Tag Archives: Rocky Mountain House

Driving to Hinton

Blasdale Home Posted on by

15/05/2025

Up an out quickly, we decided to head straight on to Hinton, where we were staying three nights visiting R’s brother and sister-in-law. I would have liked to have visited the museum in Rocky Mountain House, and the brewery, but as events turned out, luckily, we did not. I had found an off-the-beaten route to drive to Hinton. It was the shortest route but did not follow the Canadian grid system of main roads. 

First off, we stopped at some small shops in Nordegg, one of which was a community shop. R wanted a washing-up sponge for the van, but no luck. She was told perhaps they’d have them later in the year. (The van came with no method of cleaning the crockery or cooking utensils, nor a tea-towel to dry anything with.) There was also a small ‘Shell Fuel’ shop, and that sold them. Next door there was a liquor store, where I popped in and bought some beers, brewed in Rocky Mountain House itself. The beers were displayed in a chilled room, so I was rather quick in buying them, cos it was rather cold wearing just shorts and T-shirt.

Back to the road, we drove another 1000 meters before taking my off-the-beaten route right-hand turn to Hinton. Hinton was signed as being another 170K. But there was something funny about this road; oops, it was a dirt track! Apparently a forest track, and looked to be all dirt. Not only was it dirt, it was wet dirt after a heavy overnight rainfall. It was quite slippery, so progress was slow. I noticed that no other vehicles were using it. We went this way for about another 5K, where there were signs warning that further on the road was under water. We (ie R) thought better of it (I thought we could have done it, I swear the water didn’t look that deep) and so turned around. Was not going to be a good trip. After this small detour, we found the van (and parts of R who’d directed my U-turn) were caked in mud, 25mm thick, which subsequently baked on with the hot sunshine.

Back on the main road we headed on towards the snowfields, and took a right-hand turn onto the 93. Yes, this route was longer at 260K, and not the 170K of the dirt road. Very pretty though. We will be back on that route another day.

We phoned to give our ETA, arriving at Hinton at 17:40. They didn’t warn us not to take the dirt road, cos nobody would do that.

Drive to Hinton
Drive to Hinton
Drive to Hinton
Drive to Hinton

Picking up our RV in Calgary

Blasdale Home Posted on by

14th May 2025

We had a lovely lie-in, and a good breakfast at the Elk + Avenue in Banff. Breakfast was the usual North American affair of eggs benedict (or ‘benny’) etc etc. No toast and marmalade! Most of the staff appeared to be from the (British) Commonwealth. We heard how people starting in life would get work visas for a couple of years, working in these resorts

Our Trailfinders chosen driver picked us up from the hotel at 11.00, very promptly.   Drove us to the RV pickup. About a 90 minutes drive. He would point out stuff on route, especially the cattle.  As we neared Calgary, the land became flatter.

RV pickup was rather slow and inefficient. Keys didn’t work in some locks on the outside cupboards, and much was glossed/hurried over.

We set off, stopped at a Walmart, where we spent far too long buying far too little.  Spent a long time looking for the beers etc. Ha! We needed a Liquor Store. Adventure at the Shell filling station where the payment machine misbehaved. It cost more 153 CAD. (Oh they preauthorised 250 CAD. You can set different limits.)

Arrived at Rocky Mountain House Campsite at 7.ish. Reception was closed, they had closed at 5, not 8, as we’d read.  We did walk into the unlocked reception, so the owner came down.  She had actually emailed us information, and there was a pass key outside the reception for us. The owner offered us coins for the washing machine and tumble drier, 1 dollar coins, called loonies and 2 dollar coins called toonies. R thought a wash & dry for 7 CAD a bargain.

Loaded the washing machine, then drove to our pitch. Actually made up the bed in the table, banquette area of the van. But never again, far too much hassle and not that good.

Pitched. R went off to the laundry, came back 30 minutes later (having walked around & around) not being able to find.it. I went off to the laundry. Loaded the tumble dryer and waited for its completion. Hour later back at van in the dark, not happy.

Camping in Canada
Camping in Canada