Susan's Perspective

Clean air, sweet water, crystal blue skies, the smell of pine trees and campfires.  Heaven, absolute heaven.  I woke last night at 4 a.m, and walked to the loo.  I looked up, and for the first time ever, I could SEE the stars.  It was like a blanket of diamonds cast into the sky.  It was amazing, and it only gets better from here.  Temps are comparable to late fall there.  No more wilting in drippy, damp heat.  I feel like my soul is waking up from a long sleep.
   We have met some truly amazing people, including Bob and Bobbette.  Folks greet you as you walk back to you camper, and conversations just spring up naturally.  It's a sense of  camaraderie simply because everybody has come from somewhere and is going somewhere.  Lots of stories to share, and sometimes you feel  sad to part.  But we will keep the memories.
   We've not taken alot of pictures, because this kind of travel, with two vehicles and not alot of shoulder space on the road,  does not lend itself well to stopping.  We have encountered  moose, and sheep, and best of all, a whole herd of buffalo in the road.  You just gotta wait.  These are NOT cuddly creatures--I prefer to stay IN the car rather than get out as other folks do and go  "Here, kittie, kittie......"  I think NOT! 
     Yesterday at the hot springs was just the best.  They have two pools, connected by underwater doors; each pool is a different temp.  One really warm, the other hot.  A very social environment (YES we were clothed, as was everybody else, in bathing suits.....)  Popped out at one point for lemonade on the terrace, and a chat with a couple from the UK.  Back in to soak out more toxins.  So VERY bohemian.  Felt like Gumby all the rest of the evening...no complaints there!  It was the perfect cure for Rocky Mtn Nerves.  That and a spaghetti dinner...
       About the chef at Toad River.  We ate in the very rustic little restaurant there.  The chef there had been professionally trained and had been with the Sheraton hotels for quite awhile.  Got sick of the rat race, and moved up into the Rockies.  Walked into this little Mom and Pop campsite concern, and was hired within ten minutes.  He LOVES it.  And his food is REALLY good.  He has studied pastry on his own, and bakes all the breads and morning sweets every day.  Consequently, this little campground is THE place to stop to stay or eat.  The places Up There are all very rustic...mostly cozy log cabin construction.  Locals breeze in and out, and are always interested in what is going on Out There.
         So we go on tomorrow, on the last big push North to the border.  I will be  a little sad to leave Canada in two day's time.   We have so enjoyed every aspect of it.  The beauty of the place is overwhelming.  The other day, coming down out of the Rockies, we had long distances of  comparatively gentle ups and downs.  We  passed under rain squalls every five minutes, on and off, on and off.  The sun would peek out, then it was dark again.  but we could see a long way off.  At one point, we came over a rise, and a storm was moving across a valley, carrying with it virtual curtains of rainbows.  I could not breath.  The rainbow is God's promise that His Word is true.  It was, to me, a gift for persevering.  I will never forget that sight.  He has been  with us all along, and I felt He was reminding us He is still there.  Wow.