Windrose Ramblings: Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta

We left Three Forks, but not before breakfast. Paul & Mavis knew about this place from past travels. It had a vast selection of breads and bakery products. What you choose? I picked a delicious turnover and took home a mega cinnamon bun to share with Dave later on.

After we passed through Helena, we were back on the same route as we were on a week ago in the other direction. We stopped at the same place for lunch and stayed for night in Shelby again. By now the big cottonwood tree was in full leaf. What a difference a week makes.

The next morning we continued northward. The Sweetgrass Hills that are so familiar to us from the farm at Skiff look quite different from the Montana side.

The Chin Coulee is green.

We had a brief lunch and fuel stop in Taber. Somehow, we didn't find any interesting independent place for coffee that was trailer accessible. The fast food chains have taken over along the highway.

We arrived at Dinosaur Provincial Park and it was definitely summer! Dave quickly switched to shorts. He said he'd left Canada wearing shorts and hadn't worn them at all in the U.S.

Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the Red Deer River valley, which is noted for its striking badland topography and abundance of dinosaur fossils. Fifty-eight dinosaur species have been discovered at the park. It has a long history of fossil hunting and a few specimens are housed in museum displays around the park. We were excited to spend some time hiking around and enjoying the beauty of nature.

Paul and Mavis belong to an RV club based out of Calgary. The group goes on camping trips around central Alberta and this one of those events. After we got set up, it was time to meet their friends and hang out. Over the next couple of days we went on several hikes, had some sing-a-longs, went out for dinner and just generally relaxed around the campground. This is the life!

Molly didn't think much of the wheels on Al's scooter.

It looked too murky and muddy bottomed to consider it.

Hoodoos and sunsets. A beautiful place.

Heading out on a hike in the morning, before it got too hot.

One of the displays depicting a fossil bed as it would be excavated.

This was our camping neighbour, a young lady who'd done a fantastic job of making a mini-van into a camper van. We enjoyed getting to know her.

view from our campsite

Another hike along the river valley.

200 year-old cottonwood near the river

The Patricia Hotel BBQ pit

Grill your own meat. If you don't like how it turned out, blame the chef - you!

The first night we had a sing-a-long in a trailer as the smoke had rolled in and was quite harsh on lungs and voices. Three musicians cozy on a couch - and about 14 of us in total joining in song.

The next afternoon the musicians stayed in the tent because they needed the shade to be able to see their I-pads for the music.

Everyone sitting around and singing - or visiting.

A beautiful evening stroll.

But all good things must come to an end and we began to pack up and head home. But first, Drumheller. We needed to stop at Bernie and the Boys for old-time sake. It brought back memories of Paul & Mavis' daughter's years at theatre camp in the Badlands, and of Mavis and I participating in the Badlands Passion Play.