Canadian Buffoon's Hi Low Vacation - South Central Musings

[pkondz]

Life is a Highway... Part I

6:20am
That's twenty after six...

in the morning!


When I'm on vacation...


With no alarm set.



6:20am is the time your
supposedly adult child
will text you to tell you
that she has a cold.


Child's expectations:
(and, to be honest, most men)
"Wahh! I'm sick! Take care of me!"
Parent (or wife): "Oh my poor baby!
I'm coming right now!
I'll make chicken soup! From scratch!
I'll get you a hot toddy!
I'll get you a heating pad!
I'll get you all sorts of medicine,
all of which will taste wonderful!
I'll rub your feet! Your back! Your temples!
My life is not complete unless I can serve you!!!"

Reality:
"Wahh! I'm sick! Take care of me!"
Parent: "Get over yourself. I'm going out."


The only real effect that our
poor, dreadfully ill daughter's text
had on us... was that we were up.

Note to all my parentless readers.
Don't have kids.
They're horrid.


We got ourselves cleaned up and packed up
and ambled over for breakfast around 8:45.

Guess what we had!
I don't know!
I didn't take photos.
I didn't take notes.

I just enjoyed breakfast.
Imagine that!


Thirty minutes later, at 9:15, we were on the road!

And when I say "on the road!"...
I mean we drove two minutes away
to a gift shop.

Ruby had decided to buy some mitts.


Well... okay. We're Canadian.
You can never have enough mitts.



Never.


Okay. Mitts purchased?
Now we're off!!!!

We drove one block and stopped.
There are only two roads out of town
heading south...

And a train was crossing both of them.


OMG! We can't leave Jasper!!
We're stuck here forever!!

It's a conspiracy! We're trapped!

Oh.... wait...

Okay. Train's done.
We're fine.


We drove on.

About 45 minutes later,
I spotted a sign for
Sunwapta Falls.

Hm... Why not?
We pulled in, parked,
and a short walk later...

Okay... this time I'm positive
I know which photo I like better.

Tell me which one you like for
free and easy bonus points.

We continued south and I paused
a couple times on the drive
to take a couple of snaps.

Please note that as we
made our way south,
it got progressively more
cloudy and colder.


This is not the way it's supposed to be.

Still... what we could see
was fairly picturesque.

An hour or so past Sunwapta Falls,
we arrived at our first semi-planned
destination.
(I say semi-planned because
we didn't decide for sure until
we were on the road.)

The Columbia Icefield.
The icefield is made up of
six glaciers.
The Athabasca Glacier being
the most visited.
Indeed it is the most visited
glacier in North America.
(Oddly enough, not many people
visit glaciers in Florida.
Probably because of Disney.)

If you want to see it for yourselves,
better hurry.
The glacier is currently receding
at a rate of about 16ft/year.


This was a bit of a homecoming for me.
Back in the early 70s,
my Dad's sister and her family
made their first trek across the Atlantic
from Germany for a visit.
We piled eight people inside a van
and headed west.

I clearly remember stopping here.

I remember because of what happened.

All the kids were climbing on the
Athabasca Glacier...

(See the two orange hoodies?
far left and center?
Those are my cousins.
My sister is between them
and I'm almost completely
hidden by my cousin on the left.)

But for some reason...
my parents thought I,
and I alone, would get wet.

Heaven forbid a boy should get wet...
in summer!

Anyways, I got scolded.

Just me.


The injustice still stings.


My uncle took a really nice
family photo there.
Two people missing, though.

1. My uncle. Who was manning the camera.
2. Me. I'm pouting in the van.
I didn't come out for a loooong time.



Arriving at the Discovery Centre
(nice place. I'll show you a pic, later)
we marched up to the ticket desk
and enquired about rates and times.

Rates were $85 per person
and there was room on the 11:30 tour.

When I was here last,
none of this existed.
You just parked your car
and climbed on the ice.
And got scolded for absolutely no reason.


We decided to do it.

Take the tour, I mean.
Not get scolded.

