Grand Prairie, Alberta

 

 

These round rings made by the water are called potholes.

 

This morning we broke camp and got on the road around 10 am. Our plan was to stop at the Athabaskan head on to Hinton where we would spend the night. Athabaskan Falls was without a doubt the most spectacular falls we had seen so far. The rock formations made by the falls were unbelievable. These falls cut a canyon in very hard quartz-rich rock as opposed to the limestone rock of the Sunwapta Falls. It was a treat to be passing through here in the spring when so much water is running off the mountains and glaciers. Just amazing sights.

This trapped log went around in the whirlpool. It probably won't escape until the water goes down.

 

We moved on to Hinton which looks like a town that grew up on either side of the highway and was very congested. I needed gas and getting gas in Canada is a chore. First, the stations are not built for RVs or trailers. They are small and difficult to get in and out of. Second, each station has different rules about paying with an American credit card and prepaying at the pump. Getting gas makes me crazy and puts me in a bad mood. After that experience we stopped at MacDonald's for a salad. After standing in line for what seemed like an eternity we got our lunch then decided to go on to Grand Prairie.

The drive had its high points when I saw a bull moose, an eagle, several mountain goats, a big horned sheep and a grouse hustling across the highway with her chicks in hot pursuit. Even a semi stopped for them. Oh, I forgot the herd of elk. All in all it was a good wildlife day. Unfortunately, because their were no shoulders on the road, I was unable to pull over for photos except for the sheep.

As we got closer to Grand Prairie the traffic got considerably heavier with large gas trucks barreling down on us. Thank God it was Sunday or we would have had to content with the logging trucks as well. As I was driving I thought how clean the road ways in Canada are. Then I pulled into Grand Prairie And saw the head of a grizzly in the road. It sort of went with the overall mentality of the place. It was also super congested and every RV Park we stopped at was full. We finally made it to Wally World (Walmart) and it was a Zoo, campers everywhere. So we left and went down the street to a deserted bingo hall. It was only after I was set up that I noticed the casino across the street next to the lottery building (I didn't know they had buildings). Did I mention the liquor store next to bingo? As Carol and I were having dinner in the Casita, several men walked by and looked in the window. Several cars also cruised by looking like they had been beat to hell in a stock car race. I Began to get the idea that this parking lot might be used for drug deals. We decided to join the zoo at Wally World where we could be a bit more secure.

Well, that's our day. Can't wait to hit Dawson Creek tomorrow and officially be on the Alaska Highway and leave the oil towns behind. Now, if I am lucky, everyone in Wally World will decide to go home so I can sleep! That will be a good trick since it is 10:21pm and the sun hasn't set. Ok, I'm tired, that's all folks.