Campervan pickup and first journey

After many attempts I got through to Fraserway to arrange our pickup, to find that they were already coming to our hotel at 9.15. Duly picked up along with another couple we went round the city to pick up another three couples. The drive out to the depot at Airdrie was circa half an hour, then there was a lot of waiting around while they checked people in an ( unknown to us ) order. Then came the demonstration! So much to take in, but thankfully there is a manual to refer to. I, as main driver, was initiated into the idiosyncrasies of driving this vehicle. The automatic transmission stick is on the steering column, the hand brake is operated with a pedal, and released with a hand lever. Wing mirrors only, no rear view!!!

The next challenge was the shopping, Walmart was the nearest/best supermarket and we worked our way round, with a pre prepared shopping list ( I know, I'm so organised!!! ).  We have got a big fridge and a decent freezer in the van so we have stocked up!!!   We ate a sandwich and then went to find the liquor store, for a few bottles of wine and some beer. 

Then it was time to take to the road!! The van sounds like a truck at times, going up hill, but handles quite easily. We drove out of Airdrie, due west, with the mountains gradually growing nearer, then we turned south for a short while then werst again on the 1A. This is been superceded by Highway I, but we avoided that and travelled the country road. An attractive route through farmland and nodding donkey oil drills, then we came into the first mountains, with bits of old snow in places. The weather was cloudy and wet part of the time, so not good for views.. We arrived in the RV site in Canmore about 4.30 after a 120km drive. Quite long enough for today! 

This is Bertha, our home for the next four weeks

Not brilliant views, buts it cleared a bit later

The next challenge was to unpack! I let M go first as he had the tea bags, so we were soon sitting down to a reviving cuppa and small piece of my healthy fruit cake. All the pans, crockery etc were packed up in cling film, so we had to sort everything out. There are loads of storage lockers accessed from outside the van, so boots, rucksacks, our bags etc are all stored away, plenty of storage space inside too.

This process took some time, but eventually we had showers, put the laundry on and sat down with first drink! 

Time to catch up on emails, using the hotspot we have hired. Enough wifi to keep in touch form time to time

  As you can see we are almost settled!

I think the van is going to be cosy, the heater seems to be efficient and runs on propane, which also runs the fridge and cooker. Apparently we just get it filled up at a petrol station, no gas bottles to mess around with.

All for now, time to prepare the first meal and then settle down to bed, it's been a busy day! 

No idea where we will be tomorrow, that's the fun of a trip like this!