(I kinda wished I'd brought
my kids with me.
I would've picked one at random
and yelled at her.
Circle of life.)


We noticed a few dire warnings
posted here and there.
"There are no restrooms
on the glacier! Please use
the restrooms before boarding."

"How long is the tour?"
"Over an hour."

We each made a bee-line
for the facilities.


Around 11:30, we boarded
a standard bus which
took us to the loading area.
There we transferred onto an
"Ice Explorer".
(Think of the spawn of a
monster truck and a school bus.
Photos a bit later in this post.)
Each ice buggy costs about $1.3 million.
Heck one tire will run you $24 thousand.

Once on the buggy,
we crawled (top speed, 25mph)
along a gravel road,
heading towards the glacier.

You don't reach the ice at
the foot of the glacier,
but somewhere at mid-point.

I took this photo out the window
as we crawled along.
To give you a sense of scale,
notice the little dots at the lower
right of the ice?
Those are people.

The last stretch of the road
is interesting.
You descend a thirty two degree grade.
That might not sound like much,
but it's pretty impressive when
you're doing it!
(I'll have a photo of that, too)

And before you get on actual ice,
there's a large pool that the buggy
has to drive through.
At first I thought it was just spring melt,
but it actually serves a purpose.
It's a tire wash.
The intent is to wash away any loose
stones from the tires.
Any dark stones brought onto
the glacier hastens melting.

Soon after descending
and washing the tires,
we arrive at the drop off point.

Look at all those idiots
just standing around
taking photos
instead of just enjoying
the scenery!

Um...

Well.... here!

So... pbbbbbtttt!!!


A view further up the glacier:

Zoom in!

More zoom!!!

I have this urge to plug in
a hair dryer and just let it run.

Take care of that pesky ice
in no time!


A shot in the opposite
direction.
Back the way we came.
Look!
There's the Discovery Centre!
Nice, right?
(See? Toldja I'd show it to you.)

Looking to the left:

And the right:

One thing I had read,
was to bring an empty
water bottle.

There was some runoff
in a small channel
right beside the cordoned
off area.
I dipped my bottle in and...

Wow.

I don't normally like plain water.
But this stuff was amazing!

Hmmm...
I wonder if that has anything
to do with the dude
pouring the bags of sugar
on the ice.

Nah.


A couple shots of the "ice explorers"

Love the dude on the left
giving me a huge photobomb smile.
Has good taste in camera gear too.
I have the same gorilla-pod.

For bonus points...
Which one of the above
buggies is the one we rode in?
Why yes. You can tell.
PM me your guess.
Anyone blurting it out,
gets 30 lashes with
a wet noodle.

Or not. If you enjoy that sort of thing.

Soon enough it was time to head back.
We didn't spend a whole
bunch of time on the ice.
(You are allotted 20 minutes)
But it was enough.
We didn't feel like we needed
more time.
Once you've looked in every
direction and had a sip of water...
That's pretty much it.

I took this shot out the window
not long before we left the ice.
You can see a buggy coming
down that 32 degree grade
I mentioned as well as
the tire wash.

We returned to the Discovery Centre
around 12:45pm.
I took this shot from there.

Interesting to note
that the last time I was here,
the edge of the ice
was about two and a half
football field lengths
closer to the highway.

After visiting the gift shop...



...we piled back into the car.
We only drove about
15 - 20 minutes before
stopping at Bridal Veil Falls
for a view and a bite.

Yes. We actually ate
some of the food
we had purchased
a couple days earlier.
(Happy now?)

I dunno.
I was kinda expecting...

Something more.... impressive.

Pretty enough, but....

We got back in the car
and headed out.
We drove for about
two hours, and were
a bit disappointed.
Low clouds obscured
the mountains.

Poop.

It had been over 40 years
since the last time
I'd been on that highway.
How long was it going to be
until the next time???


Eventually we arrived at Lake Louise.
After a quick bathroom break
we walked over and saw
this iconic view.
(well... it'd be iconic
if it had been sunny.)

Still... even with the clouds...
Not too shabby.

A view back to Chateau Lake Louise.

