I still have lots to stay about the renovation, but writing about things like plumbing and gas fitting is not always the most enjoyable. So, in the interest of my sanity, I decided to share our first Boler adventure!
We were pretty motivated to get our new Boler ready for use, and in fact went out on our first weekend trip about 5 weeks after purchase (we bought it on June 28 and our very first trip out was on the August long weekend (August 2-4)).
We went with some friends to Waterton Lakes National Park. Waterton Lakes National Park is part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park which includes Waterton Lakes National Park on the Canadian side and Glacier National Park on the USA side. It was designated a Word Heritage Site in 1995.
We planned to camp on the Canadian side, as we did not have our dog’s paperwork in order to cross the border. And, we did not have a campsite booked so we knew there was a pretty good chance we’d be sleeping on the side of the road somewhere due to the reservation system which makes it virtually impossible to find a last minute camping spot anywhere in Alberta and/or B.C.
G and I left our house on Friday at about 1pm. We simply couldn’t get away earlier due to G’s work commitments.
Hooked-up and leaving the City!
After driving for 3 hours, we discovered that we were right – Finding a camping spot was nearly impossible. Every single spot in and around the park was booked or already taken.
We were desperate, and Waterton Springs Campground just outside the national park, helped us out. I explained our situation, including G’s broken ankle (I was hoping for sympathy). It is a family run campground and were awesome. They gave us a spot in an overflow area that was close to the washrooms so my husband could walk to them. And, when another site came available due to a last minute cancelation, they even moved us to a slightly better site. The campground had full amenities – running water, bathrooms, pay-showers, play structures for kids, fire-wood, a small store, etc. Some sites have significantly more tree coverage and therefore privacy, so if you pre-book definitely make sure to get one of the better sites.
We had such a great time with our friends. We all spent some time wondering around the townsite enjoying the odd meal and wondering into the touristy stores.
Our friends spent some time mountain biking and hiking. And we spent some time touring around in our 4Runner and enjoying the quaint townsite as G was wearing an airboot and had very limited mobility. We stopped by the Buffalo Paddock to see the buffalo roaming, and we also saw 2 different bears on the side of the road.
Each night we enjoyed campfire food, and a few glasses of wine. We had a great time, and even hung out inside the Boler one evening as we waited through a rain storm.
Our friends bought us a Bolerwarming gift (i.e. a housewarming gift), which was just so thoughtful (and necessary as it was something all 4 of us forgot to bring).
Locally Handcrafted Spatula
And, on the way home, I made G stop on the side of the highway so that I could take this photo. I just love the foothills, and wanted to capture this picturesque landscape.
Foothills on Our Way Back to Calgary
As for the Boler, she performed admirably on her first weekend out. We stayed warm and dry (and there was lots of rain, so it was a really good test). Which meant, we all stayed nice and happy! After our first weekend away, we were happy we bought our Boler and anticipate many more memorable trips in our future!
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Our Boler Adventures 