Continued...

The drive from Saskatchewan Crossing to Rocky Mountain House is long. The highway quality drops dramatically, which is unfortunate considering it's named after the legendary David Thompson. Add to the drive smoke, disappointment, no coffee, and growing regret, and the minutes will feel like hours. 

"We didn't think this through. We pushed it too far and now it's backfiring," were my quiet thoughts. "What are we doing out here?"

Finally, we pulled into Rocky Mountain House. We went to a Canadian Tire to find a propane tank for our camping stove. Sold Out. Just like in every other place we tried the past three weeks. 

Sigh.

What do you do when the train is charging off the tracks? You pull into a McDonald's to get ice cream, coffee, and iced tea. More specifically, you stop and regroup.

"Ok... think this through..." I grimaced. And I did. What came to mind were the many blessings at that moment. The air was super smoky at this point. Actually, it was dangerous to be outside. Thanks be to God that we had planned to be at a hotel for this particular night. To think that the original plan was made weeks ago! And thanks be to God that we missed our hike at Siffleur Falls (see previous post). It was actually too dangerous given the conditions. Another blessing.

The blessings continued. We pulled into our hotel. "Wow!" is all I could say. This little Canalta hotel was the best hotel I have ever been to. It was quiet, new, had a great pool, waterslide, fitness room, hotel room (with enough beds for everyone!), breakfast area... on and on the list went. Just like that, our dreadful day turned into a day of immense gratitude. 

Day 6

Rocky Mountain House was revitalizing. The stay was short, but oh so sweet. The next morning was the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. We had been praying a special novena to her throughout. She was watching out for us. We hit the road. 

The stops along the way felt exciting again instead of a drag like the previous day.

We actually found the turn to Siffleur Falls this day. In the back of my mind I was thinking, "Hoo boy... this better be good."

Past the swinging bridge which crossed the Saskatchewan River (where it is actually clean!), we ran into two old guys. 

Sayeth us: "How far to Siffleur Falls?"

Sayeth them: "Oh, just go to the right. Maybe 3 kilometres ahead."

It was not just to the right, 3 kilometres ahead. It was well past 5 km ahead (a possible 11km hike in total), on an up-down-twist-turn path. We never saw anyone else for over an hour. On we went. Carrying kids as needed. Past streams and rivers. The farther we went, the clearer the air became.

At last we approached the look-outs, and then the falls. For the most part, we were alone. We ate, sang, and relaxed. New best hike ever. 

Siffleur Falls: You did good.

This day was far from over. After the hike we hit the road for Jasper. More driving. However, this was Icefield driving. Essentially this means you drive high up a mountain. Then drive higher. Hmmm... go even higher than that. Follow that up with a steep twist down while riding your brakes. An idiot in a camper pulls out in front of you. Don't hit the mountain goats. Up again. Higher this time. Down hard! Up. Around... you get the idea. The Columbia Icefields will put you in your place in a real hurry. Grand is too small of a word.

As we approached Jasper we noticed a change in the weather. The heat dropped, and clouds and blessed rain came! For a while we couldn't see much. However, just as we approached our campground (Whistlers) the clouds cleared. The smoke, too. And there were the mountains we had spent the past three years longing for. Jasper was here. Rather, we were in Jasper.

Day 7

Stiffness and wetness greeted our first morning. Becca and I are both now closer to 40 than 30. We decided to take it easy and tour Sunwapta Falls. On our way we saw this fine specimen. 

He came as close as 15 feet from our van, which was the point where I decided we needed to keep going (this was less than 2k from our hike).

Note: Emilie is very strong-willed and determined. This helped her with the hiking. Yes, I did carry her quite a bit. But she also plowed along quite well for a new five-year-old. Also, she is the classiest dressed hiker you will ever see.

A brief note on food. For most of our lunches we ate peanut butter and banana wraps. They are easy to make, can be stored even without ice, and provide great energy. "The Sandwich" soon became, "The Banana Wrap".

After the hike we spent some time in Jasper. Ice cream was in order (as it was for 4 consecutive days there).

Check out this mountain!

The Park (with "Our Mountain" in the background):

At some point Becca said, "Oh, it would be great to live here!" To which I replied, "Just wait until we go to Mass tonight."

Yes, we went to Saturday evening Mass. It was awful, as expected. Most Catholics have no faith or sense of beauty anymore. We also found out some very, very, unfortunate and disturbing news after Mass. Read about it HERE.

Day 8

The next morning Becca and I were still in shock from the news the previous evening. Though we were originally planning on driving to nearby Medicine Lake (a favourite spot), we changed plans at the last minute. The need to leave civilization, somewhere high and far away, took over. We went to the Edith Cavell hike.

It was a slow 17km drive up a mountain. We stepped out of the van and noted how much colder it was. Cold, empty, and raw. Perfect.

