Stanley Falls

June 1st

Woke up to gaze at those stupifying glaciers across from us. Mark feeling queasy from nasal night drips and possibly from sauteed veggies last night at the Centre's cafeteria, that may not have set right with him. Happens often with him, this nausea, in varying degrees of discomfort, it seems.

 

 

We set-off for one of his favorite hikes and views of Stanley Falls, not too far from the Centre. It is an unmarked (or, that is, the small, rectangular sign if behind a spindly tree) trail, with a tiny pull-out. Mark was told by a ranger on his trip 2 years ago, that it is not a publicized trail, because then the National Park Service would have to install railings on the rocks that overlook  powerful, winding succession of falls, which would spoil it's aesthetic and awesome presence, AND probably be very costly to produce.

 

 

Tripod and camera slung over his good right shoulder (he has a torn rotator cuff and tendon in the left, diagnosed last week, via a MRI, and needs upcoming surgery---possibly in the fall), each time Mark stopped at each ledge to photograph the spectacular and colorful roaring slot canyoned falls, I would loop my finger through one of his jean belt loops. My intention, if needed, was to fall backwards with my full body weight, pulling him back safely on top of me.

 

It's how a foursome of us women were taught to do, when rafting the Moyie River, a couple years ago, if we needed to pull someone out of the water. The couple met at the Centre, dining last night, Carol and Mike, were hiking this trail they dubbed the "Mark and Mona Hike," since Mark turned them on to it. I think it will be one of their highlights on their 3 month journey, since Carol occasionally doted on Mike, reminding him about his vertigo, when he dared to get closer to the ledges to take pictures. Seeing me looped onto Mark's belt, Carol said now we'd both go over. They left earlier on, before getting to the top of the falls. It was lovely having that spot to ourselves, sitting on step-like flat rocks that some free and creative soul blessed with a small cairn, that was topped with the tiniest, horizontal and flat pebble. Sweet.

Hiked down, christened my new, light titanium walking sticks from Mark, which help save my knees. Weather was blue skies and rarely a cloud in sight, warm, with no need for fleeces. We then lunched in the motorhome, at Athabasca Falls, before taking the walk around the different aspects of these magnificent falls, where 3 rivers merge to race down, one being the Athabasca River. Heavy mist was thrown over bodies at one view-point, and then we went down between a beautiful canyon that escaped the falling rivers, at some point in time, to stay dry and above.

 

Then to the town of Jasper, with many young and older folk like us, many on their phones and focused on newly acquired internet from the wifi at the visitors center. Didn't work on my I-pad, however, which was frustrating, and created a little anxiety within, being out of touch with Max and Lucy, primarily. I was able to call Max, leave Luce a voicemail, using Mark's Canadian plan, before we got here, to Snaring campground, about 15 minutes east of Jasper.

It is a quiet, cozy, few sited place, versus the more well-known and mapped campgrounds nearer Jasper, with one having over 500 campsites---yuck. Mark found this place his last trip, right on a river (will find out its name tomorrow), with about 20 sites, and nicely spaced. We will stay at least a couple nights here, which will also add to our breaking even with purchasing a year's pass for Canada's National Parks, since we'll, most likely, stay in one or two on our way back south in August.

The wind is blowing strongly, but does not feel fierce, with small trees on both the long sides of "M," the motorhome. I encouraged Mark to bed early, so he didn't have to stay up later, feeling lousy. I am enjoying the gentle light, writing, reading; took a stroll around the camp, and will read more of this witty, fun Farley Mowat book, The Boat Who Wouldn't Float.

A good third day.

Mona's First Marmot

May 31st

Had a restful overnight at Wardle Creek, saw my first marmot alongside the "M" (referring to the motorhome from now on). He or she was bigger than I'd imagined: about a foot tall, furry brown, with a stumpy oval tail, and each time he took a couple steps, he would stop, and then flip his tail up in the air, and move again. Adorable guy.

We saw another, larger, medium sized black bear, alongside the Castle Junction Highway, feeding very peacefully and tenderly on long grasses. Several people were photographing him, including Mark. Two bears in 2 days, is a record for this almost 64 y.o.

 

 

Mark promised me that the Icefield Highway would magnify the already incredible panoramic nearness of the Rockies, but I really did not expect the unreal and spectacular proximity to these mountains, with so many varied personalities, shapes, sizes, angles. We stopped several times today, via the nifty Milepost Travel Planner, to take hikes to Lake Louise.

