After having our cars and costumes judged as well as received our maps, scavenger hunt items it was finally time to set off on the first leg of the challenge. Unfortunately we had discovered that morning that the passenger side front door of the Civic no longer opened. The handle still worked great but the front fender was now blocking the path for the door to open fully. A minor problem that would perhaps add a bit of spice to the proceedings. Let’s head west to the mountains.
This year the route was a bit different with more varied terrain compared to last year’s mostly mountainous driving. The challenge remained in Alberta but added several washboard gravel roads as well as large areas of no cell phone coverage. As usual Lethbridge, Alberta was the starting point before heading west across the prairie. The route headed into the Crowsnest Pass area again but this year we headed north along gravel roads instead of further west to British Columbia. Then through the beautiful Kananaskis area before popping out onto the prairies again and heading northwest to the overnight camping spot in Carstairs, Alberta.
When driving clunkers it is a decent idea to caravan in small groups so like last year my friend Rod and I decided to stick together. Since he had to endure looking at the rear end of my Dodge Aries last time for hours on end I suggested he take the lead this time. After judging we set off but made a quick stop so he could pick up a camera battery. This lead to a fortunate spotting of a Datsun Sunny pickup truck. It appeared to be in very tidy condition and obviously was imported from Japan or Australia at some point. I received my first compliment for a random passerby in a Nissan Sentra whose younger male occupants yelled something along the lines of “Civic Pride, Represent!”
Shortly after we hit the highway for good and our Civics starting eating up the miles through the flat prairies. The rear wheel bearing droned away on my Civic and I began to regret not taking the time to fix it. The pallet wood wing was not particularly quiet either so perhaps a set of ear plugs should be on the list of items to bring next year. By sheer coincidence the crack in the windshield lined up pretty well with the crack in the road in the above photo. These in car photos were taken by which ever son happened to be sitting in the front seat at the time.
The familiar roads and an eight am start meant my two teenage car occupants were attempting to grab a few more moments of precious sleep.
One of the first scavenger hunt items was this double-decker outhouse in the small town of Lunbreck. Built in 1905, at the same time as the attached hotel, this multistory lavatory used offset chutes to allow both an upstairs and downstairs. It meant that hotel patrons could relieve themselves without having to go downstairs and through the tavern. Unfortunately the original was damaged in a 1963 fire that destroyed the hotel. This is a nicely built replica as the original has been relocated for future preservation. The locals were setting up for a parade and were quite baffled by the varied collection of rolling junk that had descended on their town. A local house was doing a home furnishing giveaway so the Mustang soon sported an ancient microwave on its roof and the Fargo farm truck was loaded with an old desk while its driver was taking a washroom break.
Soon hills appeared and we were at the foot of the mountains.
The Crowsnest Pass has a rich history rooted in coal mining and many relics remain.
We soon came across Frank’s Slide which is a well known mining disaster. On April 29 1903 the eastern edge of mining Town Frank was covered by 90 million tons of rock sliding down from nearby Turtle mountain. The mountain was the site of an active coal mine which likely contributed the slide on an already unstable mountain. Ironically many of the men working in the mine were safe and returned to find their families and homes gone. Total loss of life is estimated to be between 70 and 90. The railway was covered but quickly repaired, the mine re-opened and the remains of the town re-located. With the exception of the highway and railway cutting through it the site of the slide remains as it was in 1903.
Stopping for a scavenger hunt clue in one of the local towns a puzzled lady who asked if my wood wing was a mold for a fiberglass one to follow. She walked away puzzled as I proudly explained that the car was complete as is.
Before leaving civilization behind we decided to gas the car up. The Civic had managed to use a relatively massive 12L of fuel between Lethbridge and the mountains. Obviously our wing was creating a rather large amount of aerodynamics drag at highway speed. No need to worry about that as we were headed into the largest section of gravel so speeds (and drag) would be lower. The novelty of climbing through the passenger window is starting to wear thin already.
Highway 40 sounds like a rather grand name but in reality its a meandering track of washboard gravel. There was twenty bonus points awarded for any items that fell off your car. I worried for the safety of our rather heavy wing.
Cows, trees and mountain views are common along this road.
Amazingly our wing stayed put on the Civic. The Mustang guys keep their microwave hat on as well but I would imagine it would have made a racket over the gravel. Along the way we party crashed a random camp site and hugged a firefighter.
As usual we ended up being one of the slower teams. A series of Pontiacs shot by. We were slow but at least the antique farm trucks had not passed us.
Misinterpreting a scavenger hunt clue we built an inukshuk and then another smaller one. An inuksuk is a human-made stone landmark built and use by some of the First Nations tribes that could be use for practical (navigation, messaging, etc) or spiritual purposes. We later came across some much more impressive pre-built ones at the entrance to a local business that were the actual subject of the clue.
