Graham got to Amanda's late Friday night (31st), so we caught up with him Saturday morning over a great breakfast that he and Amanda and the kids put together. Then we all headed off to the local Farmers' Market. We met Amanda's sister, Christina, who runs a clothing booth at the Market. We also met Amanda's mom, Robyn, and Christina's husband, Chris and their two girls, Bailey and Morgan. After the Market, it was back to the park so the kids, and Grampa, could have a swim in the pool. Later that evening we joined Graham & Amanda, and Amanda's dad, John, and his wife Christine, at the Keg for a delicious dinner and great company.
Sunday brought Graham and crew back to the park, and we hiked over to the Oldman River, that runs just beside the RV Park, and the kids had a blast floating down the slow moving river with their life jackets on (Graham close at hand at all times). Then it was time to pack up and head to Amanda's Dad's farm for an early dinner and visit. Christine and their three daughters had headed away earlier in the morning on a trip south, so we only got to meet Amanda's half-brother, Joey. Had a fantastic steak dinner and a lovely visit and found out all about John's farming operation. Graham and Amanda took the kids to drop them off at her ex-mother-in-law's for a sleepover and babysitting the next day. Amanda had to work on Monday, and had arranged the kids' time with their grandmother before she knew we would all be there. Once they had dropped the kids off and returned home, they called us and said to come over for a visit and a nightcap. So we headed over and a short time later, Amanda's cousin, Logan, stopped by for a visit. We had a lot of laughs, and Robin and I didn't leave until around midnight. Apparently the rest of them stayed up until 2am, and Amanda had to be up at 5:30 for work.
Monday was domestic chore time - taking our laundry over to Amanda's. Once the cycles were started, we picked up some lunch for Amanda and dropped it off to her at work, then returned home to switch the loads. Graham then showed us around some neighbourhoods in Lethbridge where they are thinking about buying a house. I had an appointment for a haircut mid-afternoon and then we all met up at a restaurant with Robyn, Christina & Chris and their girls for another great meal, and some get-to-know-each-other time. Another fun evening.
Tuesday (4th) we were on the road again, heading to Waterton National Park, about 120km southwest of Lethbridge. Mersaydes and Dax rode in the motorhome with us, and they coloured and we played some cards at the table. In the middle of our card game I looked up and there were MOUNTAINS. Real, honest-to-goodness, Jasper-type mountains as we got closer to Waterton. But it is in the Rocky Mountain range, so guess that makes sense. The only thing that worried us was a weather warning on the radio for the Waterton area (and other parts of Alberta) of severe thunderstorms, high winds and possible DAMAGING hail. Oh joy!
When we arrived and checked in, the attendant, when we told her our site number, figured we had been to the campground before, because we apparently had lucked out and managed to reserve the most coveted site in the entire campground. When we pulled into it, we could see why. It was huge (or at least had a huge grass area beside it). There was a nice, big concrete patio with a beautiful picnic table, and a small cluster of trees on the edge perfect for Graham and Amanda to set up their tent for extra protection from any rain that might fall (kids were sleeping in the motorhome with us). Fortunately, the predicted storm did not materialize; at least not at Waterton. A few short rain bursts, and sporadic heavy wind gusts, but nothing major.
First job, after setting up, was to try and fill in, or mark, or lay something over, all the ground squirrel holes in the adjoining grass area where the kids were playing. Last thing we needed was a badly twisted, or broken, ankle. There were pieces of 2x4 sticking up in some, big rocks set in some and bikes laid across others. There was a big hole right beside the concrete pad, with dirt scattered all over the pad. Robin swept and shoveled it all back into the hole and tamped it down. Of course, the next morning, it had all been dug out again, along with some of those holes that were just filled up with dirt. Kids had a blast riding their bikes down the hill beside our site and across the grass area. Of course, there were a couple of spills and a few tears, but nothing requiring a trip to a clinic or hospital.
An early evening treat was deer and fawns in the campground and, in fact, in our site, having their bedtime snack. The first night, we noticed that a couple of the adults had green marks on their side. Apparently, the deer here have started to become aggressive; and not just the does feeling they need to protect their young. If any deer start to get aggressive, they are "shot" with a paintball on each side. The one in our site had green marks, which means they have aggressive tendencies. If they have been marked with orange, then stay well away, as they are the most aggressive.
DON'T FORGET TO CLICK ON PICTURES TO SEE THEM FULL SIZE.
Sunday brought Graham and crew back to the park, and we hiked over to the Oldman River, that runs just beside the RV Park, and the kids had a blast floating down the slow moving river with their life jackets on (Graham close at hand at all times). Then it was time to pack up and head to Amanda's Dad's farm for an early dinner and visit. Christine and their three daughters had headed away earlier in the morning on a trip south, so we only got to meet Amanda's half-brother, Joey. Had a fantastic steak dinner and a lovely visit and found out all about John's farming operation. Graham and Amanda took the kids to drop them off at her ex-mother-in-law's for a sleepover and babysitting the next day. Amanda had to work on Monday, and had arranged the kids' time with their grandmother before she knew we would all be there. Once they had dropped the kids off and returned home, they called us and said to come over for a visit and a nightcap. So we headed over and a short time later, Amanda's cousin, Logan, stopped by for a visit. We had a lot of laughs, and Robin and I didn't leave until around midnight. Apparently the rest of them stayed up until 2am, and Amanda had to be up at 5:30 for work.
