From Kananaskis to Cabbagetown: Adventures with the Firstborn and Family

As milestones go, moving out on your own is kind of a biggie, even more so when the family unit is as tight as ours can be. But at least we got to have one last camping trip as a family!

After the apartment was procured and shipping container packed and sent to Toronto, we were all set to go camping in Kananaskis for the first time. Bobby and Fenya took the Toyota so they could get some time with his family at their time-share in Fairmont and joined us in Sheep River Provincial Park the day after we arrived.

And this was a good thing, since we are heavy packers and even the Flex would have strained to carry all five of us, plus Canéla, plus all our gear! I swear, if I ever buy a vehicle without roof racks again, please feel free to slap me.

Anyhow, our campsite was only about 20 minutes west of Turner Valley (officially now Diamond Valley, since it amalgamated with its neighbour Black Diamond). A fairly rustic affair, with "vault toilets" (aka outhouses) but very well treed and a comfort station not too far away with showers and sinks.

My trailer-backing-in skills won't win me any awards but it has been a few trips now since I have needed to use the nose wheel, so getting the Bride of Frankentrailer into position on the hitch was fairly satisfying. We had gotten take-out from Cluck n Cleaver in Calgary on our way through (great chicken but not a trailer-friendly location!) so there was no need for cooking on night one, and it took less than an hour for Audrey, Glory and I to have everything pretty much where we wanted it.

The next afternoon, Vera brought Oma and Auntie Alice from High River to the campsite for a visit, which meant they also got a chance to say goodbye to Fenya and Bobby when they arrived from B.C. It was a hot afternoon and we were grateful of the sun shade we had set up. They accepted our invitation to stay for dinner and I grilled up some steaks for us all.

Over the next few days we toodled around Turner Valley and Black Diamond, went to Okotoks (to look for a replacement griddle as I had left ours in the garage) and explored our corner of Kananaskis Country (which requires an additional pass now, like national parks do).

I was thrilled to enjoy a couple of pints with Bobby at Hard Knox Brewery in Black Diamond while the ladies shopped. The Frontier Chocolate Hazelnut beer we shared is excellent (and 9.8% abv!), as was the carrot cake sour he had and the Banana Bown ale I enjoyed.

There is a fair amount to see around Sheep River, including "forest cows", some delightful gorges and a waterfall. The area has an extensive trail network that looked amazing but I was frankly too lazy to countenance.

the "Big Rock" at Okotoks

Sheep River Falls

Glory demanded a "mermaid" picture on this rock

Canéla on the trail...of what?

The rare and elusive forest cow

Mostly though, we enjoyed hanging around the campsite together, playing games, enjoying meals, roasting smokies and marshmallows together and getting in some hammock time.

On our very last night, we endured a truly immense thunderstorm complete with hail. Thankfully the shade held back most of the moisture and the Bride was undamaged, as everyone waited inside for me to cook up some Hamburger Helper on the camp stove.

Afterwards we set up the iPad and a Bluetooth speaker inside the trailer and watched The Fellowship of the Rings while the torrent continued. Sure, the quarters are a bit cramped and not having snacks in a trailer impacts the experience, but you know, I have had worse times for sure.

Morning!

Packing up the chairs, shelter and trailer the next day while still damp was no picnic either, but honestly, still far better than a tent on the ground, and we were ready to go by a little after noon, and headed into Turner Valley for a late breakfast at the Chuckwagon Cafe. It was great food but a long wait, so we ended up killing time at the Eau Claire Distillery a few doors away.

After an afternoon breakfast we parted ways again, briefly, as the newlyweds headed to High River to go see the chuckwagon races with Auntie Vera that night, while Glory, Audrey and I took the Bride back to Edmonton for unpacking and drying out.

That was a little over a week ago. 

On Friday, three nights ago, our backyard hosted a farewell party for Fenya and Bobby. 

Saturday night my sister Tara came for a roast beef supper and we said so long for real. The flight to TO (with Bobby's family going along to help with unloading the Pod!) was early the next morning. It was a positive but very emotional night, because we are a pretty tight unit and we recognize the significance of this change.

And look, if you know me, then you know I am not a guy who does well with change. And the truth is, I have been dreading this moment for years now. But I also recognize the neccessity of moving on and the wonderful opportunities awaiting them at the Center of the Universe (TM).

And we are all thrilled that they have a nice place in an exciting city, and that Fenya received a job offer with George Brown College, so that is one less thing to worry about!

There they are, at the edge of Cabbagetown, sleeping on an air mattress and scrubbing down their new place in anticipation of the Pod arriving tomorrow. Then discovering the wind chime and spirits sampler Audrey had covertly procured on our trip and sent along with them in their luggage.

And I am too busy being happy and excited and proud for there to be too much room for melancholy to get a foot in.

And very grateful to have a family that has enjoyed the camping trips we have taken together (including our most excellent son-in-law), and even more appreciative that we had one last opportunity to go to the edge of the mountains together!