First to the glacier and basin.

Then onward and upward. The air was the freshest I've ever breathed. The colour unmatched. The grandeur a foretaste of the Holy Mountain.

After some serious hiking, the younger kids grew tired. We decided, unfortunately, to turn back. It was just too far and too hard. As we were heading down a lady came plowing up. She grew up in the area, and said she hiked this one even as a six-year-old. She encouraged us to keep going. So we did.

Thanks lady. And I mean that not-sarcastically. New best hike ever.

The alpine meadows. Far away from the cares of the world. It is no wonder that God uses mountains for so many amazing works in the Bible. They really are the perfect setting. When I can't sleep, I put my mind back there. Praise Him in the heights.

And finally: 

Don't fool yourself. The trip down a mountain is difficult too. The calf muscles are not meant for such a downgrade. Of all things on our way down, we saw two marmots fighting. Now that's something I will probably never see again.

At the bottom we stopped by the cold glacier stream for our signature dish: "The Banana Wraps". I also had a few sips of water straight from the stream.

*Pro Tip: Always do hikes as early as you can. There are few-to-no people out early in the morning).

The rest of the day saw more ice-cream, and we moved campsites to Pocahontas campground (40min from Jasper). At this campground we met up with Becca's sister and her 5-year-old son. Our kids enjoyed the cousin time.

Day 9

 "One more night to go

One more sleep upon your burning bank

A greedy man never knows 

What he's done.

A natural beauty should be preserved like a monument to nature."

Neil Young - Natural Beauty

 

One more night. Our last full day began with a hike. It's funny, but we never intended our trip to be like this. It just happened. We now would wake up saying, "Ok, where will we hike to today?" I love it. I'm not a sit-around-on-vacation kind of person. A day at the beach feels long. I need to get out and experience nature. Probably I have an inner need to be put in my place by nature.

We all (auntie and cousin too) did the 5 Lakes hike. It was pretty well empty while we were there. It clocked in at 7.2km. The water at one of the lakes (called Lake 1 - how creative) was mesmerizing.

On the way back we passed through a meadow. Not an alpine meadow, but a nice one all the same.

And press pause on life. Becca and I just sat and stared at it all. Peace and quiet have a new meaning. Dostoevsky famously said that beauty would save the world. But beauty is not saving the world. Yes, we do not create beautiful things anymore (or hardly). Perhaps most importantly, we are too filled with the noise of life to notice anything that is beautiful. Unplug. Get away. John Senior would repeat, "Smash the television set!" I guarantee you he wasn't joking either. Smash the T.V. Smash the phone. Smash the computer. Smash whatever it is that is bringing ungodly noise into your life. 

Then sit. Rest. And maybe, once this is all done, beauty will begin to save.

"Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!" (St. Augustine).

Time has run out. Maybe in another three years it will come again. I wish I had taken more time to let it all soak in. I wish I had more time than I did. But when you race from one event to the next, you forget how to rest. Plus, it's busy being a parent. Oh so busy. When I say that I, an avid reader, read only half of a page the entire trip, I wasn't joking. But I wish I had sat just a few more minutes at one of those quiet places. It's a regret I haven't shaken yet. Just a few more minutes there. I pine for it.

The rest of the day was filled with swimming in a gorgeous lake, eating more ice-cream, and enjoying a pleasant supper all together. All in all, a most wonderful time.

Day 10

Our slowest day of packing up. We were tired, sore, and maybe more than a little sad. Finally we pulled out of the campground. Our intention was to do one last mini-farewell hike. However, the smoke returned, and so we hit the road. It is rather amazing to think how the smoke cleared up at just the right times during our trip. Deo Gratias.

To Edson, halfway between Jasper and Edmonton, for their neat spray park and outdoor fitness centre. And... sandwiches too (we're rather sick of sandwiches now, btw).

As we pulled into Edmonton we decided to do a quick stop at the West Edmonton Mall. We didn't buy anything. We just showed the kids around a bit. They liked the Lego store the best. It got our minds off the mountains a little bit. However, the noise of the city was jarring. I suppose you can't run away forever.

At our hotel that night we were harassed somewhat for having four children (the poor Days Inn hotel, apparently, would go bankrupt if four children stayed in a room). Also, the hotel was a hotspot for COVID insanity. Example: I went to the workout room in the morning. There was a guy there on an exercise bike. Alone. Wearing a mask. Watching CNN...

Day 11

“Don’t adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on the story” 

- Bilbo Baggins

The day began with a 7:30am Mass at the FSSP in Edmonton. The TLM always gets thrown into the ugliest churches around. I wonder why bishops do this... To send a message? To secretly hope the TLM crowd will fix the ugliness? I'm not sure.

Swimming followed. 4+ hours. My happy place growing up was always the World Water Park. But now it is on the top of a mountain. Nevertheless, I will admit I am not so serious now as to pass on the slides at the Mall!

