Back to the Emerald City

We left Anacortes with the primary objective of picking some fresh fruit!  We took off on a side road and within a mile we were at a huge fruit farm, with a smoothie bar!  Everyone departed the RV with the hopes of some fresh fruit, while I was having some caffeine withdrawals.

Schuh Farms was the perfect destination.  They had strawberry fields along with a coffee bar.  But it was the tayberries that caught the imagination of the Tyner's.  We gathered enough berries to make the journey to Seattle entertaining.  Caleb even found a friend at the farm that kept him entertained for quite a while.

We pointed the rig back to the interstate and were Seattle bound.  The Seattle KOA was south of town, so we made our way to the campsite and found a rental car to navigate town.  It was down near the piers that we were scammed by the parking.  There was a city parking meter right behind the car and it was the wrong one to pay!  Oops!

We explored Seattle and saw many of the sights that are fun; the gum wall, the fish market and mongers, the original Starbucks, the traditional mall type stores (Forever 21) and last but not least, Cinnamonworks.  Cinnamonworks has the best peanut butter cookies, possibly in the entire world.  A trip to Seattle without visiting Cinnamonworks would be like a trip to St. Louis and not seeing the Arch.

We were pleasantly surprised to see a celebration of Indonesia while in Seattle.  The celebration brought a smile to our faces as we thought of our great friends, the Pinkstons.

This is the parking scam location.

As the girls lingered in Forever 21, Caleb seized the moment to creep on Caitlin as she was texting her peeps.

Back at the campsite, we celebrated an amazing event, Kelly's birthday.  We had scored some surprise candles at Glacier National Park and saved them for this very moment.  They were the old trick candles that go out and then ignite again after they were seemingly out.  A word to the wise, these candles are a great idea and always a hit, but don't use them in an RV.  There is limited space and the reaction time to put them out without the smoke alarm alerting the entire park will likely result in burnt fingers!

Tree of Life

The Capilano Suspension Bridge (http://www.capbridge.com/) is a great time.  It is worth the train, bus and boat we used to get to it!

We had been warned to avoid driving the RV around town, so we opted  for an alternative method into Vancouver, and we parked at the Train Station in Surrey and hopped the subway there.  The worker was a great help planning our trip and providing the necessary maps to journey through town.  We left Surrey on the subway and arrived downtown in time to hop a ferry to North Vancouver.  There we grabbed the bus and were on our way to Capilano.

Capilano was the destination our friend Winston passionately wanted us to experience.

Capilano was an interesting destination because Kelly is mildly afraid of heights and the 450 foot long suspension bridge is only 230 feet above the river below.  I don't think the height was that big of a deal, but the swaying of the bridge would make the average person a bit nervous about their footing on this baby!

We spent a great deal of energy walking around the trees and enjoying Capilano.  One sign pointed out the significance of the Tree of Life.  I found the sign interesting as my narrow mindedness only allowed me to believe there is one Tree of Life!!!

The time at Capilano was awesome.  But once we returned to the RV, the entire family was more than ready to return to the US.  We had scouted out and knew the best place for us to cross the border was about 13 miles west of the coast.  The line out of Canada was non-existent and the only casualty of our return was our citrus fruit.  (You cannot bring fruit back into the US!)

The suspension bridge is suspenseful!

Walking through the trees.

Kristen has a pretty tight grip!

Kelly has a firm grip on things!

Kelly is missing in action!

An awesome sunset in Anacortes!

We made our way to Anacortes, WA to rest and relax at Fidalgo Bay Resort.  It was an incredible place to spend the evening and the entire family had a great time!

The Fourth

Traveling in the US on the 4^th of July without reservations is about as crazy as doing so on July 1^st in Canada.  But since the 4^th fell midweek in Canada, there were no problems getting reservations for the night, although we were uncertain as where we would land.

This was arguably the most unpredictable day of the journey so far.  Cory says, “You are only 25 miles from some of the most beautiful waterfalls in all of Canada.”

Seriously, I was simply looking for a place to park the rig.  After determining the small mountain roads are passable for a 36 foot rig, I pointed the buggy uphill towards them.  The enthusiasm within our 5182 cubic feet of occasional joy did not include that occasional joy one might hope for with such a discovery.

All the same, away we went.  There were bridges that didn’t seem reasonable for our RV to cross, but as the hip kids say, “yolo”.  There were canyons that mere words could not adequately describe and there were waterfalls galore.  But the mac daddy was the Helmcken Falls.  It was an amazing discovery!

