May 07

May has been an intersting month what with researching, buying and testing equipment ready for our trip. Part of the fun has been an overnight camping trip in the Rocky Mountains. With Murray and Joyce we packed our camping gear and drove out to a nice spot that Murray & Joyce knew of.

As we approached the camping area we began to notice the ever increasingly beautiful scenery and it was a really hard task to pick "the" best spot for the night. Part way there we saw a coyote run across the road and off into hiding in the bush, some white tailed deer and a few of the local birds.

We eventually found a spot with a view over a dry riverbed, the river having been diverted a long time ago into a lake, which we could only just see, at the base of a huge mountain.

The temperature was in the single digits and the air was cool, crisp and clean, the type that you are always happy to get big lungfulls of. As we set up camp we noticed that we were getting slightly colder and thereby added another layer of clothes to ward off the cooling air. Tent sites selected Joanne and Joyce set up our respective tents while Murray and I began collecting firewood for our campfire.

Tents errected, fire built, but not lit, and in decreasing light we took five minutes to sit in the deathly quiet to enjoy a beer and cigar while soaking in the view.

With the light fading it was time to light the fire and to get the food cooking. Our fire and food preparation area, in keeping with safe camping was located some distance away from our tents, something we will have to do to ensure any bears in the area are not attracted to our location while we are asleep.

A wonderful meal and it was time to get some sleep, another interesting trial as it doesn't get dark here until well after 10pm. rugged up and using our new sleeping bag method we enjoyed a peaceful nights rest.

Our new method of sleeping utilises a thin foam pad underneath our thermarests, us in the silk sleep sheet wearing thermal underwear (how roamantic) and the sleeping bag opened up and spread over us like a doona or duvet. We were slightly sceptical of this method when we first heard of it, but after hearing Murray and Joyce, and their friends Dave and Anne, talk about how they use it, we also tried it - with great success.

Awake early after a refreshing sleep we packed up our campsite, enjoyed toasted bagels and coffee for breakfast all the while soaking in more fresh mountain air and scenery.

Shakedown camp over, we drove the 90 minute trip back to Calgary where we began to pack the trikes and equipment onto Murray's Toyota Tundra ready for the trip North to Alaska. Pictures are on the preparations page.

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