The summer of 1999 brought me an irresistible opportunity. I was invited to attend a convention in Kelowna, BC just about the same time as Home & Park's Sales Director Marcel Champoux offered me the use of one of their upscale camper vans for a road test. I am always looking for a chance to spend more time with Mom and Dad, who reside in Calgary, so I elected to pick up the unit at Roadtrek's Calgary dealer. Canadian Leisure R.V., located just off Glenmore Trail East, set us up with the largest unit in the Home & Park fleet, the 200 Popular. It was ideal for the trip as it has wide aisles where two adults can pass with ease. A lowered floor on the Chevy chassis provides standing height of 6'3" and it has culinary touches such as a generous 4-cubic-foot refrigerator. Our unit had a dinette area in the rear that converted to twin 6'4" beds with a removable night table.

The family plan was to hook up with Mom and Dad in Kamloops, BC and tour up the Yellowhead Highway along the North Thompson River. After meeting my parents we travelled the #5 highway, appreciating the grand scenery along the way. We were awed by the rugged mountains and glaciers around Blue River and thrilled by the wilderness of Wells Gray Park.

Our itinerary had to include Valemount (valley in the mountains), a turn-of-the-century family town originated by the Canadian National Railway. It is named appropriately as it sits in the valley between three mountain ranges and because of its proximity to Mt. Robson, the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. Mt. Robson rises up 3954 metres creating a breathtaking backdrop along Highway 16E. Its snow-capped peak towers to such a height that it creates its own weather system, often obscuring the summit. Actually, Valemount is surrounded by three mountain ranges: to the west the Caribou Mountains, to the south the Monashee range and to the east the majestic Rockies. Nestled at the base of Canoe Mountain, Valemount offers visitors unparalleled natural beauty and the quiet peacefulness of a mountain village. For the outdoor enthusiast Valemount is the ideal vacation spot, offering all the amenities within minutes of the mountains. There are two golf courses and hiking opportunities abound throughout the Robson Valley. There are helicopter tours, horse trips, whitewater rafting and guided canoe trips. Additionally in late-July to mid-August visitors can take in the spawning of the Chinook salmon.

While in Valemount (just a spectacular one-hour drive from Jasper, AB) we stayed at iRVin's RV Park for a fun two-day stop-over. iRVin's is a brand new (constructed 1998) fully modern RV park offering all services, huge pull-thru sites, a store and an incredible 360 degree mountain view. Checking in at iRVin's we were greeted by their marketing co-ordinator, Jill Moore and owner, Irvin Leroux. Irvin disappeared right after we checked in. Jill sat us down in the welcome area, amongst the "local crafts" and gave us binders of activities to choose from. Irvin reappeared with a wonderful frittata that he had whipped up for us. Not only is Valemount known for its scenery but also its hospitality and restaurants. While there we enjoyed the local Caribou Grill, which specializes in prime rib, but also boasts an extensive children's and seafood menu.

For breakfast, Jill told us we simply had to try Pepe's. "It's the best!" The owner's wife, Maria, greeted us at the door while her husband Pepe made a substantial and delicious breakfast in the kitchen. We had many delightful meals in our 200 Popular as well. After a two-day stay at iRVin's which included a mountain bike ride and a gentle whitewater rafting trip, we said goodbye to our hosts Jill and Irvin and headed back to Calgary via Jasper.

Stopping in Jasper we explored part of Canada's largest mountain park. This is a charming base from which to explore lakes and mountains. Located 373 kilometres from Edmonton, Jasper is situated amongst pristine wilderness and is surrounded by a necklace of emerald lakes and majestic waterfalls. The park is renowned for its canoeing, kayaking, hiking, swimming, golfing, fishing and horseback riding. A wealth of information is available on their website: www.world.com/parkscanada-jasper.a

Next we headed south on highway #93 also known as the Columbia Icefields Parkway. No trip down the Parkway is complete without stopping at the Icefields. The Parkway is virtually unparalleled for beauty as it runs alongside a chain of massive icefields straddling the Continental Divide. Many points of interest and interpretative walks can be found along the way, so be sure to schedule at least one day to drive this route. National Park entry fees must be paid in order to access the Parkway. We stopped at the Icefield Centre Glacier Gallery, which is open daily from May 1 to mid-October. The centre is your starting point for a glacial experience. The parking lot was crammed with RVs and we met up with other Home & Park Roadtrek owners enjoying the area. From the Columbia Icefields it's a pleasant five-hour drive to Calgary with alot of good passing lanes on an excellent highway via Banff.

Authors Note: Shortly after returning from this road trip, my father, Andy Searls, suffered a severe stroke and after months of being in the ICU at Rockyview Hospital in Calgary he passed away. I will always be grateful for the years that we spent on the road together trying out new units and spending quality time discovering the beauty of the road. A travelling salesman for most of his life he left me with a lasting legacy of wanting to get out on the road and see and learn as much about the world as I can. Thanks to Home & Park Motorhomes and to Canadian Leisure RV for making this trip possible.