Ironically in a beater rally the only car trouble we came across on the gravel road was a random modern GMC.
Mountain goats were the highlight of the slim wildlife spottings.
Back on pavement we started climbing into the mountains. What a difference a year makes as the Civic was easily able to climb the mountain passes that would have brought the Dodge Aries down to urban city street speeds. It did feel rather too luxurious cruising along in air conditioned comfort on a beater rally. Rather like going camping with a massive RV with satellite TV and luxury pillows I suppose. Stayed tune for part two of day one.
The whole series:
Vehicle Selection and Preparation
Day One Part One: Tarmac, Gravel, Tarmac and more Gravel
Day One Part Two: Out into the Prairie
Just as I was last year, I’m in awe of the beauty of that part of Canada. One of these years I’ve really got to find time to take a couple weeks and do a bit of exploring beyond the major Eastern cities of Canada. Such beautiful country.
That issue of the front fender obstructing operation of the door seemed to have been a common problem in early 80s Mazda GLCs as I saw a lot of GLCs with the back end of the fenders bent inward to clear the doors. My GLC, having always been lightly loaded and not pounded over huge potholes, never sagged in the 12 years I had it and never suffered that indignity.
Thank you for sharing your adventure David. I really enjoyed last year’s beater challenge. Though the Civic should allow you more piece of mind, I was impressed that you showed faith in the survivor Dodge Aries last year.
I am just reading your earlier article highlighting the teams and their vehicles, and if you haven’t mentioned it already, I would be really surprised if you don’t gather local media coverage. CBC Calgary would love to cover offbeat stories like a quirky travelogue scavenger hunt. I could definitely see the event attracting sponsors as well.
It would have been a good idea for us to contact CBC Calgary. Maybe next year. The complete route completely bypassed Calgary its self.
I could easily see your event getting CBC coverage nationally, with its grassroots Canadiana feel. CBC.ca has an ‘Offbeat’ section where this event would be perfect… they love these kinds of stories. I hope the event continues to grow, and you can say you were a founding participant.
Really enjoying your pics and detailed writing. That dusty Pontiac Laurentian photo with everyone with their elbows out the windows has such a 60s/70s feel.
Thank you, David for writing what can only be described as a true travelogue. I am enjoying reading your installments. I am certain you, and the crew will figure out a rally-style type of work-around for the hesitant passenger door.
Well, if you can’t use the passenger side door, at least the power window still works.
Manual winder windows in the Civic!
My daughters and I spotted that 2 story outhouse in Lundbreck earlier this summer, when we stopped at the local gas station for snacks. I’d only ever seen one before, at Heritage Park in Calgary – so not in its original location. Seeing this one gave my daughters much amusement contemplating the inner workings (as it were…).
For those with more time to stop and browse, Crowsnest Pass has a fascinating history. Frank is incredibly dramatic, and has a great interpretive centre next to the rubble of the slide. And the town of Hillcrest, just east of Frank, is the site of Canada’s worst-ever mining disaster, with 189 men and boys killed in an explosion, June 14, 1914. Most were buried in two mass graves in the local cemetery, carefully maintained to this day.
As an Envoy driver myself, I’m surprised it wasn’t entered as a beater
Some lovely scenery here, and under extreme circumstances I have to use the same method to get into the driver’s seat of my Sentra. They say the central locking regulator is done for – I got behind the wheel of it last week for the first time in three years as I was getting it towed to a new location. It spent the last two sitting on the front lawn.
Looks like you stopped at the Rum Runner in Coleman-good place for a burger and a brew!
It’s probably a good thing you guys altered your route this year, a lot of the route through BC you took last year is covered in Wildfire smoke so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Next year, why not let us all know in advance when this is scheduled? You never know who might turn up.
Will do for next year. I only finished the modifications the night before the rally. Busy summer.
I haven’t been keeping up with this journey, but that wooden spoiler is sharp. Nice datto ute.
To quote Red Green, “I’m pullin’ for ya. Were all in this together.”
Should’ve brought a couple big screwdrivers and pried that fender out.
I would’ve been hoping for that rather heavy wing to fall off and earn some bonus points!
Happy Motoring, Mark
My goodness! What stunning scenery! I’ve been enjoying quite a lot of Canada’s natural beauty through my computer/phone screens this week. First, a friend of mine uploaded all his shots from Banff – Lake Moraine is stupefyingly beautiful – and then you post this. Now I want to do a Great Canadian Road Trip!
Told my buddy Jason about your adventures and he wants to do it in a few years! I’d be tempted too!
*SO* pretty ! .
I’ve not traveled Canada much since the 1960’s . Thanx for sharing these pix .
-Nate