We pulled out of the Mall at around 2:30pm. Our plan was to drive to Lloydminster for the night. However... 

Yes, we drove the entire way. It was fine until a 30-minute train delay in North Battleford drove us nearly crazy. Also, Jude cried for most of the final two hours.

At 11:32pm we pulled into our driveway. This whirlwind of fun, adventure, excitement, disappointment, and awe will take many more weeks for me to unpack in my brain. I know, I know, it was just a vacation. Yet I also believe there are some deep life-lessons waiting to be discovered.

* * *

I write this on the feast of the Transfiguration. My mind has been thinking about this feast non-stop ever since our Edith Cavell hike. St. Peter's cluelessness as to what was happening... yet his recognition that it was something profound. It was the foretaste of heaven he experienced. And in my own little way I wonder... could it be so?

No, we cannot stay up there. Not while living on this earth. It is down we go, to our suffering, and even crucifixion. Yet the memory of the Transfiguration, I am sure, must have brought Peter some comfort when times got tough. 

As will my own memory of it all.

Now, back into the fight. 

Millette Family Vacation 2021 - Pics and Thoughts - Part I

I wasn't planning on doing this. Nope. Not I. I did the trip videos and that was that. It was supposed to be Becca's job to post pictures of our 2021 Millette Family Vacation. She has failed, however. By failed I mean she's busy running the house while I waste time. So I will pick up the slack. Hero that I am.

Here we are, a "trip" down memory lane. Our 2021 vacation:

Day 1

 

I have this thing where I can't function, mentally, without at least some form of a workout everyday. So it was up at 4am for some weights. Then we made a mad scramble and hit the road before 5:30am. It's early, but we're morning people, and the summer sunshine makes it easy to get up.

Nice send off.

Best of all, we left on July 11th. JULY 11TH!!! That meant FREEDOM DAY in Saskatchewan! No more insane masks or strict COVID limits on churches. As Becca and the kids ran into a gas station bathroom on the drive to Saskatoon, they saw two guys walking in. It was still early. The guys looked at Becca and said, "Wait? Is it that day? It IS that day!" and they proceeded to tear off their masks. Good times.

We made it in time for the traditional Latin Mass at 8am (way too early for those who travel to it). Afterwards we had a mini-picnic at the park with TLM friends, and then hit the road to continue the long and boring drive.

The kids didn't really sleep on the tedious drive. Everyone was super tired. We arrived in Drumheller, Alberta, before 4pm. We made a stop to see the large T-Rex.

From there we set up camp. I *ahem* forgot the hamburger meat in the freezer, and so we ate potatoes cooked with Chunky Soup poured on them. Ugh. But the kids loved it. 

It was stinking hot out, but we still went and climbed around the Hoodoos. They certainly are wearing away. People need to stop touching them.

Drumheller is a neat little place. But we were very tired, and did I mention it was stinking hot? Tough stuff. It was also difficult getting into the camping rhythm. Long story short, I was eager to move on. 

Bonus! Check out this incredible story which happened as we were leaving: Where's My Combat Rosary?

Day 2

Our first full day! Horseshoe Canyon. It was awesome! We climbed and toured around for quite a while. It was hot again, but so worth it! As we left, I, drenched in sweat, couldn't help but say, "That was by far the best hike I've EVER been on!" It was. Little did I know there were bigger and better things to come.

Joseph and John Paul loved the climbing. All trip they proved to be very fit young guys.

Around lunchtime we drove on to Calgary. We first made a stop in Airdrie and visited the Hamiltons. They are originally from Becca's hometown in Ontario (near, well, Hamilton) but moved out West recently.

From there it was on to Calgary. We literally planned half our trip around this next stop. We even chose to go to it over the Calgary Zoo. What could it be?

Bass Pro Shops!!! Waterfalls. Fish. Stuffed everything. Heck, they practically had a mountain in there. We should have camped out and stayed a week or two.

Full of Bass Pro Shops hats and shirts, we moved on to our hotel in Calgary. It was low key. The Stampede was going on (thus jacking up our hotel bill significantly), and we wanted to rest up for the mountains.

Day 3

"Jude! You're in the family now! You've seen the mountains!"

Yes, we used to tell Jude he wasn't part of the family because he wasn't there on our last trip to Jasper. Now he belongs. How wonderful. I think he was tired of hearing how he wasn't "part of the family" up 'til that point.

Mountains! For three years I longed to listen to a certain song while pulling up to the mountains. It felt like such a relief!

We stopped first in Canmore to see the new shrine to Our Lady of the Rockies. 

Some of it was a touch modern (which usually means less than ideal). But most of it was beautiful. I especially loved how they left certain windows clear, thus allowing for a stunning view of the mountains. God's own stained glass.

