Northern Streamin': Spokane to Lake Louise, Alberta

Off we go.

With stellar assistance from Tom Mulcahy and Lesley, the trailer, truck bed, and cab are packed to capacity with everything we can possibly think of for our 30 day journey into the wilderness of Yukon Territory and Alaska. We are packed to the gills with food in the freezer, frig and pantry. We will not go hungry. The little clothes closet is just right. By the time I hang up my things there is only one hanger left for Brez but I swear that’s all he wanted!

Our neighbors are out to wave good-bye. Maureen takes a photo and we feel like we’ve had a special send-off. We head east for our first stop in Coeur d’Alene for cheap(er) gas at Costco, and then head north.

We have installed a deer whistle on the truck fender, ($2 at the General Store), in hopes of alerting deer to our presence on the highway. We hope they don’t hear it and ask themselves “What’s that? Let’s go see!” The deer we do encounter, grazing beside the road, seem to prick up their ears and listen. Maybe it’s working!

We cross into Canada at Eastport, Idaho. They make me relinquish my Granny Smith apples. All exotic fruits seem to be OK…kiwi, bananas, red grapes, watermelon, raspberries and lemons, no problem. The actual border between Canada and the US is easily identified. A huge swath is cut into the trees like it was mown with a gigantic riding mower. It runs straight and true up the mountains on both sides of the highway until it reaches the top where the sky shows through the notch and the whole thing disappears over the other side.

We dodge a few rain showers, but the day is predominantly bright and blue. The rain has kept the wildflowers happy; they are mostly yellow today, balsam root, buttercups and the sunny dandelion strewn about with abandon.

There are wildlife warning signs at frequent intervals: silhouettes of elk, deer, mountain goats, moose, and believe it or not, a bull. We pass a flashing sign saying “bear on the road”, and sure enough we see her. A mama black bear foraging at the road’s edge and her three cubs having a race with one another while she’s not looking. They are tearing along without a care, so new they look like fur balls on legs. We can’t really stop so we have to be content with slowing down and gawking at this singular sight.

The Canadian Rockies have been our constant companions today. Fingers of snow reach down their shoulders like the fringe on a lacy shawl. As we drive through Banff National Park we encounter three wildlife overpasses. They’ve been built with great care to allow the animals to cross the highway safely. Faced with boulders and planted with trees and shrubs they are natural pathways that blend with the environment.

When we pay our park entrance fee the exchange rate is not in our favor. Canadian dollar trumps the US by seven cents.

The Cinderella blue of Lake Louise is today’s destination where we find our campground for the night.

Wildlife count: 11 mule deer, 1 mangy mountain sheep, and 1 black bear with 3 cubs

Airstreams: 2

Miles: 358

Gratitudes:

PKB: Tom and Lesley and their generous spirits.

JMB: Happy to have the traveling partner that I have (he’s with me, really)

Gin Score: J: 70 P: 165