I arrived home the middle of June, just in time for my birthday, and a much anticipated visit with my son Rhys and his wife Jennifer from Vancouver. Once they returned home, the summer was filled with short trips into the countryside around Edmonton. We also welcomed some friends from Vancouver Island. What a treat to spend a few days with Trevor, Sarah, and their little boy. As the days grew shorter and the signs of fall emerged, my wonderfully supportive husband, Gene, suggested that I complete my cross country trip, by driving to Tofino. He would come with me this time but just as the passenger, that way I could honestly say I had driven from coast to coast.
We decided to spend Thanksgiving with Rhys and Jennifer in Vancouver. As we passed through Jasper, it began to snow and I was somewhat concerned about traveling through the Rockies in Bruno, my Mini Cooper. The weather in the mountains can be unpredictable at the best of times but this late in the season... well I had to keep the faith and forge ahead if I was to be successful. We made a short stop at Mount Robson before heading to Valemount, BC, for our first night.
We love stopping in Valemount because, in this small town populated with just over a thousand people, there is a gourmet restaurant called The Caribou Grill. It is one of our favourite restaurants in all of Canada. The service is excellent, the food superb, and the atmosphere warm and welcoming. A trip to the west coast is never quite complete, without including this luxurious repast.
The next morning, when we headed down for breakfast, the sun was just hitting the peaks of the surrounding mountains. By the time we got on the road, it was a bright sunny day. The road conditions were surprisingly good, even traveling through the high passes. In order to avoid the rush hour traffic entering Vancouver, we planned to stay overnight in Hope. As it turned out, that was a good decision because the next day our drive into Vancouver was free from the usual gridlock.
I had driven us safely through the mountains and over the Coquihalla Highway. Now I looked forward to a few days in Vancouver and especially spending Thanksgiving with my son.
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