Tenting it to Banff
by
Beryl M. Aitken
We wanted to go on a holiday but we had seven children. In 1958 one didn't take seven children to stay in a motel, even if it were possible to find one like our modern-day motels. As we already had one tent which was used for back yard camping, we bought another tent: one for us and the two youngest, the other for the five older ones. We had a Rambler Ambassador station wagon, hence lots of room for all—it was before the days of seat belts. We opened up the back seats, put in a mattress, and the children could sit, lie down, sleep or whatever they wished. Sometimes, one of them would come into the front seat. Baby Dawne, nine months, was usually with us.
We towed a fourteen-foot fibreglass boat which held sleeping bags, air mattresses, camp stove and groceries. The last thing packed in was the playpen which was always the first thing out. Thus we popped Dawn into it leaving everyone free to set up camp. Mary, fifteen, and Joan, ten, helped to do this and get the first meal ready. Norrie Ann, thirteen, and Beth, eight, helped Norris pitch tents and get the sleeping areas in order. Helen, five, and Allan, three, had to make sure that they didn't get lost or get in the way. The baby was in diapers (not disposable), so we took along a pail with a tight-fitting lid filled with hot soapy water. Dirty diapers were deposited into it and the motion of the car turned it into a portable washing machine. When we camped the diapers just needed rinsing and hanging on the tent ropes to dry. An hour after stopping, we had dinner and were set for the night.
We were headed for Banff via central Manitoba, with Child's Lake in the Duck Mountains our first stop. (We were so impressed by it we decided to lease a lot and build a cabin the following year. As it was just being opened up, there were no cabins there at the time and we became the first to build.) We continued north to the Battlefords to visit Norris' uncle and aunt. Then it was on to Saskatoon where we camped in a cousin's back yard. We were able to do some laundry and enjoy showers before heading south to Swift Current and Taber, Alberta, to visit more relatives. The children were excited about Taber because their cousin took them to see "where the rattlesnakes lived".
Bypassing Calgary, we headed for Kananaskis to camp for several days with side trips to Canmore, Lake Louise and Banff. The Bow River has the coldest water I have ever experienced, but one had to get clean. The children all went swimming anyway.
Evening clouds rolled over
On our last evening, the weather, at first, was warm and beautiful. However, abut seven in the evening clouds rolled over the mountains and the rain began. We could not all sleep in the car so the two oldest girls and Norris used a tent leaving me with the youngest in the car. What a wild night! Upon wakening we found snow half way down the mountains. Worse yet, Norris and the girls were soaked from the waist down, sleeping bags and all. Everyone was cold and tired, but we warmed up in the camp kitchenette where every other camper had also congregated. That part was fun, comparing our situation with everyone else's.
We packed up, wet bags and all, planning to drive as far as possible - even home, if we could. At Swift Current we were so tired we just managed to find an old motel. I wasn't sure I wanted to stay there, but we swept the floor and made the best of it. If I remember correctly, there were no water works, only a little 'house' out back!
Next morning saw us on our way again. By the time we reached the Qu'Appelle Valley, we unexpectedly ran into Norris' cousin, Dave. He invited us to stay at his cabin and dry out. Another cousin, George, and his family were also there making a total of eighteen Aitken's: six adults and twelve children. We slept in tents and in the cabin, cooked huge meals, went swimming, had campfires and singsongs. Our watery night was soon forgotten.
We had a wonderful time getting to know our relatives better. Oddly enough, the two boy cousins took charge of baby Dawne, taking her everywhere with them. But when they got to the lake and discovered they couldn't swim and look after her too, they tried to pawn her off on the girls. The girls just said, "No way; you brought her here; you look after her." Dawne was soon returned to the cabin!
Home again! But this was not to be our only camping holiday. The children enjoyed it and it helped them grow up. Dawne, who until then was still on a bottle, had to give it up as it was impossible to keep milk fresh; she had to learn to drink freshly bought milk from a cup like the rest of us, and eat bologna sandwiches for lunch!