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Kinbrook Island, Alberta, Canada

31 08 2015

Kinbrook Island Provincial Park

Good evening from western Alberta!

Leaving Gull Lake around 11AM, we’re just on the edge of a weather front approaching from the west. By the time we’ve crossed from Saskatchewan to Alberta, we’re seeing blue, sun filled skies and long distance views unobstructed by smoke haze. This is the first time since leaving Denver 6 days ago that we’ve enjoyed a haze-free day. Hopefully the fires in the western state are calming down. Along with these clear skies, we’re unfortunately driving directly into a strong head wind increasing our consumption of $3.30USD/gallon gasoline.

After a bit of a navigation snafu which lead us down about 20 miles of dusty gravel roads, we arrive at Kinbrook Island Provincial Park. Set on the banks of Lake Newell, the park features large gravel beach areas, day use/picnic areas and about 150 camp sites. The sites are organized around 8 loops, each with restroom, trash and a water faucet in the center. Sites are nice and spacious with most providing good shade and privacy. Loops G, H, I provide 15/30 amp electric service. There is a dump station and water fill at the park’s entrance. There’s a clean shower/laundry house near the “G” loop and a small concession stand on the beach. We’re parked in sites H-123 and H-125 with the beach out our back windows. Corner sites #114-#116 also look very nice.

With the wind continuing to howl into the evening we won’t get much exploring done. Tomorrow we continue northwest through Calgary and on to Banff. We have 3 nights at the Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court campground – we’re looking forward to a few days without relocating. More from there…

Kinbrook Island Provincial Park

Kinbrook Island Site #114

Kinbrook Island Site #115

Kinbrook Island Site #116

Kinbrook Island Provincial Park

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Tags: alberta, canada, kinbrook island
Categories : Canada 2015

Crossing the Canadian Border

30 08 2015

Gull Lake, SK City Campground

We’ve arrived in Canada! After leaving Malta, MT yesterday, we continued north along Highway 191 to Morgan, MT. Most of this highway is a rough gravel 2 lane road due to expansion work. At the border, we’re greeted by a friendly border agent and asked for our passports. A few brief questions, “where are you coming from?”, “where are you going to?”, “how long in Canada?”, “any liquor in the RV?”, “any firearms?” – etc. and we were on our way. There was no inquiry of vehicle registration or insurance paperwork that we’d prepared for. There is apparently no longer a concern for eggs or poultry products (although we had none) that might carry the avian influenza. And no mention of entering the RV. A typical border crossing with professional and courteous agents. “Welcome to Canada”

Warned of the bad condition of Canadan Highway 4 from both online resources and the border agent, we opt for a route over to Highway 37 which will take us directly into Gull Lake. The short portion of highway 18 is in bad shape – truck bouncing and cupboard rearranging rough. But once we turn north on Highway 37, the roadway is smooth and we make good time into Gull Lake.

This tiny, sleepy town is just south of the Trans-Canadian Highway. We’re parked at the city RV campground with 26 electric/water sites and 26 non-electric tent sites organized around a small loop The RV sites are back-in sites in the center. If the park was full, you’d be looking into the rear window of a camper behind. But, we’re 2 of only 5 trailers plus a couple tent campers that will be spending the night. Self service check-in requires $25/site. For Canadian currency there’s an ATM at the Credit Union on Conrad Ave. This fee provides water and 15/30 Amp electric as well as a clean shower house. There’s no over-the-air TV available in Gull Lake, but the cellular coverage by TELUS is a full 4G signal. With our new “10 Gigs 4 All” T-Mobile data plan, we tether our laptops to our phones for amazingly fast internet access.

We’ll join the Trans-Canadian Highway today and travel west toward Calgary and Banff. Along the way we’ll stop at Kinbrook Island Provincial Park– more from there.