Chapter 4: The Empty Nest : Page 11 /  Summer Trip to Japser See a Photo Collections: Banff |  Battleford | Jasper On Saturday morning ( the  25th) we visited Dale and Cari (and Audrey)  at their home. Our first stop was at Battleford where we stayed at the TravelLodge in downtown North Battleford. We enjoyed the historic buildings of Battleford and area, walked across the river bridge and visited Fort Battleford.On the way west on the 16th we stopped at the Poundmaker Cree Nation near Cutknife to see the site of the Battle of Cutknife Hill and Poundmaker's grave which is on the hill. We arrived  at Joan's in Spruce just in time to leave for a birthday supper in hour of Bev's cousing Verna.  Many of the Edmonton and area Lobban and Hillman families were there. On the next day (Friday) Joan took us to nearny Stony Plain where were enjoyed a great lunch at a Museum Cafe and saw the sights. Bev and Joan - Stony Plain Bev and Joan in front of Joan and Karl's Spruce Grove home. Former school - now a museum and restaurant And later that same afternoon we visited Nina and Terry at their home in Innisfail After spending the night in Rocky Mountain House we moved on along the David Thompson Highwway where we were able to book a motel room before moving on towards Jasper for the day. The only "large" wildlife we saw. (Not counting the two moose we saw before we were out of Manitoba! Tangle Creek Along the Icefields Parkway. We walked up to the foot of the Athabaska Glacier. Signs along the wau document its retreat. We stopped only a few times along the way, saving most of the sightseeing for the trip back to Saskatchewan Crossing. We had lunch and walked through the town. On the way back we stopped at the Athabaska River.. ..and then the Athabaska Falls.. We were back in Saskatchewan Crossing for a late supper. On Sunday morning we walked to the overlook of the North  Saskatchewan River and headed south through Banff National Park. North Saskatchewan River - near the "Crossing" Mistaya Canyon and Falls was our first stop... After a lunch at Lake Louise we took the Bow Valley Parkway towards Banff The Bow River along the Parkway We booked into the Inns of Banff. Nice room - nice view. On Tuesday morning we left for Gull Lake. We stopped at Piapot and Tompkins just to see the little villages. Near Piapot we noted the "76 Ranch" memorial plaques. Ruth and Cecil's farm - north of Gull Lake. Where we had supper in the field. Peyto Lake Many nice views - but the hike along Johnson Canyon was a highlight... Took a quick drive around town before we left on Tuesday morning. Bow Falls We stopped to visit Harold and Alma's grave site before heading home. We also stopped at the School Division off ice to visit Lee Cummings, and old friend and say goodbye to Ruth who also works there.  We stpped for a great lunch at the bakery cafe in Indian Head and were home by supper time.