WEST COAST CHARM

Exploring the beauty of western Canada behind the wheel of an RV named ‘Roberto’

- Carolyn Meldrum

Someday. To me, that word has always ushered in a duality of feelings – it conjures up the excitement of my biggest dreams, but it also makes me feel a bit anxious, thinking about the oh-too-quick passing of time. When my husband, Dave, and I used to talk about the idea of visiting western Canada, I wasn’t sure when or if we would be able to make it happen. When would we find the time? Could we afford it? How could we see enough of this vast part of the Great White North?

Well, someday actually came. With my husband having retired from teaching, and me being in between leaving teaching and going back to school, we realized we had the time. We found an affordable RV online that we were able to rent for 32 days. His name was Roberto. The three of us hit it off, and then we hit the road!

We are so thrilled—and thankful—that we were able to experience Canada’s west.

We explored the tiniest of towns and some of the biggest cities. In Ontario, we walked over suspension bridges, mined for amethyst gemstones and visited the Terry Fox Memorial. In Manitoba, we ate like kings at The Forks and checked out the Assiniboine Park Zoo, with its wonderful polar bear exhibit. In Saskatchewan, we saw a freight train in its entirety, paralleling us as we drove along, with iconic grain elevators on the horizon. We also enjoyed two theatrical productions that highlight— and take place in—Moose Jaw’s legendary tunnels.