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Does it get
any better than this? A sunny Alberta
afternoon,
the majestic Canadian Rocky Mountains as a backdrop,
hands firmly gripping the leather-wrapped steering wheel of a Porsche,
and that exquisite exhaust note emanating from just behind
your ear.
If you're a member of PCA's Polar Region, this just begins
to
define the quintessential Porsche weekend.
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Our weekend
trip started at Norden Autohaus with
the usual chatter and anticipation. "Who will
lead?" "Who will get the
radios?" "Would anyone like bottled
water?" "When do we get the first
pee-break?" Following a drivers
meeting, we were under way.
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Our »route took us south and west from Edmonton through Genesee
and Warburg, then along the southwest side of Pigeon
Lake. From there it was past Buck Lake, Rocky Mountain House,
and Nordegg. Just past Rocky, new pavement and
wide passing lanes awaited us on the David Thompson
Highway, and the pace quickly ratcheted up a couple of notches. The
next 40 minutes was a welcome combination of
long straight stretches and wide sweepers just made for
letting it out a bit. Then about 11 km past
Nordegg, we were treated to a wonderful lunch.
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Left:
Nothing like champagne to quench
that parched throat. "Forget the flute ...
just give me the bottle!"
Right: "These personal-sized champagne bottles are
a bit petite ... might I have two?"
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Everyone
pitched in to help with the last minute preparations and lunch was
soon served.
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If the box lunch prepared by
Jeffrey's Cafe and Wine Bar and served off the back of a
teal Cayenne wasn't enough to fill you
up, there was fresh bratwurst served hot off a
turbocharged barbie.
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Left:
Glass champagne flutes, Royal
Chinette, and plastic table
cloths. And to think I used to wonder how the
other half lived.
Right: "Hey, those feet are all mixed
up!"
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Left:
"Ivor, this champagne is making me a bit light-headed ...
why don't you get me some lunch?"
Right: Proof that there's a little kid in all of
us.
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With temps of
+27C, the choice was a difficult one: "Do I want
people to
see my car sparkle under a clear, sunny sky or do I want cool seats
when I get back in?" Vanity on the left,
prudence on the right.
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Following lunch, it was back on the road again toward
Saskatchewan Crossing for a gas stop.
Unfortunately, one of us didn't quite make it ...
another ½ gallon of gas is all it would have taken but,
alas, only fumes. Considering that was the most
serious problem we had, and that it certainly wasn't
difficult to remedy, we were quite fortunate.
Following the gas stop, if was north on the Icefields
Parkway for some more fun. By
the time we reached the Columbia Icefields, the temperature had
dropped significantly and the 2-60 air conditioning was
finally starting to work again. The air-fuel
charge was cooler as well!
We split up a bit from the Ice Fields onward, all arriving
at the Jasper
Park Lodge in plenty of time to freshen up
for dinner.
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The
longer I'm a member of this club, the more I realize it
is
really not about the cars, it's
about the people. And here are just a few of
the many people who make events so enjoyable.
After a relaxing cocktail in the Emerald Lounge, it was off to The
Edith
Cavell restaurant for dinner.
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Once
in our private
dining room, there was plenty of relaxed conversation,
starting with discussion about the menu
awaiting us: smoked rabbit, buffalo
mozza & fig vinaigrette, pheasant & foie gras,
tenderloin & truffles, halibut loin & sea asparagus,
and raspberry chocolate tarts that would soon dance on our palettes.
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Left:
The wine list was extensive, and the fine wines flowed
freely.
Right: If the rich
ambiance wasn't enough, the main course was served under
a cover of Sterling Silver.
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As our dinners
arrived at the table the anticipation was
almost too much ... but the wait worth every minute.
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The staff in The
Edith
Cavell restaurant were
spectacular. They took care of our every request
in as friendly and promptly a manner as one could
possibly have expected. "No nuts ... no
problem." (Yes, I know that statement can be
taken many ways). They even laughed at our
jokes.
I'd like to tell you what a wonderful sleep I had in the
cool mountain air, but I don't seem to recall much of
it. Could it be the sleep was that sound, or
was it the second bottle of Wolf Blass?
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Day 2 began
with a relaxing rendezvous in the lobby, then a short
wait while the valets lined up our chariots.
I'm sure taking Bob's TT for a quick loop along the lake
and past the
Outlook Cabin was quite a treat.
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After short
drive we arrived at Pyramid
Lake Resort for brunch where
once again we found ourselves awed by the spectacular
scenery of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
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The breakfast
put on by the resort was both hearty and
delicious. Carla got it right ... two thumbs up!
Don't worry, John yours is coming ...
the kitchen staff are plating as fast as they can.
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Finally, we
headed for home. It was one pump, no waiting
at our last pit stop was in Edson, but the respite was
perfect for last minute route planning.
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This year's Jasper Jaunt really was a great weekend
overall, and it wouldn't have happened without the
combined efforts of a host of people. Thanks to Ruth for
organizing the box lunches and Ben, Judy & the
Jeffrey's staff for getting up early to make them.
Thanks to John and Laurel for traveling ahead and setting
up the
champagne, the turbocharged barbie, and the bratwurst. Thanks
to Ben and Norden Autohaus for the use of the Cayenne to
haul around our coolers and the like. Thanks to Page the Cleaner for picking up the lunch tab.
And thanks to Meike for quietly putting up with Ivor's obsessing
over the number of registrants in
the weeks leading up to this weekend.
Most of all, a sincere thanks to Ivor for
envisioning the weekend, and for then orchestrating
route, rooms, and restaurants for the lot of us who
probably will never quite realize just how much effort
went into making this weekend seem spontaneous. Ivor, we certainly
hope this is the first of many such annual weekend
jaunts that will soon become a tradition. |
