Vermilion, AB

Vermilion Prov Pk
Site #D54 - $33. p only (x2)

Monday morning we said our goodbyes to Meota and bounced back to Alberta. Gotta hate those SK highways particularly when pulling an RV, yikes!! We made one quick stop in Lloydminster for supplies -- You know, those important ones - vodka and beer. We just might need them!

And on to Vermillion. We had to look a bit to find the Prov. Pk as it is actually in the town or on the edge of. The first sign we followed took us to a road that was closed for repairs. No one was answering the phone and we almost gave up on the park thinking it was closed. However, one more wrong road, a turn around and we finally arrived at the park.

This is a nice well kept park with lots of amenities. A water spray park, soccer fields, ball fields, trout pond, biking/hiking trails, mini golf and a couple great playgrounds for the kids. The original train station and caboose below are located in the park.

It was pretty quiet this week with only a handful of campers.

We had noticed 3 children in the unit beside us and while we were sitting by the fire, the lady walked by pushing a fourth in a stroller. We learned a lot in a 5 minute conversation as she passed by. They were the grandparents. Their adopted daughter (not with them) had fetal alcohol syndrome and these were her children. The grandparents had unsuccessfully applied to courts to have her tubes tied, but were refused. They want to keep the children together, but I think they are a little overwhelmed. They seemed like really nice, well behaved kids but I certainly felt for the grandparents. A tough position for them. They certainly enjoyed the water park.

We have a feral kitten hanging around our campsite who entertained us at the fire last night. He was busy pouncing on the bugs. Quite funny to watch. I actually hear him meowing as I type this. We can't get close to him as he'll quickly run. It was a reminder of a previous camping trip in Writing on Stone when there were kittens around with winter just around the corner.  One wonders if they can survive.

Anyway, on to Jim and Jan's at Leduc tomorrow and we will all join Charlie, Carolyn and the gang for camping at Buck Lake over the long weekend.

Meota, SK

Meota Regional Pk
Site #206 - $28, p only (*ahem* wood $10/wheel barrow load)

It was a case of the uglies as far as campsites go. The campground was quite busy and not all the spots are horrible, but the 'unclaimed ones' or the leftovers were basically field camping. Not so pretty! It's a good thing we were here to visit and not camp! Anyway, we set up, had lunch and headed over to Phyllis and Larry's. They and Ron went to a neighbourhood fish fry, I opted for some quiet time back at the RV to settle my tummy. It was good to 'catch up' with Jeff with some texting.

Day 2 found Ron and Larry "bro-bonding" with walks and visiting locals plus a drive tour to see the countryside and the newly built fishing shack. He was intrigued by these new oil pumps in the fields around Jackfish Lake. They are belt driven and steam injected.  So different than the old style pump jacks we are used to seeing in the oil fields.

Phyllis and I enjoyed sunshine and perfect weather on the deck, plus we even watched a little curling on TV. The first televised game of the upcoming season!

Phyllis's sister, Merle, joined us for an enjoyable evening of L & P's fine cooking, some wine and a beautiful sunset. Another perfect summer evening!  Thanks Larry and Phyllis!!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.