I had considered staying here,
but I looked at the prices and...

The lowest rate was over $900/night.

Nope!

Who do they think they are?
Disney???


Now...
You know,
between those two photos...
Once again, I'm not sure
which I prefer.
How about a panorama?
I'll just grab my iPod...

Grab my...

I know I have it in my pocket.
Maybe this pocket...
Jacket??

My iPod was... gone.
All my trip notes.
My contacts, my calendar,
all our reservations and
flight information.

Gone.

I literally (yes. Literally)
broke out into a cold sweat.
Email. Banking.
It's all on there.

Fuuuuudge.


And I knew what I'd done.


I'd left it on the TP holder.
In the restroom...
Two hours drive north...
At the Icefields Discovery Centre.



Contest

Answers to previous questions:
1. What time do we wake up?
Answer: 6:20.
+/-10 - 20 points, +/-40 - 10 points , +/- 70 - 4 points

2. We leave Jasper. What time?
Answer: 9:15
+/-15 - 10 points, +/-45 - 5 points

3. What do we do before we leave... of course.
Answer: Gift shop - 8 points
(Breakfast... because we did - 6 points.)

4. What do we do between Jasper and Banff?
(More than one answer possible.)
Columbia Ice Fields - 10 points
or
Lake Louise - 10 points
or
Bridal Veil Falls
or
Sunwapta Falls

5. What time do we get into Banff?
(well... we're not there yet, but...)
Answer: 7:30pm
Nailed it - 25 points, +/-30 - 15 points, +/- 60 minutes - 5 points

6. Lefty or Righty?
Answer: Either or both - 10 points.

Bonus points for preferred pic - 8 points.
Bonus points for pie - 8 points.


Did you see Marvin? 10 points if you did.

Curiouser&curiouser! - 7:30, 9:00, breakfast, Mt. Cephren, 3:30, right, pic, pie - 46 points.
DonnaBeeGood - 8:00, 10:30, gift shop, skywalk, 5:30, right, pic, pie, Marvin - 52 points.
Mrs T 2009 - 8:15, 10:00, gift shop, Peyto, 5:00, right, pic, pie, Marvin - 49 points.
orangecats2 - pic, pie - 16 points.
fallonkendra - 8:30, 11:00, gift shop, ice field, 6:30, right, pic, pie, Marvin - 59 points.
rndmr2 - 7:00, 8:00, gift shop, hot springs, 4:00, right, pic, pie, Marvin - 54 points.
GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes - 8:00, 9:30, gift shop, ice field, 7:30, left, pic, pie, Marvin - 89 points.
irene_dsc - 8:00, 10:00, gift shop, ice field, 7:00, right, pic, pie, Marvin - 79 points.
Mac Brew - 7:00, 9:00, bathroom, ice field, 3:00, left, pic, pie, Marvin - 66 points.
MHSweb79 - pie - 8 points.
Steppesister - 7:00, 9:00, gift shop, ice field, 6:00, left, pic, pie, Marvin - 74 points.
cinderkelly - 7:30, 9:30, bathroom, Helen lake, 2:30, right, pic, pie, Marvin - 50 points.
franandaj - 7:00, 10:00, gift shop, ice field, 7:00, right, pic, pie, Marvin - 79 points.
QueenJen - 7:30, 8:30, breakfast, Peyto lake, 6:00, right, pic, pie, Marvin - 51 points.
juniorbugman - 8:00, 10:00, gift shop, ice field, 6:30, left, pic, pie, Marvin - 64 points.
mustinjourney - 8:30, 9:15, gift shop, Lake Louise, 7:00, Marvin - 58 points.
Captain_Oblivious - 7:30, 9:00, gift shop, ice field, 6:00, right, pic, pie, Marvin - 68 points.
vrajewski10513 - 6:30, 10:15, scones, crowfoot, 4:00, right, pic, pie, Marvin - 56 points.
DISNEYMOON10121991 - 8:50, 11:00, scone, 7:00, right, pic, pie, Marvin - 51 points.

As usual, if I've made any mistakes,
either above or below, let me know.

