The ever changing scenery makes the miles go by enjoyably. From Drumheller to Highway #2, which runs north and south between Edmonton and Calgary, was constant rolling hills and the long views from the top of each hill were spectacular. We could see the Rockies from as far as 100km away. The picture is about 80km away.
Our reason to be camped near Edmonton was to go and see the world famous West Edmonton Mall. We are not city folks, but this was worth the stay. Besides being the largest Mall in North America, I believe, it has a life size model of the Santa Maria, an NHL size hockey rink, a show of performing Sea Lions, a huge wave pool, an amusement park the size of a department store complete with a three story high ferris wheel and a grand mini golf course among other interesting things. It is so big that most stores have two or more outlets throughout the mall.
One day was enough of city life and traffic for us , so we were off the next morning. I did the hookup in heavy rain, thankfully I had kept my rain slicker from our sailing days. I changed and we were on the road again. Half an hour up the highway and we drove out of the rain and into blue skys. That was the only rain so far in three weeks on the road. Just blue skys. We had two days of 34c but that was all. The scenery once again changed from forest to rolling farmland. An hour of one then back to the other as we have had since leaving Thunderbay.
We arrived in Grande Prairie by mid afternoon and I was surprised to see such a busy city. A city population of just over 50,000, but they serve a huge area around. As we travel farther north in Alberta the oil industry is very evident with so many industry related trucks, who seem to think they have the rightaway. As far as I am concerned they do!
We were concerned with our dear old van pulling this relativly big trailer, 29ft overall. She has brought us up and over many hills so far, but we were begining to think we were pushing her too hard, and for how long?
From Grande Prairie the hills only get bigger for the rest of the trip. We paid for another night at the park and went to look at pickup trucks. If one is to live in Alberta, one must have a "pickup". We seldom saw a car, van or suv, everyone has a "pickup" So we bought a Dodge Ram 1500 "pickup"with a Hemi 5.7 V8. They transferred the trailer braking system to the truck and I went to have a Tonneau (cover) installed over the back complete with a lock. All this in one day, from decision to hooking up the trailer to the new vehicle. So hopefully this will give us and all of you some comfort.
We have driven 5268km in the old van on this trip and now we have put her to rest. About 4450km of that pulling the trailer up and down hills, she had performed well.
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