Alberta Province has an unusual frequency of road side signs for trash bins. The icon is a trashcan. No rest room; no picnic table. The day we decided to drive for 12 hours and arrive late and "wayside"(ie.boondock) if there were no campgrounds available, there were no waysides. We ended up down a 6km dirt (i.e. mud) road and the "Big Mountain Group" campground and the gate was closed. (It WAS 9:08.) We forgot we'd crossed a province border and Alberta is on Mountain Time not Pacific time (i.e. 9:08 not 8:08.) We boondocked at a roadside pullout (as did several others) ...muddy/rainy. We dined on our leftover asparagus dipped in guacamole and cheese and chips. The two worst parts were: no rules about when to turn off the neighbors' damn generator and so close to the road that every car going by sounded amplified by the surrounding mountains (like when you put your cell phone music in a salad bowl.)
Anyway, I think the intent of the "Trash Bin pull outs" is you're supposed to potty in the nearby woods. No problem, right? Except all I've seen are "BE BEAR AWARE" instructions for the last 1000 miles. SO I figure the bears are baiting us into the woods--like that Far Side cartoon where the dog tries to lure the cat into the dryer with a sign that says, "Free FUD."
So, I've been practicing my speech to shoo the bears away:
"I am the Mother of FOXES! You will back up slowly, as will I, or I shall soil myself."
Fox is my totem from my first work day in Walla Walla. I was called, as Chief of Staff, to weigh in on a difference of opinion about the Service Animal Memorandum. Yes, service dogs (only dogs) are allowed to accompany the residential treatment patients almost anywhere (except in the kitchen.) The kitchen staff were quite distraught that there were 3 residents at the same time with three service dogs, all rather big, scary-to-some-looking dogs. The kitchen staff didn't want to be "blamed for dog hair in the dining room." The nursing staff have no real way to assess whether a patient's dog is a "service dog" or an "I like my buddy-dog around with me" dog. I went to meet the head nurse and together we went to the kitchen staff to assure them the dogs were allowed and they would not be blamed. That night I had a vision (okay, a dream) that I had some work strife but had an adorable service fox which I petted and calmed myself right down. Since then, it is a private joke with Judd-- we hear about someone's service peacock on a plane, and wonder if my service-fox will be allowed.
The 'mother of foxes' is reference to the Game of Thrones that Judd and I are listening to an audible books.
We celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary in Jasper, Alberta, CA. We splurged on a hotel vacation as we needed clean clothes and re-supply. We stayed at the Athabascan, the oldest hotel in Jasper (over 100 years old) but all re-furbished and shiny (except for all the dead mammals hanging in the lobby.) Jasper has the best laundromat we've ever seen. It included coin operated showers! and a coffee bar! We walked around town and eventually the sun came out, illuminating the surrounding mountains including the snow-clad Edith Cavell.
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| Judd on his way to a Ranger session on "Before Metal tools" |
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| Edith Cavell peak presents herself at the end of a rainy/foggy day, Jasper |
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