Helmcken Falls is arguably one of the coolest waterfalls in Canada!  And Wells Gray Provincial Park could take a month to explore this place by itself.  We had a great time here and opted to make it a half day rather than explore more around the park.  On our way out, the bear I was afraid of the night before made itself known, by crossing right in front of us.  Another little hike or two and our city slickers were ready to tour lovely Vancouver.

It was an intense drive through the mountains and about as scenic as you could ever imagine.  This is an incredible drive.

But Cory had given me one more little surprise for our day.  The Othello Tunnels were supposed to be an old rickety gravel parking lot that would require one to squeeze through a poorly locked chain link fence that would offer a fun afternoon activity.  Unfortunately, when we rolled into the park, it was legitimate.  A true parking lot, no “No Trespassing” signs and even a welcoming park employee were the marks of this place.  Oh well, a great time was experienced by all.

It turns out the Othello Tunnels are unbelievably cool.  If you find yourself near Hope, BC, do yourself a favor and stop at this provincial park!!

Escargot

Finally, we made our way to Surrey where we camped at Tynehead Campsite.  I don’t know if me running over the electrical pole or the pay showers freaked the kids out the most.  I know I had to repeat, “Serenity now” a couple times after taking out the pole.  But a quick shower in the pay shower helped the blood pressure and the peace of mind!

Magpie and Stump

Banff was much more interesting the day after Canada Day.  Traffic was light, parking places were available, even for a 36' RV.

Caleb was excited to spend some time in a natural hot spring much like the one in Glenwood Springs, CO and so Banff was our destination for the day.  Before the hot springs though, we opted to check out the town and grab a little lunch.

Magpie and Stump was our selection due to the TexMex menu and budgetary acceptance.  The name was funny for the joint, evidently the commoners in London were called Magpies versus the attorneys who were known as Stumps.  I would say an RV full of Tyners would definitely qualify us as Magpies.

After lunch, we made our way back to the RV and journeyed up the mountain to the hot springs.  Initially it appeared we would not be able to play due to limited parking.  But there was a single RV spot that was perfect for us to back into.  After parking, changing and walking to the pool, we paid the admission and entered the pool!

To our surprise, it was about the size of our closet.  Well, it might have been a bit larger, but if you have ever been to Glenwood Springs, you would have significant expectations on a hot springs pool and Banff's was small, crowded and hot on a hot day.  Needless to say, we were only there for a few minutes before retreating to other activities.  (Evidently, the women's changing room presented some more entertaining moments than the men's!)


We journeyed back to Lake Louise campground and took care of some paperwork and set up camp for the night.  Some of us went to hear camp stories at the amphitheater and after realizing we were a bit young for the message, went back to camp.

Oh Canada....

Enjoying my version of Oh Canada...

Oh Canada, Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide....

We arrived at Banff National Park on Canada Day!  It was awesome, we received free admission, Canada flags and pens and a great sense of the Canadian patriotism.  Our limited memory was evident as the only words we heard from our RV in regards to their national anthem were "Oh Canada....." and it usually sounded like my voice.

I had too many questions and too little time for the park entrance attendant.  She wanted to know how many days we were going to be in the park and I had no idea.  I made a guess and hammered her with other questions.  She told me the charge, I paid her cash and continued with my questions as cars lined up behind us.  In the rushed dialogue, it became evident a couple hours later, I had forgotten one important element, the   tag or receipt from my entrance fee.  (Later the next day the rangers at the Lake Louise visitor's center would have a good laugh at my expense as they created a tag for us to continue our journey through this amazing park!)

Have you ever been to the town of Banff?  It is hard to find a parking place for a punch buggy on a normal day, let alone a 36 foot RV.  I had been there and kind of knew that, but had an idea where I might park the rig.  One thing I had never done before though was visit Banff on Canada Day right before their annual parade.  There was a good possibility our rig was going to be front and center in the parade if I didn't figure a way out of town.


It was so crowded we literally burned an hour and a half simply driving into this small burg and trying to get out of it!




Safe and sound at the Lake Louise campsite, we walked to the entrance area where a shuttle bus took us up to the Lake and hotel for a fun exploration.  Caleb was committed to falling into the glacier runoff filled lake and freezing his little toes off.  His escapades along the side of the lake finally caused be to believe the only way for him to learn his lesson was like the little boy we saw who happened to accidentally get soaked in some runoff water.  But boy wonder had more balance and grace than I gave him credit for, and thoroughly enjoyed the lake without totally experiencing it!

Everyone was ready to sleep after this long day!  The view from our RV was incredible, my photography skills don't do justice, but trust me on this!

