06/18/05. Today found us back on the road continuing toward Calgary. The caravan did take a couple of short detours for attractions. The first was the City of Ft Macleod and the Ft Macleod Museum, the original fort from the beginning days of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

06/17/05. This evening was spent at the Bridge ViwRV Park in Lethbridge, AB. As is our luck, we have rain following us. The park had been under water just a week earlier and only brought power back online 2 days ago. The park had been working their tails off to bring it back to working order when this rain hit again. Subtract all the mud and I believe this is a really nice park situated on the banks of the Old Man River.

After we got through the customs crossing, we pulled over to the visitor center about 6 miles up the road. We were very pleased to find an interactive museum depicting the dinosaur past of the region as well as some data on the First Nation tribes of the area.

06/17/05. 1235 PM. Made the crossing and it only took 1 1/2 hours. Largely in part to having only one lane open. At the end of the hour long wait to get to the gate, we were invited in to a more personal conversation with immigration. No problems and the agents were polite all the way although one of the other caravaners had a gun permit on file (don't ask me what file), they searched pretty hard to find the gun even though he told them he didn't bring it on this trip.

06/17/05. Crossing the border into Canada. First time for us, so this makes another first for the Howze crew.

06/16/05. Vehicle Inspections

Today was a last minute day for everyone to get shopping done and take care of last minute preps. Additionally, Ed came around and performed vehicle inspections. Smooth like a military operation should be. Later tonight we will have another briefing to answer any questions folks might have over info passed out last night. Tomorrow, we hit the road and should enter Canada around midday.

Ed going over the "RED BOOK," the club guide with driving directions, trip hints, matching data points to the MILEPOST magazine, trip stages, etc. Very well put together.

Wagon Master for the SMART Alaska Caravan, Jerry Pate, sharing insights from previous caravans. Had many experiences to provide us newbies with.

6/15/05. Asst Wagon Master Ed Pate putting out the "skinny" on traveling through Canada and Alaska. This was our first official meeting as a group.

06/15/05. Met with SMART club for briefing.

Today we met as a group for the first trip briefing. Well thought out. Gerry and Ed had their stuff together and were enlightening with various important informations needed for the trip. A pot luck supper and social followed after the briefing and was a great ice breaker. Good food and good company.

06/11/05. And here is the picture of Old Faithful. Pretty neat, but the other sites within the park are just as or more so impressive as this display. Lots of animal life, geologic formations, and numerous fumerols and geysers throughout the whole park. Was not dissapointed in one of the nations top destination parks.

No visit to Yellowstone is complete without a trip to Old Faithful. Here Christa and I are posing prior to going and waiting about 45 minutes before the geyser blew.

This is one of the thermal pools in Yellowstone. Though the pool has a cool inviting look, the water is highly sulphuric and hot. Stinky, too.

06/11/05. Here, Mom is standing in front of the Firehole Cascades. Pretty impressive.

06/11/05. While in Bozeman, Mom, Christa and myself decided to make a day trip of Yellowstone Park. This arch was buil in 1904. The day trip was a full day - 11 hours.

Here, we are watching the Street Stock Racers make the laps. We were so close to the track we were continuously pelted by the dirt clods flying off the track. Super Stock raced as well that night, so it was a pretty fun filled event.

06/10/05. Another big event was at the Bozeman Speedway where Blair volunteers his time and four wheel drive bronco to act as a pusher for Sprinter class racers. Allowed us to be down in the pits with the racers and was pretty exciting.

And, of course, got to get a pic in of the athlete striking an appropriate pose. For which sport I'm not sure, but given the nature of pro-sports today, maybe this is a good mix. Ryan, make sure you keep that elbow up at the plate as well. The only person I didn't get a photo of was Morgan, I just didn't have the camera with me at all times. Sorry.

Another member of the family is my niece, Jamie. I took a couple of photos and told her I was going to publish. Of course she was instantly motified and made me promise to use the 'solemn' picture. Well, it was a hard choice over the one I had with a pretty little smile, but I figured I better keep to the agreement. See ya Jamie.

When we arrived at Bozeman, I immediately was invited to whatch my nephew, Ryan, play some little league. He looked pretty sharp out there. Pictured here are my brother doing practice swings with the leaguers. Next to him are my sis-in-law, Glenda, and my nephew, Ryan. Good to check out the little leagues again.