Clear skies

Early, before dawn Casey hiked out with two of the students to arrange our pick up and logistics for the rest of our group. We will meet her at the bottom of the valley where the Castle Crown begins to give way to oil and gas exploration - compressor stations, roads and generator facilities pushing right up into the wilderness. Ground zero for conservation versus short term development.

Finally the storm has passed and the sun shines through warming our bones. We are all in good spirits with the fine weather and the prospect of getting into town for a celebratory meal. I led the rest of the group out and we waited for Casey at an informal camp site where we met some fiesty characters, including Berl, an old wiley woman camped in an RV who took a shine to us. I cannot even begin to describe what a character this woman was and the ridiculous and hilarious things that came out of her mouth. She was one of a kind, and even convinced us to camp the night nearby.

Meeting Casey again she told me about all sorts of adventures she had getting our vehicle and even more characters. The pick up woman got lost and felt so bad she befriended us too and helped us to her garden greens and veggies, and invited us to stay at her place for the night in town too. So friendly - but we had to decline! Then, to top it all off we had dinner together outside at a fantastic roadside Alberta eating house. It was a place full of color and character. Unshaven, dirty and and sunburned we all fit right in with the motley assortment of locals. Bikers, cowboys, and local families out for the afternoon.

With the miles behind us a big bison burger with fries and big scoops of ice cream never tasted so good. There was even live music. What a day!