Bonus points
Curiouser&curiouser! - 4 points for pi.
DonnaBeeGood - 10 points for Justin.
BibbitybobityLu - 6 points for coming home.
Mrs T 2009 - Just takes 4 points.
orangecats2 - 2 points for knowing her pies.
fallonkendra - 2 points for being bearly a pie lover.4 points for knowing mostly what we did.
GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes - 2 points for the look of constipation. 6 points for knowing his pies.
Heluvsme - 2 points for generosity. 4 points because there are no silly questions.
irene_dsc - 2 points for raccoons. 8 points for knowing almost exactly what we did.
Mac Brew - 2 points for being brilliantly cracking.
franandaj - A gazillion points! Okay... 2. 4 points for being sheer of herself. 2 points for framing.
MHSweb79 - 6 points for not eating meat, dairy and broccoli together.
SoccerDogWithEars - 10 points for drama.
Steppesister - 6 points for her labours. 2 points for canyons.
SimplyGoofy - 4 points for knowing a good photographer. 2 points for jealousy.
cinderkelly - 2 points for justice.
QueenJen - 10 points for persistence! 2 points for making a splash. 4 points for October.
QueenJen - 28 points for found items.
juniorbugman - 2 points for being bootless.
mustinjourney - 4 points per puns... er for puns.
Captain_Oblivious - 2 points for Banff!!! 2 points for trying.
vrajewski10513 - 2 points for knowing cute when she sees it. 4 points for phenomenon.
DISNEYMOON10121991 - 4 points for trying.

Side bet: mustinjourney + 10 or – 20 : Keg


Score

franandaj - 449 points
Steppesister - 449 points
Captain_Oblivious - 414 points
irene_dsc - 389 points
orangecats2 - 377 points
juniorbugman - 361 points
DonnaBeeGood - 360 points
DISNEYMOON10121991 - 345 points
Mac Brew - 306 points
mustinjourney - 306 points
rndmr2 - 299 points
Curiouser&curiouser! - 293 points
fallonkendra - 288 points
cinderkelly - 286 points
Mrs T 2009 - 283 points
Terra Nova guy - 281 points
GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes - 240 points
MAGICFOR2 - 237 points
afwdwfan - 224 points
jandlinz - 216 points
Thumper_Man's Wife - 189 points
Thumper_Man - 185 points
Gracefulskinny - 183 points
Chrystmasangel - 177 points
DaisyDuck001 - 154 points
QueenJen - 151 points
queenbetsey - 135 points
chookie94 - 122 points
Heluvsme - 102 points
vrajewski10513 - 96 points
Princess Leia - 88 points
bankr63 - 87 points
tashers - 84 points
chillitsanne - 57 points
SoccerDogWithEars - 44 points
natebenma - 39 points
SnowWhiteOz - 30 points
MHSweb79 - 29 points
kaileighbug - 28 points
krnelson65 - 22 points
lisaviolet - 18 points
Tracy161 - 16 points
BibbitybobityLu - 6 points
SimplyGoofy - 6 points.
cindianne320 - 4 points
DizzneyDi - 4 points
Ladyfish77 - 4 points
MarieLightning - 4 points
sk8jdgca - 4 points.
KathyM2 - 3 points
Gigi@Disney - 2 points.
Self_resqing_princz - 2 points


Questions, next round:
1. Next update's a short one so...
Favourite music genre?
(i.e. Rock, Pop, Country, Jazz... )

2. I make two phone calls before
the day is done.
Who to? (hints were left.)

3. What did we eat for dinner?
Chicken, burgers or steaks.


Did you see it?
You saw it, yes?
PM me the answer for bonus points.
Posting the answer will result in a massive deduction.



Coming up: Little iPod lost.

Chapter 15. Life is a Highway... Part II.​

 

[franandaj]

I was going to post a remark to this, but then I checked the post count and realized I would have pulled a Liesa!

And now,
for your edification
and stupefaction...

And I'm guessing the post that appeared while I was posting this was your new update.