Monday was domestic chore time - taking our laundry over to Amanda's. Once the cycles were started, we picked up some lunch for Amanda and dropped it off to her at work, then returned home to switch the loads. Graham then showed us around some neighbourhoods in Lethbridge where they are thinking about buying a house. I had an appointment for a haircut mid-afternoon and then we all met up at a restaurant with Robyn, Christina & Chris and their girls for another great meal, and some get-to-know-each-other time. Another fun evening.
Tuesday (4th) we were on the road again, heading to Waterton National Park, about 120km southwest of Lethbridge. Mersaydes and Dax rode in the motorhome with us, and they coloured and we played some cards at the table. In the middle of our card game I looked up and there were MOUNTAINS. Real, honest-to-goodness, Jasper-type mountains as we got closer to Waterton. But it is in the Rocky Mountain range, so guess that makes sense. The only thing that worried us was a weather warning on the radio for the Waterton area (and other parts of Alberta) of severe thunderstorms, high winds and possible DAMAGING hail. Oh joy!
When we arrived and checked in, the attendant, when we told her our site number, figured we had been to the campground before, because we apparently had lucked out and managed to reserve the most coveted site in the entire campground. When we pulled into it, we could see why. It was huge (or at least had a huge grass area beside it). There was a nice, big concrete patio with a beautiful picnic table, and a small cluster of trees on the edge perfect for Graham and Amanda to set up their tent for extra protection from any rain that might fall (kids were sleeping in the motorhome with us). Fortunately, the predicted storm did not materialize; at least not at Waterton. A few short rain bursts, and sporadic heavy wind gusts, but nothing major.
First job, after setting up, was to try and fill in, or mark, or lay something over, all the ground squirrel holes in the adjoining grass area where the kids were playing. Last thing we needed was a badly twisted, or broken, ankle. There were pieces of 2x4 sticking up in some, big rocks set in some and bikes laid across others. There was a big hole right beside the concrete pad, with dirt scattered all over the pad. Robin swept and shoveled it all back into the hole and tamped it down. Of course, the next morning, it had all been dug out again, along with some of those holes that were just filled up with dirt. Kids had a blast riding their bikes down the hill beside our site and across the grass area. Of course, there were a couple of spills and a few tears, but nothing requiring a trip to a clinic or hospital.
An early evening treat was deer and fawns in the campground and, in fact, in our site, having their bedtime snack. The first night, we noticed that a couple of the adults had green marks on their side. Apparently, the deer here have started to become aggressive; and not just the does feeling they need to protect their young. If any deer start to get aggressive, they are "shot" with a paintball on each side. The one in our site had green marks, which means they have aggressive tendencies. If they have been marked with orange, then stay well away, as they are the most aggressive.
DON'T FORGET TO CLICK ON PICTURES TO SEE THEM FULL SIZE.
Wednesday, we loaded into the truck and headed up to Red Rock Canyon for a picnic lunch and to see the canyon. On the way there we stopped at the Prince of Wales Hotel to have a look around. Beautiful, old bavarian style building, with Canada's oldest operating elevator (according to the fellow operating it). It is part of the original building, which was completed in the late 1920's, so it could well be. We got to take a ride in it, even if only up one floor. The kids were quite fascinated. While the 4 younger members of our group went for a hike down to the water, Robin and I sat and looked at the view. A tour bus pulled up and a stream of people (yes, seniors) started pouring out and, like lemmings, all headed straight for the cliff edge. Then I spotted one fellow with quite a bad limp and suddenly all I could see was a zombie invasion, with him hobbling and the rest of them moving slowly and quietly in one direction.
We were joined at the canyon mid-afternoon by Amanda's sister, Christina, and her family. We all enjoyed cooling our feet in the rather cold creek after hiking part of the canyon.
Then we all headed back to the campground. Stopped first for ice cream at one of the shops in the townsite, then Robin and I stayed at the campground while the rest of them went back to the townsite (actually just outside the campground) and the kids hit the playground. They then rented 4-person bike buggies and toured around, including a visit to us in the campground.
Visiting, lots of bike riding for the kids, and deer close by once again, all made for another great day;
We did get some heavier rain during the night Wednesday, so things were a bit soggy Thursday morning. But the clouds eventually stopped leaking, and started to break up a bit. After a hearty, late-ish breakfast, we piled in the truck again and headed up to Cameron Lake. BRRR!! With the previous rains, and a very strong wind, it was pretty chilly up there.
We didn't stay very long, but it was a beautiful area. Before heading back to camp, we stopped and wandered through the shops on the main drag of Waterton (about 2 blocks worth). Early dinner with Graham and crew, and then they left to return to Lethbridge, as Amanda had to work on Friday.