Castlegar to home

 We left Castlegar about 8:30 AM (9:30 Alberta time) and headed back to Alberta. Our original plan was to stop south of Calgary somewhere but, as is usual for us, when we get that close to home we just "go for it".

We stopped for lunch in Fernie where Caro picked up some bagels at a shop that Lisa likes to go to (and Caro "loves" their bagels so we picked up a dozen). We also bought some salami so that is what we ate as we carried on. 

Once back in Alberta I filled up with "cheap" gas (I think it was "only" about $1.85 litre).

Just outside past the Crowsnest Pass area we took highway 22 north and then cut over towards Nanton. It is a beautiful drive (even though we had bad weather).

Caro took over driving at Nanton as six hours driving is generally my limit.

We stopped in Red Deer at Famoso Pizza and made it home at 9:30 PM. The non-stop driving time is ten hours so we had two hours of breaks during the day.

The Escape made it home okay and the weird vibration didn't get worse. The vehicle is going to the mechanic next week.

Kimberley to Castlegar

 Caro was up early to tend to Rachel while Mike and Michelle slept another hour.

By 9:30 we were all on our way with Mike and family heading back up to Fairmont to rejoin Hannah,Will and the D'Angelo family while we started going to Castlegar.

We gained an hour on our journey as we entered the Pacific time zone. This allowed us plenty of time to take a side trip to the beautiful city of Nelson (where Mom's sister Molly raised her family). After a twenty minute drive around town we headed south towards Castlegar,stopping just north of town to an historical suspension bridge and information panels on the Doukhobors sect (they had a thriving community here many years ago).

The photo below is taken just downstream of the Brilliant Suspension bridge and is the highway bridge into Castlegar.

 It wasn't much time after that that we were in the backyard at Brent and Tiffany Ryan's house. Kevin and Linda live in the bottom half of the house in the summertime and live the other six months in their home in Florida.

The rain forced us inside shortly after we got there mid-afternoon. 

They drove us around their city and out into the countryside to show us some points of interest. Very pretty area!

Supper was B-B-Q'd chicken with baked potatoes etc. We ate with Brent's family upstairs, enjoying good conversation.

After supper the rain had stopped so we went on a great hike through the forest nearby.

After further conversation back at the house we said our "good byes" and went to our hotel (The Sandman Inn).

Another wonderful day. "Thank you" to the Ryan's.

Kimberley

 ....or "the big cry day". LOL 

After a somewhat OK night at the Days Inn in Cranbrook we got up and had the free breakfast !! Pancakes, oh boy!! Freshly made pancakes for me and bacon,eggs and potato gems for Caro. Truly wonderful in my books!

We gassed up and we paid $2.19.4 for gas. The most we have ever paid, ever!!

The trip to Kimberley was nice and we were soon with Mike, Michelle and Rachel at the hotel at the base of Kimberley ski area. 

While Rach had her nap Caro and I went downtown for an hour to see the town and give time for Mike and Michelle to prep for the wedding.

We walked around the small downtown which is pedestrian only and while we were there we listened to musicians playing for those enjoying the beautiful day we were having.

Back at the hotel we got last minute instructions from M+M re: Rachel and soon they were gone on the 1:15 shuttle out into the country side to the wedding venue.

It was obvious Rachel was not having her normal happy day and no matter what we fed her, entertained her, or where we walked her she was not happy.

By 5 PM it was time for us to get Rachel ready for the 30 minute trip out to the wedding venue location for feeding time with Michelle. Rachel was certainly upset on the way out but she calmed down once she saw Mom and Dad!

One feeding, a showing off of the baby to the wedding guests, and we were homeward bound with a contented baby..... for the first 3 kms!!

Then unhappy baby returned LOUDLY. LOL. Not much we could do for her at this point but grin and bear it!! Maybe one day she will read this post. Ha ha. 

Caro managed to get Rach to sleep by 7:45. I had a drink prepared for Caro soon after.

Addendum-Sunday morning. 

Happy,wonderful Rachel is back with us!! Yay!!

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort

 After a decent night's sleep last night in Radium we went out for breakfast in a recommended takeout place. It was busy and the food was good. 

We hiked Sinclair Creek ( we also did this hike some years ago). It is a flat walk of about two kms. total so it was a good way to start the day.

Mike phoned us from Fairmont suggesting we could meet in Invermere however the backup of cars on the highway attempting to get into Invermere for Canada Day was loooong so we cancelled that idea and drove straight to the resort.

It turned out to be a fantastic day. We started off with everybody going for lunch. Afterwards most of the group went back to their cabins to relax and  Caro and I walked around the resort to see the outflow of water from the hot springs pool. Pretty neat!

Zooming in shows people swimming in the natural ponds.

Later Hannah and Will participated in some Canada Day activities put on by the resort,getting candies and cotton candy as rewards.

Then it was off to the pool with all except Barry and Lois. I must have been out in the sun alot the last couple of days as I have a sunburned head ( yes, I know the reason why my head burns so easy LOL)

We said our "good byes" about 7:15 and were on the road to Cranbrook. The vehicle still "shudders" with hard acceleration but otherwise is OK. 

Tomorrow we will meet Mike and Michelle in Kimberley. While they attend a wedding and reception etc we are looking after Rachel (with anticipated two drives out to the wedding location for feedings). Hannah and Will are staying behind in Fairmont with Barry,Lois and Aunt Ray. We will be spending the night in the same suite as M+M tomorrow night.