Leaving Whitewood, we headed to Medicine Hat for fuel and some shopping. It was a shorter day so we figured it was good to get some shopping in. First stop was Sport Chek for bear spray. After hearing about a couple who were riding bikes in Creston, BC and had a couple of grizzly bears attack them , it reminded us we had to pick some bear spray up. We did some other shopping as well, stocking up on some more food and then made a routing decision. Instead of camping in a community campground, we decided to go a bit further and spend the night in Lethbridge in the parking lot of the local casino. We made our way and once parked for the night, headed in to the casino dining room for supper. It was a good meal – Swiss mushroom hamburger for Paul and hot beef sandwich for Joyce.
Wednesday morning we had a leisurely start because we only had a 2 hour drive to the next campground. If we had only known what was ahead….
We filled with fuel and heard noises coming from one of the wheels on the RV. Paul figured it wasn’t a bearing but something in the brakes. We decided we should find somewhere to have it looked at before we headed to more remote areas.
It took about 6 tries, some were phone calls, others were drive to, before someone told us although he couldn’t help us today, he’s make a call and try and find us a place. Within 5 min we had a place that could take us right away and only 10 minutes from where we were. They took us into the bay right away and jacked it up and did their diagnosing. It was a part of a brake that had fallen apart.
Less than 2 hours after we pulled in and almost $600 poorer, we were back on the road. These are the original brakes on the trailer and we have over 90,000 km of towing. Paul figures it’s probably time to have the other 3 done when we get home.
With only a 2 hour drive we still had lots of time to make it to our campsite before supper. Our landscape changed significantly along the way. We started in the prairie first with huge farming operations.
As we approached the Crowsnest Pass, we passed the site of the Frank Slide. In the early hours of a morning in April 1903, while most of the 600 residents of the mining town of Frank, BC were sleeping, a wedge of limestone over a kilometre wide, 425 metres long and 150 metres deep broke off from the crest of turtle mountain. Some miners were able to dig their way out, but about 70 residents lost their lives.
Our destination for the night was a private campground in the town of Sparwood, BC. As we arrived in town we watched for the “World’s Largest Truck”.
On arrival at our campground, we were pleasantly surprised to learn we could have a half wheelbarrow full of wood for free if we wanted a fire. Our site was set amongst tall evergreens and it was on the side furthest from the highway.
After setting up we decided to have a fire and have our supper outside.
Tomorrow we have one more short drive and then we stay for 6 nights!
Following Joyce & Paul's Travels in Retirement 
We’ve seen that truck on one of our West adventures! So glad you were able to have quick service on your brakes.
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