Big Detour

The size restrictions on the Going to The Sun Road forced us to leave West Glacier and go east.  The rugged 18 mile stretch of the road compelled us to drive an extra 75 miles to get to the east gate area of Glacier National Park.  It was a scenic and relaxing drive, the kids were asleep when we left camp, so it was a bit shorter for them.

A ranger earlier in our Glacier explorations told us Many Glacier Road was worth our visit.  It was a little treacherous, but an amazingly beautiful road.  Since I was behind the wheel, and the kids are slow to share the photos, you will just have to trust me on this one.


This was the road that led Kelly to one of her new passions, becoming a Junior Ranger.  We are so proud of this accomplishment!  Who knew?


As we were leaving Many Glaciers, Caitlin found a spot she wanted to snap some photos and we stopped the RV on this fairly desolate road.  It was at this point that one of the funniest things I have ever seen occurred.  A Honda Accord, we had crossed paths with along the way had a massive dog co-piloting it, passed us.  I don't know if it was a Mastiff or a Saint Bernard, but it was massive!  It was Fred Flintstone flip the car over huge!

Simultaneously, as we sat idle a pedestrian came strolling up the road with her two fairly large dogs.  The dogs spotted the Honda with the monster dog and literally cornered it and forced it to stop until they had given it its right of passage.  My photography skills were too slow to capture the exact moment, but it was awesome.

After this little entertainment opportunity, it was time to leave the country!  The Canadian customs folks welcomed us with open arms.  Who wouldn't like those people?

Going to The Sun

Yes there are vehicle size restrictions on the Going to the Sun Road.  Vehicles longer than 21 feet are restricted from the road.  That warning seemed sufficient to prevent me from considering taking our 36 foot rig.  However, the Going to the Sun Road is arguably one of the highlights of Glacier National Park and it would be crazy to avoid it if you are in the area.

The Red Bus Jammer tours are a more traditional way to view Logan's Pass.  The Jammers are named for the sound the original drivers needed to make as the jammed the gears along the winding roads of the National Parks.  The buses were originally manufactured in the late 1930s and were restored in the early 200s by Ford Motor Company.  The distinctive buses include a roll back convertible top that allows you an incredible view of the Going to the Sun Road.

Our driver Matt was a true mountain man.  He lived in the sticks of Montana and used the summers to store up money to fund his needs throughout the rest of the year.  He was an interesting fellow who seemed to enjoy his role.

The bus included blankets so as you ascend to the the nearly 3,600 feet from the Glacier National Park west entrance area to Logan's Pass the convertible can remain open.

The snow was at least 20 feet deep at Logan's Pass in late June when we arrived and Caleb used all of his energy to slip slide away.  It was while we were enjoying the summer time snow that Connie inquired about Glaciers and where they were located relative to where we were.  A helpful, assertive teenager offered that "you are standing on one" in a condescending manner.

We all remained silent to prevent from making a scene.  Because we were clearly standing on snow and no glacier.  It allowed us a good laugh later that evening!

NASCAR has nothing on Her!

Somewhere between Butte and Missoula she took over the wheel.  Who knew that the little temptation along the Enchanted Highway in North Dakota as a 15 year old would tempt/motivate this young lady?

Have you ever sat in the passenger seat as your 15 year old learned to drive a car during driver's education? There is an uncontrollable urge to dive to the middle of the car when the mailboxes seem to be flying at your face and to shove your foot through the floorboard when the approaching cars seem to close for comfort.

If you can recall or imagine that sensation, consider it on steroids with your teenage daughter behind the wheel of a 36 foot RV.  In order to take the co-pilot seat in the RV all one has to do is breath deeply and repeat "serenity now, serenity now...."

Amazingly, Caitlin gave me nearly 2 hours of rest as she cruised that space of Montana.  She was remarkable and all of my doubts were unfounded.  But between you and me, riding co-pilot with your teenager in an RV could be a top 10 adventure/adrenaline rush of my entire life!

Passion or Crazy?

Andy had a mountain bike and bike trailer that carried all of his possessions from Canada to Mexico.  A casual observer might think he was crazy, but another might say he had passion.

The total weight of his gear was 110 pounds.  That weight would wear on him for nearly 2,500 miles along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.  He seemed excited about his adventure, but while in Butte, he was literally at the tip of the ice berg.  When we crossed paths with Andy, there were forest fires raging south of us and Wyoming was a blurring state, who knew what Colorado had to offer.

Andy found himself in a common dilemma, comparing himself to others.  He confided that others on the trail had a total weight of just 65 pounds, but he had no idea what he could dispose of that wasn't essential at this point.