On to Banff now!

We missed our turn. It's not my fault though! What am I supposed to do? Beautiful mountains are distracting. We pulled off at a stream and ate sandwiches. 

Not just sandwiches but THE SANDWICH! *The Simpsons music theme song playing in the background* It's a tradition going back to my childhood. Eat great sandwiches in cool places. Then call them "The Sandwich!"

We poked around the stream for quite a while. The water was C-H-I-L-L-Y-!-!-!

Now isn't this nice? We stopped on the side of the road for some pictures. The first being an ad for a 2019 Dodge Caravan. Seriously, I'm not sure who took this picture, or why...

This is better:

Banff has an awesome downtown. It was busy. Half of Quebec I think was in Banff. Must've been a family reunion.

When in a ridiculously expensive place like Banff (gas $1.45/L), it is important to shop at guaranteed cheap places like McDonald's (dollar drink days!).

My biggest complaint with Banff (no, no, not the Quebecers) is that you can't get anywhere. Streets are blocked off randomly in the summer. And, of course, the pedestrians don't watch where they are going. 

We set up camp and ate some, ahem, Camping Pooping Chili (CPC). You see, kids have a hard time in that department while on vacation. So Becca made some CPC back in Tisdale, we froze it, and then hauled it out on day 3. 

Let's just say it worked like a charm.

That evening we strolled Banff. We walked over to the Banff Springs Hotel and pretended to be staying there. I priced it out for fun back in June. Rooms were $800/night. Meh. I've been kicked out of fancier places than this: 

As we left, apparently Becca was going through the revolving door and some jerk came up and pushed it hard to get in. I wasn't there, but I'm told it nearly took her arm off.

She had a massive bruise, and was feeling sick. I was ready to go find the guy and settle matters. Failing that, I was ready to get a lawyer and sue the hotel for all they have. 

Thankfully (and more importantly), Becca's arm wasn't broken. She iced it, took some Tylenol, and we moved on.

Jude at the falls. Can you spot the rock he threw?

Kids, past their bedtime:

Day 4

"Gonna climb a mountain. The highest mountain. Jump off. Nobody gonna know."

Can't You See - Marshall Tucker Band

We got up early and went to the very bottom of Tunnel Mountain. And then we climbed. And climbed. And climbed. It is quite something carrying a backpack loaded with supplies, and a 35 pound girl as well, up a mountain. But it was awesome!

Thankfully Tunnel Mountain isn't massive, and we climbed it in a fast hour or so.

We had breakfast on Tunnel Mountain! Wow! 

Shout out to the guys who carried up these red chairs for us to sit in!

We went for smoothies after the hike (McDonald's!) and then relaxed at the campground a bit. By relaxed I mean the kids relaxed while the parents tidied up. Seriously, I brought a book on this trip, but only read half a page. Such is the life of a parent.

That afternoon we went to Cascade Pond. It is glacial water. So we went swimming! Very invigorating to say the least. 

In the evening we toured some stunning gardens, and then said goodnight to the actual town of Banff. Banff is a beautiful place. I'm not sure what it is though. Probably it's just me... but I just can't love the place. I like it a lot. I don't love it. I know it is busy, and worldly - though most places are. Maybe it's just that I'm not a Disney-princess-it's-not-the-end-but-the-journey kind of a person. I find great comfort and consolation in being at my actual destination. Either way, I was anxious to move on. 

Day 5

We packed up camp early and hit the road. Our first stop was Lake Louise. Why? For "the picture", that's why. 

So Lake Louise just put in a $11.70 parking fee. Jerks. Though we got there early, you could tell hundreds of vehicles were already pouring in. Well done, Lake Loui$e.

We decided to skip the parking payment, run and get "the picture", and then run back to the vehicle. 

Emilie had other plans. She was tired and more than a little grumpy. The only picture of her which did not involve her covering her face had Becca with her eyes shut. Sigh. "The picture" indeed.

At least Jude and I had an almost nice selfie together. 

We hit the road and made a quick pitstop in B.C. The kids had never been in this province. 

You can tell that the smoke (B.C. wildfires) was building. Regardless, we backtracked and hit the David Thompson highway. David Thompson is a legend in our family. We were in search of the Siffleur Falls for a hike. The smoke was building. Kids were getting tired. Cell coverage and data were unavailable. There were no signs on the road. Long story short... we missed finding Siffleur Falls.

Eventually we were able to check where these falls were. We passed them by over 30 minutes! To make matters worse, our drive to Rocky Mountain House for the night was WAAAYYYY longer than we thought. Ugh. There's no other way to say it. We messed up. We missed our hike. Our day was long and hard. The mountains were gone because of the smoke. Everyone was tired. Suddenly our awesome trip was falling apart. We messed up indeed.

As you will see next installment, however, God is pretty good at turning any "mess up" into a great success...