 

[Steppesister]

I was going to post a remark to this, but then I checked the post count and realized I would have pulled a Liesa!



And I'm guessing the post that appeared while I was posting this was your new update.

Kinda sad I didn't wake up 20 minutes ago....


... because you know me. Spoiling fun wherever I go.

 

[Curiouser&curiouser!]

With a train blocking your way out, there would be much worse places to be stuck- assuming you don't have too many run ins with anymore rogue animals!

The Falls are beautiful! I wavered between pictures, but I like the second one better.

At some points, the glaciers look like ocean waves breaking over rocks! Overall, definitely a cool stop.

The vehicles that you rode in were kind of awesome. My two boys would have been happy just riding in one, let alone bothering to get out for the glacier!

2 1/2 football fields closer, you say? Based on the current rate per year . . . Exactly how old *are* you?!?! (Just teasing!)

I think Lake Louise is still pretty decent!! The reflection in the water really caught my eye!!

Oh no! Not all the important information!! You are totally going to end up driving back, aren't you?

And my guesses:
1. Pop
2. Your dear sick child and the IceFields Discovery center.
3. Burgers. But I might just be picking that because it sounds good to me right now.

PM coming your way too!

 

[DISNEYMOON10121991]

Once again your pictures are amazing! You're a photographic
Thanks for sharing some of nature's beauty
I really love that just you and Ruby are getting this time together.
Forgot to mention that I was happy when you posted you and Ruby holding hands on the trail.
It made me think of a magnet we have on the frig. We bought it on our Disney trip. Minnie is pulling Mickey's hand as they're heading for the castle. We thought it was appropriate since I was the one who kept track of our time and plans. "Just follow me honey" He did and we had fun!

I will not win this contest but can hope to stay in the middle of the pack.
1. I'm not sure what genre I'd fall in. I like music that makes me want to sing and dance. Maybe rock or pop/rock. I love Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks but when the latest Bruno Mars song comes on, it makes me want to move
At work we had a "rule" so much time on "rock" station and some on a "country" station. I didn't care because I like music. It was a current hits country station, so not any oldies, As co-workers called them, "twangy" ,drink whiskey cause my wife left me and my dog died songs. I don't mind hearing Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan because they can be up beat country/rock. I stand/ walk on my feet 75%of my day so like Luke's song "Shake it for me Girl", it puts a little sway/shake in me and my work.
2. I'd say you being a good dad: 1.call the sick child to see how she is 2. The Discovery Center to see if they found ipod
3. Let's go with a burger
PM soon

They was going so good for you guys! Loosing iPod and that info would really be sad! I hope you do get it back!

 

[anut4disney]

Awesome photo's.

I live in fear of losing something or someone when I go on vacation.

 

[mustinjourney]

Of the two, I prefer this picture.

Arriving at the Discovery Centre
(nice place. I'll show you a pic, later)
we marched up to the ticket desk
and enquired about rates and times.

I actually learned something new...never realized there was a different between enquire and inquire. Enquire is for generally asking about something, and inquire is reserved for making a formal investigation.

I award YOU bonus points. Of course -- they're not really worth much.

Questions, next round:
1. Next update's a short one so...
Favourite music genre?
(i.e. Rock, Pop, Country, Jazz... )

2. I make two phone calls before
the day is done.
Who to? (hints were left.)

3. What did we eat for dinner?
Chicken, burgers or steaks.


Did you see it?
You saw it, yes?
PM me the answer for bonus points.
Posting the answer will result in a massive deduction.

1. No easy listening/classical? I guess I'll go pop.
2. kids/glacier place to enquire about ipod
3. burgers

 

[irene_dsc]

Reality:
"Wahh! I'm sick! Take care of me!"
Parent: "Get over yourself. I'm going out."

Yup, that sounds familiar. It's a definite nice change when you can do that!

Ruby had decided to buy some mitts.

Strangely enough, I don't think anyone guessed that particular purchase. Also, when I think mitts, I think oven mitts. But somehow I'm thinking you mean short for mittens. But I suppose you wear them enough that you need to give them nicknames.

