So Where Does the Troll Fit In?

This summer, my Mom and I went on a road trip for the first time since 2013, to attend a family wedding. Our road trips are usually to the Peace River Country, where Mom grew up. Mom is a great road trip partner. We like a lot of the same things and rarely run out of things to talk about. She likes to be the driver, which means I get to enjoy the scenery (and have control of the maps!) It never fails, when we see a "Pass With Care" sign, one of us will ask "when will we see a Pass Willy Nilly sign?" Some jokes never get old!

It's a beautiful drive, I had forgotten how much I enjoy it. I lived in the Peace region for a total of 9 years. On the way up, we went through Rocky Mountain House (breakfast stop at Tim's), and Whitecourt (gas stop). The gas station had the most amazing old fashioned candy store (I got raspberry cranberry salt water taffy) and an extensive gift shop. We both bought some Naked Bee lotions and balms. We made it to Grande Prairie in time to have lunch with a few family members at Brown's Socialhouse (great food, with a good selection of gluten free options). After lunch we continued on to Beaverlodge, where our motel rooms were booked.

Around the time we moved away from the Peace, fundraising had started for a new Dinosaur museum. I mentioned it to Mom, because I thought it was in Grande Prairie. She said, "No, it's by Wembly...wanna go?" And so we did! The Philip J Currie Dinosaur Museum showcases fossils from the Pipestone Creek bonebed. We took a free tour of the lab, and if we would have had time, it would have been great to take the bus down to the bonebed walk. They also have a lovely café that we had lunch at on another day. I might have bought some books...

Of course, we follow our paleontology foray with a visit to a quilt shop in Beaverlodge, Around the Block. Dinosaurs to quilts is a totally natural progression. It's not a girls weekend without some element of crafting. The grocery store was conveniently next door, so we made a quick stop to grab some breakfast things for the motel. While I was at the till, the quilt shop lady appeared behind me. Apparently I had dropped my new pattern leaving the store, and she tracked me down. There is nothing like small town service!!

Mom grew up in a little Norwegian community called Valhalla Center. The wedding we attended was in the same church my parents were married in.  About 20 years ago, the Valhalla Heritage Society was formed to save and restore the old Melsness Mercantile. They created a café and museum. Over the years, the building had an addition built on, which became a much larger café. The original building could now house a proper museum, rather than a few displays around the edges. I have to tell you, there is something very special about going to a museum that exhibits your grandmother's wedding dress. That buffalo coat was in my house during my childhood. The only time my Dad dressed up for a Halloween dance, he wore that coat.

https://www.facebook.com/mercantilecafe

https://the-mercantile-cafe-and-norwegian-gift-shop.food96.com/

My Grandmother's Wedding Dress, 
made by my Great-Grandmother

My Grandfather's Buffalo Coat- 
Mom remembers him wearing this 
when he drove his team of horses.

Lunch at the Mercantile was great, as always. I was disappointed to be too full for the café's iconic skor cake. If you are in the area, you really need to plan a stop here. I also did a lot of shopping in the Norwegian Gift Shop; some for me, some for Christmas presents. The grounds were originally landscaped to feature a Homestead Garden, with perennials from local homestead. And a troll park. We take our trolls very seriously. 

That's where I met this handsome fellow.

The wedding reception was at the Demmitt Hall, which was really interesting. Its a straw bale construction building and completely off-grid. The entrance was like walking across a covered bridge. 

We decided, for our trip back, to take the mountain route; through Grande Cache and Hinton. It's such a beautiful drive with mountain views. It was on this leg that I remembered how much I am tempted by the intriguing signs, the winding roads and the curiosity of what's behind the next hill. Of course, there is never enough time to explore these places. As much as I appreciate places like Heritage Park and the Royal Ontario Museum, as much as I want to see Anne of Green Gables House and the Bluenose; I really love the tiny hidden gems, down a back road. I love a Mom & Pop operation where the only employee is the kid from next door.

We did have a little adventure in Hinton. We stopped for gas around 11:30, not sure if we wanted lunch yet. I popped in to use the washroom, while Mom got gas, only to find the previous customer locked in. Mom and I converged on the single attendant at the same time, "there's a woman locked in the washroom"; "the gas pump stole my card and I can't get it out or get gas!". The poor man looked like a deer caught in headlights. I sent him to rescue the lady, while I tackled the pump. I successfully rescued Mom's card, and filled the car with gas. When she came out and said the man was dismantling the bathroom door with a screwdriver, we decided to leave Hinton behind and eat at Edson!

I contemplated how much I would like to try a road trip without schedule. I remembered how I wanted to see this amazing country, from coast to coast to coast. I showed people at home the selfie with my new friend. It all came together, suddenly, a fully formed plan. I need to get a troll, and take him on my adventures with me. Hence - My Copilot Is A Troll.

Our Route