment for old bones. I find I have developed a few claustrophobic tendencies however and it took me awhile to feel comfortable in the caves.  I did manage to spend a little time in there though.

Back at our campsite we enjoyed the sunshine and a cold beer... And then it rained again. Our canopy and the propane fire took care of that little problem quite nicely!





All those sweet little flowers surrounding our campsite brightened our stay. I'm not sure what they are but they obviously spread. They were everywhere.

Today we will move along. We are not sure exactly where, but we will probably look for a Provincial Park once again. Bye bye power and internet! :(