July 24th, 2025

After a quick Zoom call this morning, I packed up, said goodbye to Anthony and Patricia, and hit the road westbound. If I had the time, I would’ve loved to explore more of Moose Jaw. There are so many interesting stops along the way, including in Moose Jaw like the underground tunnels that may or may not be tied to Al Capone folklore. Maybe next time.

Driving the Trans-Canada Highway through the heart of Saskatchewan is something I’ve never experienced before. (Well, all of this trip!) The land here is unbelievably flat, and the road seems to stretch endlessly to the horizon. Sometimes, the eastbound lanes felt like they were in another time zone—they were so far away you could go for long stretches without seeing another vehicle going past you.

Approaching a town (I can’t recall the name), I passed what looked like massive white salt deposits. A quick Google search confirmed what I was seeing was indeed sodium sulphate from Chaplin Lake, one of the largest natural salt lakes in Canada. Known as the “Salt of the Earth,” Chaplin’s mineral resources play a key role in glass, detergent, and textile production. Just another hidden gem of the prairies that you don’t truly appreciate until you see it with your own eyes.

As I moved west, I didn’t need a sign to tell me I was nearing Alberta. The geography changed, and fast. Suddenly, there were gentle hills, rolling valleys, and a hint of the Rockies to come. At exactly 3:18 p.m., I officially crossed into Alberta and one step closer to Calgary.

With another Zoom call scheduled for tomorrow morning, I needed to push on and eventually landed at Gas City Campground in Medicine Hat. I had helped out with the Parks and Campgrounds Owners Association of Alberta in the past, and I remembered the campground being one of their members. It turned out to be a fantastic decision—quiet, scenic, and perched on a cliff overlooking the city. But it wasn’t only my campsite, it was the people around me that made it so special.

Soon after I parked, RVers started coming by to say hello. On one side of me were Peter and Naomi, traveling from Edson, Alberta, in their 2008 Monaco Diplomat. He was pulling a large trailer behind the motorhome and an older Ford Mustang Convertible inside. He had it good!

I had picked up the habit of honking my horn a few days ago as I passed other RVs (hoping that they recognize the trailer and the “Scan Me”), which led to a visit from a group I had honked at earlier! Thankfully, they didn’t want to yell at me, but to hear the story of the rig and joke about it. They were Tony, Leslie, Ron, and Maria—two couples from Thunder Bay heading to Penticton before coming back and swinging by the Calgary Stampede. They were very easy-going, friendly, and full of great stories. We sat around their fire sharing laughs and stories like we’d known each other for years. It would have been easy to sit with them for hours.

And finally, I met Lloyd and Bev from Calgary, two retired teachers traveling in a 2006 Heartland 5th wheel. They’ve been to 116 countries, but even more impressively, they’ve made over 1,600 RV camping trips across Canada since 1995. They’ve documented every campground in a diary they estimate to be eight inches thick. They came by after dinner, and we sat inside the General Coach trailer for 30 minutes talking about CRVA’s mandate, Care Camps, and all of their favourite journeys.  They mentioned that they like to visit others at the campground and see who they are and where they are from. It was a great chat, and I felt fortunate to have met them.

Four different couples. Four different walks of life. All share a love for RVing, discovery, and a deep connection with the outdoors. These are just other examples of the many, many moments that have defined this trip for me and why I believe in this lifestyle so deeply.

And while I’m at it, please be reminded why we’re doing this: to raise awareness and support for Care Camps. Every child deserves the chance to experience the outdoors and the healing power of nature, and if you haven’t already, please consider buying a ticket to win our $100,000 General Coach trailer. Every ticket helps send a child with cancer to camp—and that’s a journey worth taking.

You can get your tickets or make a donation here: https://rvthenorthgiveaway.com/

Tomorrow, I roll into Calgary and am looking forward to reconnecting with some old friends before I travel back home, and Joss Penny from the British Columbia Lodging and Campground Association takes over the keys to the rig on July 3rd.  He’ll be driving it the rest of the way to Vancouver with his son Jaimie in time for the Craft Beer and Music Festival with Go RVing Canada on July 12th.

This chapter of the road is nearly done for me, but I can’t wait to see where it goes next. Till tomorrow.

Shane,

Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association