We had planned to go south after the Icefields but decided instead to go north for a couple of days. This proved to be a stroke of luck – southeren Alberta experienced an unusually early snowstorm in the days where we were heading north. The snow was still there as we drove south again through the vast plains of Alberta, but not in any way detrimental to our journey.

Alberta is a rich province. Rich in oil and gas, rich in farmlands and rich in natural beauty. The Rocky Mountains and its valleys to the west create a beautiful tourist and outdoor recreational environment as well as water supplies from the mountains. Driving down and further east we experienced what for us is something that we will drive a long way to see – the vast plains, the straight and long roads, an almost overpowering sense of the rounding of the earth making you feel that both the sky and the road in front of you are unending. The horizons of Alberta seem infinite.

I will take you through some of the landscapes driving through from Dawson Creek in the north and to Lethbridge in the south. But first a last look at the top end of the Rockies in British Columbia on our way to Prince George.

And would you believe it, we saw our first bear on this stretch. There it was, laying comfortably in a tree trying to sleep. It only lifted its head slightly as the tourists drove by with their camera –

The last part of the Rockies – or so we thought, we saw them later again in southeren Alberta –

Waterfall through the trees…

… …. …..bluejays against the sun….

…. before driving out into the open – the beginning of the plains where the sky slowly took over from the mountains as the predominant feature –

Oil pump jacks started popping up….

…as did the old grain elevators..

…and the newer ones –

We spotted a hawk – and also a wolf, but no picture of that. The wolf was standing on the road as we turned a corner, a young and strong one, but before we could stop the car and get the camera out, it was gone –

Canada geese resting on their way south –

The vast fields and their harvest…

…and domestic animals, all constantly eating – cows…

…sheep and goats…

…and even bison –

Then came the snow – some places the harvest was not even in yet, but these fields were lucky

Covered hills….

…and weather worn shacks…

….and in the middle of nowhere – once a welcome wash!

The wayfarers