S. of Calgary Monday 7/24/23..

Found Pine Coulee, Alberta Provincial Campground south of Calgary, outside Nanton.
Chariot is feeling much better after oil change and tire rotation (!) On that score never have I experienced the truck service facility the way we just did.
No appointments, first come etc. Then wait 3 hrs. Now here be the rub, if rub it be: Facility services RAM trucks and a few other truck makes, BUT wait for 3 hrs? "We have a Waiting Lounge wi-fi + TV; A Sports Lounge wifi + TV; a Child's Play Area no shoes, no food but lots of toys + TV. Free coffee or tea, snacks cost. Even a barber + hairstylist (!)"
I moaned about not having either a message parlour or sauna.... but hey, car dealers are well, car dealers in Alberta!
Camp host wanted to charge $35 (CAD) for a site with electric. Nope we have solar so we moved to Willow Creek Camp a few km away - no electric, $25 ( CAD) per night.
Drove out of Banff into Calgary on a Monday a. m. - what a great reminder to what N. New Jersey is/was like! Phew thanks to GPS and navigator Connie! Calgary is enormous compared to what I was expecting - and no mountains! But they have a DECENT pizza at Tim Hortons. Also best five and dime in Dollarama+
Whole lot of things US is well behind on - metric to start. Kevin, Manager at Tim Horton could not believe Tucson still served styrofoam cups and plates(!) " We are in Europe England around the world EVERYTHING is biodegradable - everything.
Third or forth Swiss couple we have met. They camped next to us N of Calgary. The are spending a year in their Fiat camper shipped from Hamburg..
"Well... this is our last night in Canada..." as per Connie.
Tomorrow south of Ft McCloud ( 45 km ) away we cross the border - with mixed emotions - at least I should have cell service.
Ooh Canada, how is it I remember you for ( cuisine-wise) the best pizza from Alex at Pantinos? in Canmore Alberta. Man it was good as was the Czech beer.
Yesterday, stopped at the excellent ICEFIELD CENTRE totally dedicated to educating the Canadian public on the glacier-melt and the effects of the climate crisis, we encountered the highest Starbucks in Canada 6k+ ft (?) BUT, I had a frappachino with paper (biodegradable) straw, and small wooden (biodegradable) spoon - zero one time plastic use! OK, sooo out ahead again Canada - but I have refused plastic in Tucson SBucks, soo why is US not following the lead of Canada and Europe? ego, money? ignorance? Hard to believe and admit.Leia mais