It was with great pleasure that I set out with my co-worker to attend the Bragg Creek Artisans and Redwood Meadows annual Christmas craft sales, Nov. 19.
I was looking forward to a rewarding day spent with a good friend, looking at homemade goodies, crafts, art and the offerings of home-based businesses.
Directionally challenged, I even had hand-written directions from my husband, much-needed despite the fact that I have been to Bragg Creek on several occasions.
The day was cold but the roads were good as I picked up my friend.
Happily chatting, we started off cutting a big chunk of distance off by heading west on Stoney Trail.
All was well until we started noticing a definitive change in the scenery.
There was little development after we passed Calaway Park and continued west.
I finally clued in that we had passed our turnoff a while back after signage along the road sharply decreased.
I had my friend dial my husband to remind me about the directions. She put my cell phone on speaker and my heart sank as he confirmed I had indeed passed my turnoff.
Then he advised me to take the next u-turn opportunity because there would be relatively few between my location and Canmore.
Stressed, I tersely responded that I would do so at the next opportunity before hanging up.
At this point, I was already behind schedule, as it was nearing 10:45 a.m. and I was no where near Bragg Creek.
The situation didn’t look good, since I had hoped to cover another community event in Cochrane around 2 p.m.
My well-formed plans were crumbling as my friend and I eagerly watched for an opportunity to turn around.
Then we spied it, what we thought was an access road to head east on Highway 1.
It might have been an access road - for ATV’s or four-wheel drives - but the rough, snow-covered trail was not meant for my Altima, that I do know.
By the time I figured that out, however, I was already edging my way up to the east-bound TransCanada.
Sure, we were at the bottom of a hill, and there was a large hump to drive over in order to reach the roadway, but heck, I figured if anyone could do it, I could. After all, I am a farm girl from way back.
With my heart thumping madly in my chest and my co-worker’s encouragement bolstering my confidence, I put the pedal to the metal in hopes of making it onto the roadway.
Tires spinning, I somehow got enough traction to gain a foothold on the pavement.
Although there were some unpleasant sounds associated with the move, such as a red-lining tachometer and the distinct thud of packed snow and rock hitting the car’s undercarriage, we made it.
Phew!
I could finally breathe again as I gunned my car in an attempt to join the traffic on the highway.
My friend laughed the danger away, but my heart was madly beating with the excess adrenaline flooding my system after off-roading in my rear-wheel drive.
As we back-tracked down the highway (about 10 minutes to the Bragg Creek overpass), my heart slowly calmed.
With my friend along, I was able to focus on the day ahead as we discussed eating in the hamlet’s little cafe that we had reminisced about since last year’s craft show.
After the adventure was over, we were not disappointed by the day.
It proved to be full of wondrous sights, amazingly welcoming people and beautiful hand-made goods.
We even enjoyed a delicious soup-and-sandwich lunch in the cozy little café.
As a reporter who covers a rather large county, I have learned there are many adventures to be had along Rocky View’s roads.
I have been lost numerous times and travelled some pretty suspect roads while on the job, but this is one adventure I don’t want to repeat.
