Days Fourteen and Fifteen - Calgary and Valleyview, AB

Oh, Canada! Our trek to Alaska took us across international borders yesterday as we drove into Alberta, Canada from Montana. The border crossing was very easy; the friendly border agent asked us a couple of questions, looked at our driver's licenses and the childrens' birth certificates, and waved us through. They must not have seen Brinkley in the back, or they did and didn't care, because they didn't ask to see the official letter from the vet that she was current on her rabies shot. My parents, in the car behind us with three of our children, had no problems either. The only potential trouble was a caterpillar that Meredith had caught earlier that day. She told my parents, "Tell them about the caterpillar." They didn't, and there was no search of the car, so off we went into the Great White North with the possible contraband.

We drove north to Calgary, taking a scenic route that skirted the Rocky Mountains to the west. It would have been far more scenic had the clouds lifted, but it was a beautiful drive nonetheless through rugged ranch country.

On the whole, Calgary, or at least the little we saw of it, looked like any American city with all the familiar brand names - Home Depot, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, etc. One difference was the total absence of billboards. Although I have no problems with advertising, I have to admit it was nice not being bombarded with giant signs along the roadside.

My parents continued with us today until lunch time, which was spent at a rest area just south of Edmonton (which, by the way, is the proud home of the supposedly largest mall in the world; just because the Canadians ban billboards does not mean they are opposed to all forms of crass materialism!). Then we said our goodbyes, and the six of us continued north while Gran and Papa Paul headed back home to Missoula. They were a great help to us in driving with the kids for a day and a half to give us a bit of stress relief.

This afternoon we drove past Edmonton and headed west, then northwest, to a small town called Valleyview. We are not yet on the Alaska Highway, but we are definitely approaching the more isolated parts of Canada. We are seeing fewer and fewer vehicles on the road.

What we have found in abundance, though, are mosquitos. Since we are heading to Alaska with their legendary mosquitos, I imagine it is only going to get worse from here.

This is the only picture I've taken in Canada so far! Maybe if we run out of gas sometime, Brinkely could give us a pull? If so, she'll be ready for the Iditarod!