Okay... this time I'm positive
I know which photo I like better.

Second - it focuses your attention on the waterfall better

Please note that as we
made our way south,
it got progressively more
cloudy and colder.


This is not the way it's supposed to be.

Nope, nopitty nope nope nope.

Indeed it is the most visited
glacier in North America.

I can't remember if we stopped there or not. I know we went on glaciers at Glacier National Park, but I can't remember if we went to any other ones!

You descend a thirty two degree grade.
That might not sound like much,
but it's pretty impressive when
you're doing it!

I dunno. I'm pretty sure I've seen Steep Grade warning signs for 10 degree or 20 degree grade before, so 32 sounds pretty steep to me!

Look at all those idiots
just standing around
taking photos
instead of just enjoying
the scenery!

Lol. Some days, I feel the need to soak it in. Some days, I feel the need to take lots and lots of photos. Taking photos is a different type of focus.

I had considered staying here,
but I looked at the prices and...

The lowest rate was over $900/night.

Strangely enough, we didn't stay there, either.

I'd left it on the TP holder.
In the restroom...
Two hours drive north...
At the Icefields Discovery Centre.

Aack!

8 points for knowing almost exactly what we did.

Woot! I looked at a couple itineraries, and just knew you wouldn't be able to resist stopping at all the cool places!

Questions, next round:
1. Next update's a short one so...
Favourite music genre?
(i.e. Rock, Pop, Country, Jazz... )

2. I make two phone calls before
the day is done.
Who to? (hints were left.)

3. What did we eat for dinner?
Chicken, burgers or steaks.

1. I have pretty eclectic taste, but probably the folkier side of rock music, especially with guitars. Have you seen the "which concert didn't I go to?" game people are doing on facebook lately? Here are mine:
1. Shawn Colvin
2. Train
3. Air Supply
4. Billy Joel
5. Crowded House
6. Don Henley
7. Cracker
8. John Hiatt
9. Jimmy Buffett
10. Richard Thompson
11. Otis and the Elevators
12. Rick Springfield
13. Boiled in Lead
14. Lyle Lovett
15. Bob Dylan

2. Icefields Discovery Center (and hope they have your ipod!) and the sickie child
3. Steak

Will add onto my PM with the other guess...

 

[Steppesister]

Soooo many comments...

LOL! Losing things... this is gonna be fun!

 

[QueenJen]

Note to all my parentless readers.
Don't have kids.
They're horrid.

I learned this at an early age (no offense intended for those with kids). I am amazed at the patience of parents.

a short walk later...

Beautiful!

Tell me which one you like for
free and easy bonus points.

First one.

it got progressively more
cloudy and colder.

I thought this would be an opportunity to share that we reached a nice 88 degrees Fahrenheit today. A very pleasant 88.

Those are people.

wow - really shows the scale.

Still... even with the clouds...
Not too shabby.

Still really beautiful.

1. Next update's a short one so...
Favourite music genre?
(i.e. Rock, Pop, Country, Jazz... )

Classic Rock & 70's/80's heavy metal

2. I make two phone calls before
the day is done.
Who to? (hints were left.)

Sick kiddo & Discovery Center

3. What did we eat for dinner?
Chicken, burgers or steaks.

Steak.

pm being sent shortly.

 

[Kiotzu]

Holy smokes! to the TR!

You've only been gone for almost a year!
How've you been???

Still out on the West Coast?

Yes, it has been nearly a year. School turned into a full time job on top of my full time job.

I have been well, heading to DL in August! Yep still on the west coast.

How have you been!

 

[pkondz]

I was going to post a remark to this, but then I checked the post count and realized I would have pulled a Liesa!

And I'm guessing the post that appeared while I was posting this was your new update.

No. It was that one.

 

[pkondz]

Kinda sad I didn't wake up 20 minutes ago....


... because you know me. Spoiling fun wherever I go.

I really don't have to do anything.
Just let Liesa and Alison go at it.

 

[pkondz]

With a train blocking your way out, there would be much worse places to be stuck- assuming you don't have too many run ins with anymore rogue animals!

