Eight Memories about Eighty Years: #44 Travel: 306 Miles

... trains on the siding and the main track ...

Being able to travel is a luxury.

Of that luxury, the three hundred and six miles between my house and the cottage are miles I always enjoy.

I can never get to my destination fast enough.

On returning back to Calgary, I always shed a few tears as I wind the highway away from the cabin, afraid that I will never return, although I always do.

When Kelvin and I first began taking our car load of kids out there, I planned a picnic along the way, always some stop in the National Parks or at a roadside pull over where there was a creek or a hill to climb.

... Michael up at the frog pond ...

During the winter months I would gather newspaper articles that would tell me about the history of the railroad through the mountains, or of how Canada designated its national parks, or stories about how the trans-Canada highway was established or of how hard it was to build the Roger’s pass.

... work train at Annis Siding ...

Now I am not sure that any of this information was retained by my children, but I have laid down so many memories along the way for myself.

I know every curve of the highway that takes me to and from my dream destination.

Arta