macblaze.ca

Morning was slow because Carmen decided on another shower… did I mention we enjoyed the hot running water…? Eventually we were all up and running and Carmen toasted her tomato sandwich over the fire (which frankly was a pain in the ass to keep lit).

We eventually got packed up and checked out. we’d pretty much given up on the idea of running away to Grand Cache; we figured there were too many carnivores for competition and we’d eventually have to surface again…sigh. We cruised into town and gassed up; Carmen did her usual bang-up job of bug scrubbing and we were on the road again.

We figured a short hike around Maligne Canyon wouldn’t be too much of an imposition so we pulled in to the crowded parking lot. We took the high trail down and it was empty, but as soon as we started back up the main trail the tourists and their kids and dogs and pretty much everything else descended. I guess we’d been too many days away from the touristas cause they sure as hell were irritating. I guess the three of us really are misanthropes, although Leslie’s biggest beef was with the 25 or so dogs we encountered on the trail.

Fighting through the hordes for a bathroom break gave us a final bitter (sweet) taste of Jasper and we hit the road. Leslie finished off her abominable book for us and we groaned through the last chapter as we got a lurid description of Nell not getting any and no real resolution to the mystery except to blame it all on Rasputin. Jeez.

Leslie drove the last bit home and we unpacked around 5. We bid Carmen adieu and showered, sorted the mail and had a quick run through on the pictures. We have two more days before life starts again so hopefully we stay calm cool and relaxed. Carmen will be off to find her lion soon and our cats are busily ignoring us and then checking every 2 seconds to see if we are still there.

C’est tout…

Rise and shine. I generously let Carmen get up early and make the hot water before arising and getting in her way. Because of the fire ban we had no morning fire to warm our cockles and had to make do with coffee, tea, hot chocolate or a mixture thereof.

Eventually coaxed the grumpy bear into toasting her bagel on the stove, but there is still some lower lip showing. We packed up efficiently and quickly using the patented Bruce method and soon were on our way. Today’s drive was to Jasper and Leslie sped the miles away by loaning us her melodious voice and reading her ridiculous novel about some American feminist who out wits Sherlock Holmes and carries around 10 tons of makeup. Suffice it to say that Tatiana’s large furry muff provided the highlight of the story… At least for the two 15-year-old boys.

We drove Leslie horse until we hit Tete Jaune and the end of our grand circle. About 2500 km around BC without back tracking… w00t! A quick picture, some pawing of Carmen’s chest and we were on our way.

We stopped at Overlander Falls just past Mt. Robson for a quick 30 minute hike. I nice walk but not overly spectacular and we wanted to hurry and get back to the truck to find out if Nell could vet any more insufferable or if Tatiana was still stroking her sable…

Speaking of stroking, we arrived back at the truck only to find Boingy Bunny in a rather compromising position with Bunny. Carmen swears it’s not Boingy’s doing but a chorus of “harlot” proves her wrong.

Soon we were in Jasper and stopped for lunch and a beer. A nice stroll around town and we loaded up and headed out.

As we waited in line at Whistler, we started to wag and drool over the thought of a shower. Suddenly…

Seems when I had made the reservation I had inadvertently put August 30, not July. There was mo room at the inn for us and, being the long weekend, no room anywhere around. Dahn dahn daa!

But fortunately the kind young ladies in the booth took pity on our pathetic visages and refered us to the ‘special’ clerk. This bastion of helpfulness found us a cancelation and scooted us on our way. Come to think of it, it might of been the smell of 3 unwashed bears that did the trick. Nonetheless we soon had camp set up and were sluicing grime from our bodies with abandon. C was a bit slow so we left her behind with hardly a twinge of guilt. Actually we couldn’t twinge because of the layers of dirt buildup: worse than Tammy Fae at a discount makeup blowout.

But eventually we a were clean and a quiet time of reading, blogging and itching ensued. Seems someone had left her Polysporin at home and, being delicious, was suffering from innumerable bites, cuts and rashes from incessant scratching (we plan on taping socks on her hands tonight). She is, as she said, as itchy and burning as a sailor on leave.

Dinner (smokies and s’mores) are in the agenda next followed by fire and sleep.