The Canadian members of the HCCA host a tour every year that consistently boasts a terrific variety of vehicles. While it has generally been hosted by the Vancouver Region, this year (2003) it was hosted by the Calgary Region, and highlighted the magnificence of the Canadian Rockies in the area around Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta. We toured for three days, and every day brought a new adventure.

The Skagit-Snohomish Region was particularly well-represented on this tour, with nine member families in seven different vehicles.

The Easternmost members of our region showed up in Canmore. Judy and Robin Neel brought their Overland (left, shown at the coffee stop on the first day), while Joann and Rick Babcock brought their 1911 Regal 30 touring (above, in the Lake Louise ski area parking).
 
 
 
 
 
 

Other members of our Eastern contingent were Julie and Roly Weinhandl, who toured in their 1914 Mitchell (shown outside the old Banff hotel). Roly was car #2 this year (behind only the tour leaders), and already signed up for next year's tour! Bess and John Reilly toured in their trusty 1913 Cadillac, and asked to have their picture taken next to a huge snow-field touring bus. John's company made the large glass windows for the bus, and this shot was designed to be a keepsake for his office.

Two 1914 Cadillacs came from our region. At the morning pit stop on the first day, tour instructions mentioned the availability of rest rooms and/or large bushes. I caught Dave Ellis (left) using neither, I think, but Elaine wasn't around to correct his behavior. On the third day, I photographed Carolyn and Mike Martin's Cadillac (above) just after they came down the hill to lunch after visiting the highest paved pass in Canada!
 
 
 
 

Penny and Fred Cruger's 1912 Abbott-Detroit carried Lynette Short and Donna and Mike McGinnis as passengers for the tour. The shot was taken at lunch on the third day, after a beautiful ride through the mountains along Hwy 40. The picture on the right shows the view from lunch on the second day, when we rode the gondola to the top of a mountain just outside Banff. That second day involved touring a couple lakes (one shown in the distance on the extreme right of the picture) and visiting the old hotel in Banff (large building at lower center of picture). Tour organizers arranged for all the window seats (essentially a 360-degree view) in the restaurant (from where the picture was taken) to be reserved for our tour.

This tour always boasts a great mix of vehicles. Two particularly attractive ones were the white 1910 Johnson touring (above left) belonging to Orest and Carole Kitzul (tour leaders), and the white 1911 Stoddard-Dayton (above right) belonging to Al Krusnick of Colorado. The Stoddard-Dayton deservedly took "People's Choice" honors.

When we got to the Lake Louise ski area, Vern's Stanley needed some liquid refreshment, which was cheerfully supplied by a couple firefighters on duty with their truck. While we were there, most folks rode the lift to the top of the hill, to enjoy the view toward Lake Louise. On the way down, we met Julie and Roly with their guests Alice and Stan Rhoads going up!
 
 
 
 

Nowhere is style more important than on an HCCA tour. Here we have two of the finest(?) examples. On the left, Robin helps John Reilly display his matching shorts and shirt. To be honest, the hat clashes a little, and if you hear of a cadaver missing its legs . . . well . . .

On the right is Con Fletcher with his 1912 Marquette, shown outside the gondola in Banff. Con and Eva left late that morning and missed the rainstorm, but left in time to meet us in Banff. He claimed his mother told him, "Stay out of the rain whenever you can!"