NORTHEAST ROUTE 7

Story and Photos by Carla Lehman, Carla Lehman Photography

Trip Overview

The Rumble Alberta Route 7 tour is a scenic and winding trip, starting in Lloydminster, Alberta and finishing up in the lovely and interesting town of Two Hills, Alberta.

The tour started with a visit to Revolt Motorsports, hosted by owner Clint Rabb. Clint is a business owner known for running his business with integrity and going above and beyond for his customers. His name is well known in the motorcycle community as the place to go for the best service.

If you’re planning to stay overnight in Lloydminster and get the tour started bright and early, the place to stay is Microtel by Wyndham.

The hotel is lovely, staff are attentive and friendly the rooms are comfortable and beautiful. A visit to the Lloydminster Native Friendship Centre showed the true spirit of community and friendship in this city.

The center offers a place for community members to come together, offers employment and nutrition training, meals on Wednesdays, and heritage craft classes.

No visit to the city is complete without a selfie at the border survey stakes.

They are the world’s largest border markers and represent oil and gas, the Barr Colonists, agriculture and First Nations & Métis.

I just like to have fun stepping back and forth from one province to another.

Along this tour are some hidden gems that one may not have ever heard of, but that deserve a visit for their history and for the chance to pay respects that those who came before us and forged a life in this small hidden outposts.

Check out the following spots for fabulous photo opportunities of historical buildings. Many of them are stone built which is not often seen but there are many to explore in this area of rural Alberta. Check out Alcurve, Heinsburg, Islay, Derwent, Myrnam, Beauvallon, Musidora

and Morecambe to make some truly beautiful portraits of historical Alberta architecture (or make some selfies your friends will be jealous of).

Lea Park is a great place to stop and camp, surrounded by rivers, rodeo grounds and golf course. It’s in a valley, and feels like one is in another world. It’s a lovely, nature surrounded spot to stop and relax.

Sitting on the patio of the famous Historical Marwayne Hotel, feeling the warm breeze on your face, and eating one of the best burgers around is a treat. The bigger treat however, is that every single local that walks by will smile and say hello, and those driving offer the patented country wave. It’s a treat to visit this town. Ask owner Cheryle for a tour of the rooms and the history of the hotel. I guarantee, you’ll want to stay.

When pulling up to the World’s Largest Chuckwagon in Dewberry, to truly take in the massive size of it, get right up close. It’s quite shocking once you’re beside it to see just how big it is, the view from the highway is quite deceptive.

Now that you’re in town, take a tour past the Dewberry hotel – stop and say hello and ask for a peek at the giant bottle of Grey Goose the hotel has donated to the tour! Not quite as big as the chuckwagon, but it’s a coveted tour prize!

Alberta’s sentinels, our historic grain elevators are few. In the last decade many have been torn down, history lost. This tour will take you to three communities with grain elevators, which are a great photo opportunity. While visiting the Myrnam elevator, be sure to check out the dove statue in the park, and to check out some incredible old buildings. They are a great spot to park your bike (or minivan) for a photo op.

Vermillion is a great mix of history, agriculture, fabulous boutiques, western shops and restaurants. Hubkins Restaurant is a must stop, the menu is plentiful, the smoked meat smells divine and the décor is a perfect nod to the town’s eclectic mix

Mannville may be one of the friendliest communities in Alberta. Within moments of visiting Confectionary 881, you’ll feel like a local. Not only that, they have the best candy, totally retro, things I haven’t seen since childhood. Mannville has the first rural Telephone Exchange building, and a fabulous historical museum.

If you choose to lay your head down here, for the night, Alberta’s Own Restautant/Motel is spotless, quaint and pretty. For breakfast, the omelette will fill you for the entire day.

Throughout the route, there are plenty of stops on the Royal Canadian Legion Challenge, be sure to stop in for a word or a selfie and pay respects to those who protect our country.

Be sure to stop in at Beauvallon to check out the historic buildings, great portrait locations for your family and your ride. When the Boar’s Nest opens its doors, it’s going to be a happening place.

Owner Bob Ross is an ambassador for all things rural Alberta – and yes, he does paint too.

He’s heard all the jokes before.

Two Hills is a very interesting town, a blend of culture and community, incredible down home cooking in the restaurants and perhaps the most beautiful 9 hole golf course rural Alberta has to offer. Just across from the golf course is the Wayside Fallen Riders Park.

The park is a spot for tired travellers to rest, for families to picnic and play, and a spot to pay respects in the chapel. It’s got a spiritual and ethereal feeling, a must stop on the tour.

Above - Renita Senz at the Golden Gopher

The tiny town of Derwent has great historical buildings and is the home of one of rural Alberta’s largest craft shows.

It’s a stopping place for many riders, and is the home of a pretty fun and unique business, owned by a pretty fun and unique lady, Renita Senz, who is a café and gift shop owner and a tattoo artist of great renown.

Rumble Alberta Saving Book

Her clients come great distances to be inked by Renita. Also – the Friday night fish and chips are off the hook!

Revolt Motorsports 4501 62 Ave, Lloydminster, AB T9V 2G3 (780) 875-3373

Microtel Inns + Suites by Wyndham 4257 44 St, Lloydminster, SK S9V 2H1 (306) 825-3820

Lloydminster Native Friendship Centre 4602 49 Ave, Lloydminster, SK S9V 0T2 (306) 825-6558

Hubkins Restaurant - Vermilion 5004 50 Ave, Vermilion, AB T9X 1A2 (780) 853-5691

Confectionery 881 5127 47 St, Mannville, AB T0B 2W0 (780) 853-7306

Alberta’s Own Restuarant Motel 4728 47 St, Mannville, AB T0B 2W0 (780) 763-3910

Historic Marwayne Hotel 1 N Railway Ave, Marwayne, AB T0B 2X0 (780) 847-4029

Two Hills Lions Golf & Country Club 5414 55 St, Two Hills, AB T0B 4K0 (780) 657-3451 Your Event Pass - be it Free or Paid entitles you to all sorts of savings and special offers!

Visit the digital passholders savings book at:

SAVINGS BOOK

Paid Passholders can win some pretty amazing prizes like almost all of the hotels you need to get to Whitehorse and back!