Cold Lake

June 13, 2019

It was time to load up and move on!  Today is kind of a special day as we are going to Cold Lake to revisit the community of Debbie’s early childhood.  She and her family lived in Cold Lake for approximately three years, as her father was stationed at CFB Cold Lake as a fighter pilot and trainer on the CF104 aircraft.

We had reservations at the English Bay Provincial park near Cold Lake, however we wanted to see the community of Cold Lake before we set up camp.

The drive from Edmonton to Cold Lake had its own special scenery with rolling hills of fertile newly planted fields, separated with wide expanses of aspen and birch forests.  The horizons are miles away, something that we will have to get used to as we are used to the horizons near by, lined with mountains. 

We arrived in Cold Lake and Debbie remarked that the community has obviously grown.  She had grown up on the airbase, and the town of Cold Lake was a short walk from the main gate of the airbase.  The town seems to be spread out along Highway #28 and has three sections.  Due to security we   could not enter onto the base.   The houses are modern and the whole town has the appearance of prosperity. The oil industry is another large contributor to the economy of the town.As we drove around the town, the GPS that Debbie was using to navigate “seemed to be acting up”, and there were times we were driving in circles!  As we left Cold Lake to go to the campsite we consulted the map of the town in a brochure, which gave us the directions.  We were soon out of town and driving on a gravel road for 20 kms that eventually got us there.  We later found out that we had taken the back road to the campsite, quite different from the paved road that the GPS was trying to direct us!!  

The navigator, GPS, and I have been at odds several times so far on this trip.  Is it a communications thing?  Dutch driver, Scottish/English navigator, Korean vehicle and an American GPS!!  

The campsite we had reserved was perfect, right on the edge of Cold Lake, just a few steps to put in the kayaks.  This provincial campsite is clean and well maintained. After setting up camp it was time to barbeque the juicy steak we had bought, we were both hungry.  

The presence of mosquitoes convinced us to set up the net tent over the picnic table.  As I was barbequing, drinking beer and talking to Debbie I lifted the lid of the barbeque and rapidly melted a hole in the side of the netting!!!  After some choice words and rearranging the tent we enjoyed a great supper.  

The lake was calm and we were debating an evening paddle, but that big grey cloud was coming our way again!!   The sun was setting in the western sky and turning the sky a soft orange and reflecting off the lake.  We waited, had a second beer and I started a campfire and watched as thunder started rolling over us and lightning flashed in many directions.  It turned out to be a magical evening as we sat near the fire, and listened to the thunder and watched the lightning flashing around us in the distance.  A light sprinkle was the only moisture that evening.  It was now time for bed.