Friday June 18th, Cache Lake Campground, Switzer Prov Park, AB

120 Miles

This was the morning of the “Big Erection”…..Ian installed Norene’s new wind sculpture onto the concreted pole which had dried overnight. What a wonderful piece, it turns in the softest breeze and is just mesmerizing, and the little  copper “buckets’ seem to catch the light. Norene chose a spot surrounded by big trees and it looks just right.

The morning just disappeared, Naysa, Norene’s daughter who lives nearby and runs the store with her husband, popped over to see us. She is compiling a Blurb book of her grandfathers stories of his life as a cowboy and is including more than 20 brilliant sketches he did during those days. It will be a real treasure. I was able to help her a little with the manipulation of the pictures.

Meanwhile Norene and Ian were putting up shelves and a cabinet in the new bathroom in the attic area.

We felt sad leaving such a beautiful spot, it was like a home away from home. Hopefully we will see Norene again in NZ.

It was midday before we set off, back into Jasper to pick up a few supplies and a late lunch stop beside the lake.  We saw our first bear on the drive in, a black bear and a cub, but sadly it was in a place where we couldn’t stop for a photo.

We continued through the eastern side of Jasper National Park and turned off onto 40, The Bighorn Highway. We came across a small flock of Bighorn Sheep crossing the road, they were completely unfazed by the traffic and just took their time. Also spotted a white Mountain Goat on the hillside. Quite a day for wildlife.

Stopped at a small campground in a Provincial Park, and not too closed in by trees. Ian’s first chance for a fire tonight, couldn’t believe it when he had it lit by 5pm…said it was to help the mosquitoes! He had brought a little bit of wood from Norene’s as well as some he had stored in his woodbin on the back of the van.

Somehow feel that we are really on the road north to Alaska

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