We are now back in Canada…..our home and native land! The drive north from Montana and on into Alberta was just filled with vast amounts of grassland, extending miles in every direction. We were in awe during our three days of driving with how extensive and untouched the land really is.
As we approached Drumheller, Alberta it was clear we were in the Canadian Badlands. Similar, yet very different from the South Dakota Badlands, it was
easy for us to see how this place was rich in history dating back to the Prehistoric era. Our visit to the Royal Tyrrell Museum allowed us to go back in time as we read and learned about the many many dinosaurs that roamed the land and eventually became extinct. It was definitely a time of harsh climate and survival of the fittest. It
also reminded us that the earth is constantly engaged in a process of change where species and plant life are constantly becoming extinct and/or evolving. The earth is truly fascinating!
On our way to Fort MacMurray to visit our son, Mark, we took advantage of doing some boondocking on the Walmart
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| Walmart, Drumheller, Ab. |
parking lots. In Drumheller, Alberta we had a wonderful night with 11 other campers from Manitoba, British Columbia and Ontario but our night at a Walmart outside Edmonton wasn’t so enjoyable causing several campers, including us, to have to leave in the middle of the night. A VERY busy parking lot left us with having to re-evaluate our selection criteria when choosing which Walmart would be getting our business. Clearly, the ones where a 24 Hour McDonald’s right on the lot is not at the top of the list!
As I write this, we are now in Fort MacMurray visiting with our son. We have
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| Old Dragline at SynCrude Display |
heard so much about Fort MacMurray as just about everyone in Newfoundland either knows someone working here or is related to someone here. Mark has been a gracious host, showing us around the town and cooking meals for us. We have had a chance to wash our clothes and use HIS bathroom to shower in. It certainly seems like a nice little working town and we are content knowing that he is happy and making
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| Mark and Steve standing in "the Clam" of a Dragline |
a good living for himself. We will leave again in a few days and head on to La Crete, Alberta to spend time with my Uncle before heading North. I know that we will also have a wonderful visit there in that community as well.
Until the next time…..
As we approached Drumheller, Alberta it was clear we were in the Canadian Badlands. Similar, yet very different from the South Dakota Badlands, it was 