Andy said he wasn't sure about the pure motive of this adventure, but clearly sitting behind a desk 8 hours a day was not his definition of fulfillment.  His less that content view of his job led him to the freedom to pursue this opportunity.  He had no clear plan what would happen when he returned to San Antonio, but seemed to trust he would find work.

This particular adventure seemed a bit tame compared to his last major one.  A few years earlier, he rode a motorcycle from Texas to Argentina!

Iowa Baby!

Intense driving would be the best description of our first day on the road.  We cut through Lebanon on our way to Crawfordsville where we grabbed some diesel and only one short term destination remained in our cross-hairs.  The Machine Shed in the Davenport, Iowa area.  John was the man.  He loves driving the RV and he gave me plenty of time to rest up and prepare for the days ahead.



We left it as a secret until it was apparent we would arrive during normal business hours allowing Caitlin the opportunity to start the journey with a massive sugar buzz.  If you have never tried one of their cinnamon rolls, she swears you will have a new religion.  Not only did we arrive in time to stock pile some rolls, but we got there late enough that they were on clearance sale to make room for tomorrow's crop.

From the picture, it is difficult to tell whether Caitlin or Caleb was most excited about the unexpected treat at the Machine Shed.  Clearly, Caleb loves corn, not figuratively, but actually.

The joy was apparent on Caitlin's face.

Next stop was the I-80 Truck Stop, the world's largest truck stop.  The place is huge!!

After that, it was the cold, long, hard road ahead.  We put the pedal to the metal and plowed our way towards Billings!

Jasper to Clearwater

As we departed Lake Louise, I stopped by and told my friend Winston “goodbye”.  The levelers were a bit obstinate again, but they went up and we went on our way.

Caitlin aids Kristen.

Kacie braved the weather at Bridal Veil falls.

If you could pick the very perfect day to drive the Icefield Highway, it would be the exact opposite of the day we were on it!  It was cloudy with low clouds and rain most of the way to the Icefields.  But there were sounds of laughter and fun all the way as we journeyed through the mountains.  We saw a bear, mountain goats and a huge elk along the way.

The monster machine we rode up the glacier was amazing.  But the glacier itself was more incredible.  At the pinnacle of our ride up the glacier, the ice was 1000 feet deep.  Our driver, Bruce, hooked us up with several bottles of pure glacier water. 

Boarding the monster!

Once we returned to the RV the levelers were barking at us again and although the alarm said they were down, a visual check said they were up.  (I had visions of a trip home from NY where the leveler alarm barked all the way from Erie, NY to Fishers, IN.)

Oh well, onward towards Jasper.  We were hoping to see a moose along the way, but Kelly concluded they don’t exist.  She asked if anyone had ever seen one in the wild or in a zoo.  We all had to give it to her.  There have never been any moose sightings by Tyners.

Patiently waiting for the glacier tour.

The ride of the day!

1000 feet of ice below them!

Jasper was a quaint tourist town with a beautiful view of the mountains.  I believe it is much nicer of a place to visit than Banff, it was not nearly as congested and much easier to get a RV around.  The restaurant was ok and overpriced by US standards.    (When I went to buy a cup of coffee, they were going to exchange my US dollar for $.86 Canadian when the actual rate is $1 US = $1.02 Canadian.)

The drive west out of Jasper was beautiful and allowed us a fun afternoon on our way to Clearwater BC.  We passed Moose Lake where Kristen and I swear we saw a moose swimming in the lake.  (Sorry Kelly, but we saw a moose!)  The drive was incredible and not too challenging for a mountain road.  The rivers were flowing fast everywhere we drove.

Once we were at the Clearwater campsite, Connie and I started laundry and relaxed for the evening as the kids watched UP.  The KOA worker was the son of the owners and I asked him for a running trail and whether it was safe to run around town.  He said “bears don’t come in town” and I would be ok. 

As I took the trail he mentioned, I got to a place that seemed a little risky to me, so I turned and went back more towards civilization.  Then into a neighborhood not too far from the campsite which had a trail that led back towards the RV.  After about 3 steps into the woods, I saw a footprint that looked fresh and not familiar to me, but comparatively large like my own.  Needless to say, I turned and went back through civilization.

Now that's a monster truck!

Anyone seen Caleb?

Back at the camp store the young man asked me about my run and I told him about my concern about the bears and how it adjusted my path.  His parents started laughing and said, “I would be too.  Bears are all around here!”  Holy cow….

I met a couple at the campsite adjacent to us who were from Kamloops who gave advice about the area.  Cory and Stacy were helpful and shared their Bud Light with Lime with me.  They had 2 boys and a 10 year old daughter.  They own a convenient store after having owned a chain of Quiznos.