Howdy from Calgary, Alberta....

Well, it was another day of driving for Rob, the boys and I.  We were on the road before 9:00 AM, leaving Moose Jaw in the dust.

Once again the roads were straight and looking over open fields with the occasional cow.  Every now and then the road curved to the right or to the left.  Once in a while there were smallish hills that broke up the terrain.

We drove past a great many high voltage electrical towers.  There was a great deal of energy being sent very long distances using those lines.  And all through the fields there are small wells that appear to be pumping either oil or natural gas.  And along with those wells, are small tanks and lines that most assuredly move all of that fuel to other areas of Canada to keep them warm in the winter.

And the entire time, wandering through, around and under the towers and wells are small herds and medium herds and large herds of cattle.  I do not think that they are aware that their peaceful world has been damaged by man's need for "more power".

The fields are a patchwork of harvested crops, mature crops and green grass and weeds,  I would imagine that from a plane, there would be a marvelous quilt of beautiful fall colors.  There are deep browns of the soy beans waiting to be cut, there are lovely neutral colors of the already harvested wheat and hay having a light golden color in this quilt of life.  Then there are a wide variety of greens from new crops to wild grasses.  The clumps of trees add deep green and yellows of the changing leaves.  It is pretty from the ground.  It would have to be spectacular from the air.  God is far more creative than any of us will ever be in this lifetime.

The boys remain fine.  Winston did have a meltdown in the car just before we stopped for the night.  He began barking for no reason and then trying to either get out of the window (it was closed) or crawl into the front seat (his seat belt kept that from happening).  We got him calmed down some until we got checked in to the Choice Inn, where I got his Thundershirt on him... which calms him down some more... then I give him a Benedryl which has slowed him significantly.  He will be fine and dandy in the morning.  His anxiety attacks seem to be triggered by a high pitched sound which he must have heard from either something on the radio ir outside the car.

Speaking of the car, Miss Gaddy, the Caddy, is doing well.  She is humming along, mile after mile and kilometer after kilometer.  I did not know that there was a way to change Miss Gaddy's instruments to read in kilometers, but Rob found the way, so it is easier to stay within speed limits here in Canada.

We did not make it to the quilt shop here in Calgary.  Being a Saturday, the shop closed at 5:00 PM.  Our journey with stops for gas and dog walks had us arriving after they had closed.  So I guess Canada will not be a part of my quilt of where I have been.

Rob did laundry in the lovey laundry in our hotel.  Then we had some delicious comfort food from a Chicken on the Go shop just down the road.  So he is all set for the few days that we have left.  Tomorrow we will be getting to Grand Prairie and the next day we begin to add a 5 gallon can of gas to our load... just in case as gas stations will become few and far between.  Getting to Alaska is not as glamorous as one might think.

And then there are the bugs.  My windshield looks like a bug graveyard.  Mostly grasshoppers, we see them in the grsses when we walk the dogs.  We have pretty much gone through a gallon of windshield washer fluid.  And the front of Miss Gaddy, well she is peppered with yucky grasshopper carcasses.  I will be looking for a detailer shortly after arriving to get them removed.

Last, but not least, Rob has been watching the weather in the areas that we are heading to.  Looks like we will be driving through some snow... mixed with rain.  I am not going to see much of a fall at all as it was hot and stinking summer when I left and it may be more winter than fall after I get to Fairbanks,  Just keep us in your prayers,  They have been working very well thus far.