 

 

 

I forgot the view from the Chateau, of that glacier beyond the lake, when Doug and I were there when Max and Lucy were about 6 and 1 y.o., with Bruce and Shannon holding the fort down.

 

 

 

 Peyto Lake, whose waters were the purest of turquoise, ringed by majestic mountains and glaciers. Evidently, the glacial dust or flour creates this crystal-like color of the sky; Mistaya Canyon, with potholes of rust and gold created by the powerful flowing waters of the river by the same name.

Weeping Wall was witnessed from a turn-out, consisting of cascading waterfalls on the rock face, spaced along this natural canvas.

We are camping alongside a myriad of RVs, down from the Icefield Centre, but what makes this motorized campground more than bearable, with a strong sense of community of nature lovers, is our view of 3 giant, tremendously wide and still-flowing glaciers and ever-glowing peaks. It is a sight I liken to my image of the Himalayas, but through my living room window.

Dinner at the Centre was pleasant, sharing a table with our RV neighbors, Carol and Mike from southern Idaho, who are on their way to catching the cruise through the islands, Ketchikan being her favorite port. They have been retired for at least 8 years, and will travel for about three months. Nice folk: genuinely down-to-earth, pleasant.

I am tired, comfortably, enjoying languishing with legs stretched out on the sofa, writing, and Mark on the other end, reading his magazine, Enya serenading us softly.

Off to Alaska

May 30, 2015

Off we go...Alaska bound, in Mark's 24' View Winnebago motorhome, pulling an 8' trailer, with our mountain and road bicycles, kayaks on top. Stopped in Cranbrook for lunch, and more rain came tumbling down. I welcome road-tripping in this moisture, feeling cozy and peaceful on this new 2+ month adventure.

We found this unmarked, inviting road, on the Castle Junction Road towards Lake Louise,
Jasper, and have claimed our spot at Wardle Creek for the night, after driving about 8 hours

from Sandpoint. Beautiful, rushing creek, with majestic view of the Rockies. It's a picnic site, so, we will move if a park ranger asks us to later, but hopefully not. All of the campgrounds passed, thus far, are closed with umteen bear signs, and roped-off areas along the highway.

A great treat for the beginning of our BC journey, was catching a medium-sized black bear, against contrasting green grasses,foliage, dotted with tiny white blossoms. The last time I've come this far, was when Doug and I left 5-6 y.o. Max, and maybe toddler Lucy, with Bruce and Shannon, to stay at Lake Louise; got snowed-in in our '85 Volkswagon Vanagon past our initial departure date, cross-country skied in virgin woods, where Doug broke trail.

Once heading northwest of Lake Louise towards Jasper, I am in brand new territory. Retirement time sense is just beginning to enter me, and I do not find myself expecting to wake on Mondays to go to the clinic,and I do not feel that iron-weighted exhaustion, that bordered on tears anymore, thank God. I look forward to creating more time and space for consistent introspection, creativity, versus being so outward and of weekly service to others. A new form of giving will evolve, I am confident of, so am not worried. Purpose now is to be more still, flexible, play, affirm positivity, and allow happiness to fill me (rather than questioning what that is, all these years, not trusting the reality of it sustaining longer periods).
 

 



Mierissamalu

Welcome to our blog of our travel adventures.  "M and M in M" stands for "Mark and Mona in Mierissamalu".  Mona figured we needed a name for the motorhome so we came up with Mierissamalu.  Mierissa was the name of Mark's last sailboat.  The name is two letters from each of his four children's names descending by age.  We added Mona's two children, the malu part and ended up with Mierissamalu.  We affectionately call her "M" for short. 

 

Shortly after Mona retired, we took off in "M" for Alaska.  Along the way, Mona started a journal to keep track of the adventure and for some personal thoughts about the trip.  I was so impressed with her writing that I told her she need to share them with our friends and family.  She thinks they are way too long and was quite hesitant to share them as she didn't want to "burden" folks with having to read them.  I assured her that folks wouldn't find them a burden as they don't have to read them if they don't want to.  I sure though that many of our family and friends would love them.

Mark, Tangle Lakes, Alaska, 6/22/2015