Day 1 - Sat. Aug. 2

This day proved to be mainly driving. We did do some shopping in Medicine Hat to get some components of a trip that we didnt have at home, like an axe, hiking backpack, case of water, juice pop, snacks....shorts for Casey...you know.....then we had supper at Denny's in Calgary. This was an exciting stop. It was kids eat free day. :o) Loved that. They got balloons and rocket cups.

I had a backpack packed full of activities that I got at the Dollorama (love that store) and these got taken out to be played with. Especially while we where still in the trek from home to Calgary, where it is so flat and boring.



This is what the Harvey's look like when they are excited. For real. No "Harvey Smile" needed. They are genuine.

So this first night we made it to Canmore. Now we thought that this first night would be our night in a hotel, so we searched a few and phoned a few hotels, and found nothing. Someone was kind enough to let us know that there was a Jazz festival in town. Now had we known that there was a Jazz Fesitval going on at that exact moment, we may have chosen differently. But knowing that night was coming and we needed to sleep, we decided that it was time to break out the tents. So following the little signs that had a camper on them we went. They are FULL. The lady tells us that there is a site for "tent only". Ok, this starts to make us nervous. Is this going to be the primitive site that I read about online? Which means no water, power, toilets....ahhhhh....... we need to check anyway. Whew. Running water, toilets, showers. If anyone has been in one of these, they are very interesting!!! No real "sites", you basically just pick a spot on the grass and set up tent. The "guy" will come around and collect our $20 for the night. One community firepit, surrounded by our neighbors of hippies, young and old. The guy playing the harmonica and singing for entertainment. There is a basketball net and Eric is thoroughly entertained by this. Then on the walk to the bathroom Eric says quit loudly, "Ew I smell skunk". My mouth gaps, and try to shush him with a smile on my face. I kindly bend over and whisper to him that it is "marijuana" and he needs to not comment. (((Where have we taken our family)))

All in all, it was a great site. Safe and friendly. Hot showers. It was our coldest night though. We all slept with our heads under the blankets, even Jada. Here is a picture of our first set up site with the beautiful mountains in the background. "Good night Mountains" we said everynight.