Southern Alberta is far more lovely than I expected. Heading east, it starts with the beautiful rolling foothills and, before long, transforms into the cavernous badlands. This is dinosaur country! Off in the distance are views of the Rockies, reminding you that the mountains are not far away. Alberta has a reputation (good or bad) as an oil producing province but the southern route is littered with wind turbines (also good or bad).
The Rockies are not so far 
Wind turbine energy farm
Southern Alberta is just 400 km across and takes a mere 4 hours to drive. This is, of course, due to the fact that southern BC encroaches massively on Alberta territory so that the provincial border can follow the continental divide. Jeff was jubilant to point out that the rivers flowed in the opposite direction once we crossed the border/divide. On the western side of the divide, they flow generally into the Pacific, and on the eastern side, they flow generally down to the Gulf of Mexico or maybe the Great Lakes.
We traded the BC Big Five for the AB Prairie Dog. Dozens of prairie dogs popped up recklessly along the side of the highway as we were driving by. One little guy even perched in the middle of highway – right in my wheel track. For pete’s sake, get off the road, little guy!! Fortunately, this one survived thanks to a bit of timely swerving.
We pulled into Medicine Hat for the night, and stayed at the very acceptable and comfortable Home Inn. Covid means that the continental breakfasts are handed to you in a bag that you can take on the road, and I, for one, would not be sorry if this practice stuck post-pandemic.
Friends we wish we could have visited along the way:
- Brenda and Alan Chare
- John Stewart and his family
- Carmen Berg and Michele Berg
- Sylvie and Dave Harmata
Just take a little piece of P.E.I & old Saskatchewan
Nova Scotia & New Brunswick, we’re back in Newfoundland
Alberta & Manitoba
Ontario & B.C
And you’ll have found the stompin’ grounds of all my friends & me