Its good to be back in Mara

We arrived here about 5:30 on Saturday after an incredibly frustrating drive from Airdrie. Fortunately it was a good day for driving but the traffic was horrendous, there was construction around every second bend in the road and to top it all off there was an accident by the Lake Louise turnoff. That accident jammed up traffic so badly that we spent 1-1/2 hours travelling less than 6 km. It wasn't hot enough to need the air conditioner which was a good thing because Marilyn didn't have one in the cube van. When I tried running the genset in the bus (which would have let me run the AC) it shut down in about 15 miles for reasons as yet undetermined. I started it up again and then it seemed to be interfering with the tachometer so I eventually shut it down again. All in all not a great trip out here.

Sharon was surprised to see us on Saturday - apparently we hadn't reserved until Sunday but it didn't really matter because the place is almost empty. Its always that way until the Stampede starts. By the time Stampede week is over this place will be jammed but right now it is pleasantly quiet.

Yesterday Darrel & Tammy Ozmun from Nipawin arrived on their way to Vancouver Island. We spent the day on the water with them today and they will be on their way again tomorrow. Marlan is arriving tomorrow with one of his friends so we will have a busy week here. Gil and Larry are here with their kids again - we taught all of them to ski or wakeboard last year so they are anxious to get back on the water. Darlene & Don are supposed to be arriving on Thursday so Marilyn will have a berry picking partner.