2014 Member Sakatchewan Gopher Shoot Invitational.

I'm going to be leaving Vancouver early on Thursday in my 4Runner. My goal is to arrive, at the latest, by lunch time on Friday. This will mean that I should probably stop somewhere to rest for the night in Alberta. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have half a mind just to pull over somewhere and try to collapse the driver's seat as much as I can and sleep for a few hours, parked by the side of the road. What do you veterans do if you don't have a fancy motor home or camper?

Alternatively, can anyone recommend a reasonable motel? I should easily be able to go past Calgary before stopping.
 
I would say stop at Canmore, by that time you will be really tired because driving the Rockies is stressfull and will take longer than you think. Consider leaving van at 2 am, you will be past abbotsford before traffic starts and will hit golden around 3-4pm perfect for dinner and leg stretch- past golden places to pull over get few & far between. Once you hit Canmore take the first exit and nap behind the petro-can for a few hours then push for Medicine Hat.
Don't try to do the stretch past Calgary tired- that's bleak flat roadway and you will find yourself nodding off easily.
 
How far do you think it is to Calgary from Vancouver?? LMAO!! 13 hours to get to Golden??? I can get from Scott Road Skytrain station to Lethbridge in just a hair over 13 hours in a Semi that is Governed to 100kph and heavily loaded. You will get to Calgary in probably 10 hours. From Van to Kamloops the speed limit is 110kph, and you can do a might faster than that without being bothered. Calgary to Medicine hat is 2.5hours-ish. It is bleak and boring. LOL

From Golden to Canmore there are LOTS of places you can pull over to rest. I also recommend a quick stop at Skyline truck stop in Craigallache just east of the "Last Spike" and have a burger. You wont be disappointed!!

Depending on your driving style you can probably do the whole trip in 14-16 hours. I would personally plan a rest in Medicine hat overnight. There are LOTS of hotels and amenities there.

I have slept in my seat in rest areas before...it is not very restful at all :( But it is possible. Once you reach Canmore the speed limit is 110kph all the way to Tompkins. So you can make good time!!

And FYI, I drive semi from Lethbridge to Surrey once or twice a week....I know the route pretty good ;)

BTW I also agree with leaving early. Its a LONG weekend. There will be lots of traffic!!
 
And now, folks, I'm out. MIL still in hospital. Was supposed to be in irricana this weekend to move them to my house. Now have to do it next weekend cuz their lease is up the first.
I hate my life! And the delinquent still hasn't been sentenced yet!
 
I'm planning on getting there Thursday. Usually roll in there right around when it's getting dark. Kinda bummed that after missing the last couple trips, I'm still not going to see many of the faces I would have liked to!
 
captain2k_ca said:
Gonna miss you there too Ted. Penny was looking forward to that guitar strumming!!
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I am truly sorry. I will be going down tomorrow night to pack their place, get the truck Saturday, load it and come here, hopefully, at low traffic times.
Y'know, Kim, ya can always bring the fam this way... I got a big fire pit to strum around for Penny and just as many gophers here for you. LOL!
 
Yay. Well I said it will come down to the wire for me. And it sure as eff did.

I cant possibly make it home until friday afternoon. And I have to work sunday morning. So thats it. Im out this year. Just cant justify 6+ hours of driving plus fuel costs for less than 24 hours. Penny and the kids may still go. But I will be staying home.

Ya'all have fun. Be safe. Take lots of pix for me!
 
Sucks bro.. I've been wavering a bit too... main reason I go of course is to see you guys & Sis too... plus the other family around.. The weekend weather isn't looking great either...

But we just spent $200 on food etc so we are going... But it might be a long drive if the rain hits, I am not going to do the flour mill grid pulling the trailer... so I would be going around by Tompkins for that...

Anyway we plan to leave here friday morning - 8 or 9 latest.. should put us there early afternoon.

As for the grass around there.. I'm not sure.. if it is like up here everything is 2-3 weeks behind normal.. crops are barely poking through the ground here...

As Capt said, the drive from van can be done in 14-16 hrs... I did it a few years ago when I moved back in 18.. that was straight driving.. and I also went a bit further than the shoot location.
 
captain2k_ca said:
Yay. Well I said it will come down to the wire for me. And it sure as eff did.

I cant possibly make it home until friday afternoon. And I have to work sunday morning. So thats it. Im out this year. Just cant justify 6+ hours of driving plus fuel costs for less than 24 hours. Penny and the kids may still go. But I will be staying home.

Ya'all have fun. Be safe. Take lots of pix for me!
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Wuss. We are making the drive for a two night, one day visit! :)
 
Change of plans for me. Been swamped getting some s**t done around here with work and home. Haven't even had a chance to even look at packing yet, so I'll be heading out in the morning tomorrow instead of after work this afternoon. Would have been nice to have 2 full day, but it is what it is. Be there tomorrow afternoon.
 
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