george-ous

Driving West from Winnipeg was cold. Long. Straight, and a little boring. It was the first part of this trip where I felt like a 5-year old, wanting to kick and scream and GET OUT of the car.

Thankfully, we had George to look forward to in Regina. He was just as charming as when we met in London, but even more smiley and alert. Bigger, too. Ron cooked up a superb meal and we spent the night in Ash’s childhood room, complete with Michael Jackson photo (which Eowyn requested be covered up because it was scary).

No mitts at the coooold playground in Regina

Nature's Best in Regina has the best play area for kids!

In the morning, onwards to Swift Current – a mere three hours away. Unfortunately, the weather finally caught up to us as we were caught in a bit of a snow-and-windstorm sweeping through the prairies. We stayed an extra night thanks to Robyn’s generosity, and caught up on some classic Disney movies while stuck…Bednobs and Broomsticks and the Sword and the Stone. I also managed to finish the 10-foot long (slightly disastrous) scarf I have been working on since October. It is warm and only a little itchy.

Warm and only a little itchy.

Monday morning saw us up before the sun and heading West on Highway #1 by 9 am.  Clear skies and roads met us most of the way to Canmore, though we got horribly lost in the nightmarish big-box complex surrounding Medicine Hat while searching for Booster Juice.

Bachman's Beach, NS, October 2011

The wide open prairie with its pale golden grass poking through the snow and the blue sky above reminded me of seagrass and ocean, side by side at Bachman’s Beach (yes, I’m missing it already). I couldn’t quite capture it with our camera on the side of the highway, but it was truly glorious.

Near the Alberta border, January 2012

We made it through Calgary without incident (save for some serious truck bullying) and stopped briefly at the turnoff from Cochrane, where the skies are always alive and changeable. Once, years ago, I witnessed a thunderstorm come in from the south, pass overhead, and move north without looking back, all in the space of 15 minutes.

Does it look cold? It is cold. (photo by Eowyn)

Eowyn the Ice Walrus

Blowing snow greeted us as we made our way into the mountains, so we didn’t spy the Three Sisters…nor have we since, with white-out conditions all through the day today to accompany the -30 temperature.

Tomorrow: Nelson, and a high of -5 degrees!

Beloved cat-friend Tiger, with knitted collar