Spontaneous Spring 2019 Road Trip Day #1

We do love a good road trip.  It’s synonymous with who we are as a couple.  We got engaged during our first road trip from Calgary to Vancouver in 2011.  Thankfully, Christa said, “yes”.  Otherwise the 13-hour trip back to Calgary would have been interminable!  Ever since, we’ve made a point of road tripping as often as we can.  Calgary to Vancouver, to Quesnel, to Salmon Arm, to Drumheller and Rosebud, to Edmonton, to Riondel.  Calgary to Oregon, to Montana.  San Francisco to San Simeon.  Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.  Durban to Johannesburg and Kruger National Park.  And, of course, day trips to more local destinations like Lake Louise, Banff, Millarville, Nanton, Turner Valley and Black Diamond pepper our years.  We’ve lost track of the mileage, but not of the memories.

Spring break is a regular road trip event.  Christa has two weeks break from school over this time, so we generally try to escape for all or part of the time.  I generally plan it.  She generally arrives.  And, it’s always fun.  Since part of the trip – destinations or activities – are usually a surprise for Christa, packing the night before our departure can generally be a little stressful because I’m usually trying to maintain the element of surprise while she’s trying to figure out what to pack.  But it all works out in the end!

Spring Break 2019 has been no exception

Canmore Spa and Hair

We bundled all our stuff and then some into my little hatchback and sped off west from Calgary to Canmore where we had our “annual appointment” at our favourite Canmore Spa and Hair for a 90-minute couple’s full-body massage and mini facial.  There’s no better way to start the holiday escape than with a destressing pamper.  We have been visiting Canmore Spa annually for five years now.  Their quality and service just seem to get better every year.  We love their new location while some of their massage therapists remain familiar, reliable faces who have been there for numerous years now, the sure sign of a stable, well-run establishment.  

Kelly and Sasha attended to us and were very thorough yet unrushed.  From the warm oil foot rub, deep calf and back massages and hot stone treatments to the facial scrub, massage and honey mask, the 90 minutes of pampering left us feeling completely destressed.  The ambiance in the candle-lit room is very conducive to bringing you to the brink of slumber.  I lay there listening to Christa’s deep breathing and congratulated myself once again on my excellent planning.  What a great way to kick-start a holiday!  The Team here have upped their game.  In earlier years we used to leave the spa feeling like we’d swum through an oil slick, dripping in essential oil residue as the therapists hastened through their extensive massage routine.  For the past two years we’ve come away far less greased and way more relaxed as they’ve systematically worked through a well-choreographed routine that left us calmed yet cleaner.

Stonewaters

How can one pass through Canmore without spending time visiting some of our favourite destinations?  A brief visit to the enticing Stonewaters Clearance Centre saw us buying a metal oversized wall clock that we’ve been eyeing for three months.  What is it about road trips that weakens your resolve and lowers your shopping defences?  Without much debate and a wee bit of artful negotiating, we decided to treat ourselves.  Measuring in at 1.5 metres in diameter it’s going to make a statement on one of our living room feature walls, soon to be renamed the Big Ben wall, I suspect.  It’s massive (too large to fit in my car!), but perfect!

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company

By now we were famished, so a pop-in to the newly decorated Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company for a fantastic artisan pizza and exceptional mac and cheese saw us replenished and ready to embark on our two-hour journey through the mountains to our overnight destination.

We could not have been blessed with a more spectacular and perfect-weathered day.  Gorgeous cloud formations interacted with the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Rockies as we cruised towards our overnight destination along dry roads, making driving conditions ideal.

Radium Hot Springs, BC

I had booked us into a spot in the British Columbia town of Radium Hot Springs.  Word-of-mouth and online reviews had indicated that Radium Chalet came well-recommended.  Fortunately, I’d made a reservation earlier in the week.  We arrived at 5.30pm, more than two hours after check-in time, to find them fully booked.  We had certainly lucked-out!  Our allotted unit was a corner, top-floor suite that sported two balconies overlooking the village and Columbia River valley.  Although dated and a little in need to some tender loving care (which is apparently in the works for later this year!), the motel accommodation proved to be more than adequate for our two-night stay.  Equipped with wi-fi, TV, gas fireplace, basic kitchen equipment including a sink, mini fridge, microwave, Keurig coffee machine, kettle and toaster, we were set.  Clean linens, towels and bathroom completed the basic necessary comforts. The view sealed the deal!!

Our total body work-over earlier in the day at the Spa had left us both feeling quite ready for an early night.  After enjoying sundowners from the main deck followed by a round of Canasta, we both tumbled into the surprisingly comfortable double bed and were sped off into restful sleep.