Medicine Hat - finally some WiFi

One of the more interesting aspects of RV Campsites advertising Wifi connections is that they do have Wife, but sometimes there's a very small radius for connecting, or the service is 'temporarily down' or the password provided doesn't work and the 'we're only employees' can't help.  But here we are in Medicine Hat at the Gas City Campsite and huzzah, we have connection, thus a new post on the blog.

We spent a couple days in Drumheller smack in the middle of the badlands and home to the Tyrell Museum.  Dinosaur heaven - well, long fossilized remains of millions and millions of dinosaurs, some of which ended on display in a truly spectacular museum.

The wee caravan split up and Sven and I headed north through spots named Rumsey, Big Valley, Fenn and Meeting Creek until finding my friend Forrest in the middle of somewhere, sitting on four sections of ranch/farmland through which the Battle River runs.

He also runs an eco-tourist operation based on these lands that have been in his family for generations. Forrest took us to places he's know since childhood; dinosaur fossils, tipee circles, eagle pits, areas where the first ferry crossing and 'town' were located and hills exposing rows of quarts crystals.  It's pretty easy to see that he loves the land, the history, the birds and animals that live in the groves that he continues to protect and expand.

The next day we headed for Medicine Hat. On the way we stopped in for lunch at Hanna, a small town that  seems nearly to be abandoned.  Many of the smaller villages seem to be struggling as more and more folks head in to Edmonton and Calgary.  Back on the road we decided to check out Dinosaru Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We parked at the top of the park, the flak lands of Alberta, and looked over into the badlands of the Red Deer River.  It's quite spectacular. On the way back to RV, we notice that the outside aluminum panelling has started peeling off. Bummer.  Ok, we spend a half hour repairing it. Jumping into the drivers seat once again, the starter motor won't kick over. Sigh. This after having already replace the ignition.  Wiggle the key, smack the dash, finally it starts.  Yay. 

We arrive at Medicine Hat at a 6 PM, join the rest of our caravan and have a lovely dinner finishing with a most delectable watermelon.  Hopefully the RV will start tomorrow....

That be all for now.

11:15 sunset at Forrest's farm.