And as long as they closed
all the gift shops.

I'll take bears and cougars
over more gift-shop forays.

The Falls are beautiful! I wavered between pictures, but I like the second one better.

I have a sneaking suspicion
that'll be everyone's pic.

At some points, the glaciers look like ocean waves breaking over rocks! Overall, definitely a cool stop.

They do! I never really thought
about it that way...
but you're right!

The vehicles that you rode in were kind of awesome. My two boys would have been happy just riding in one, let alone bothering to get out for the glacier!

No boy born who doesn't
like monster trucks.

2 1/2 football fields closer, you say? Based on the current rate per year . . . Exactly how old *are* you?!?! (Just teasing!)

Only as old as I feel!

My back hurts.


Dang. I'm old.

I think Lake Louise is still pretty decent!! The reflection in the water really caught my eye!!

I really debated on that shot.
I chose to include the rocks
as opposed to just the water surface.

Oh no! Not all the important information!! You are totally going to end up driving back, aren't you?

If I told you yes or no,
what would I have to write
in the next update!

Life is a Highway - part II
(See answer to Curiouser&curiouser!)
The end.

And my guesses:
1. Pop
2. Your dear sick child and the IceFields Discovery center.
3. Burgers. But I might just be picking that because it sounds good to me right now.

Noted.

PM coming your way too!

Got it!

 

[Terra Nova guy]

Drat, I missed an entire update...and the points that went with it...and just when I was inching my way slowly upwards. Oh well, it's been a busy few weeks for me. There's been the one of only two sure things in life (doing my taxes) and the usual Canadian coming out of winter hibernation stuff (changing snow tires, raking lawns, unwrapping shrubs), and a couple other things. If I wasn't so lazy I would tell you more about it, but since I already wrote about it in the DisDads thread, I'll just link to it (I know you haven't had time to join in lately. I get it, life happens...see above and below).

"The Lord of the Dance" https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...of-the-disdads.3358596/page-600#post-57497346
"The Times They are a Changing" https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...of-the-disdads.3358596/page-601#post-57521233

Just for fun, I'll reply to your 4/17 update anyway.

She pointed out that if I wrote that
I'd probably lose readers.

What do you think?

Well, you did lose me for a few weeks. Maybe I just left that out as a reason why...

Hello, Ruby.

She does exist! I was beginning to wonder if she was like Vera on Cheers (if you didn't watch that show, you obviously won't get that)

Okay... I'm really torn between these
next two photos.
They're both of the same spot.
Which do you prefer?
(bonus point opportunity.)

I kind of like the second one with the bridge in it. I'm not sure why. That seems to go against the majority opinion after glancing at the replies.

Every turn took us to a new wonder.
To say that this walk
was a trip highlight
is not an understatement.

I looks incredible, and it's something I had not heard of until now. If I ever get back that way, I'll have to keep it in mind.

A few seconds after I commenced my ascent,
an older couple from Ohio
(Betty and George. Say hi everyone!)
asked me for directions. They told me they had to get back to their
bus in five minutes.

Um.... good luck with that!

Hi Betty and George! How was your winter stuck in Alberta, since you clearly were not getting back to your bus in time.

We paused a moment to say "Hi"
to this guy.... or gal, I suppose.

Not tempted to rummage around and check? I can't blame you. A hoof in the face probably isn't pleasant.

The sign reads:
"Original canoe from the movie classic
'Rosemarie' which starred
Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy."

You know that movie is on the Top Ten list?

Top ten canoe inspired movies of the 1930's...but hey, it's there.

Not the biggest I've seen,
but picturesque.

That's what she said.

(There are board rules so that was the best I could do. I thought @Steppesister would appreciate the attempt anyway )

I mean... who doesn't like pie???
You? Tell me yes or no for easy bonus points.

I do like pie, but it makes me sad. Lemon meringue is my favourite and my dear grandmother used to make it growing up. I now live in a house where the three females I share it with believe lemon is the most vile concoction ever created. My ever expanding waistline has prevented me from buying and entire lemon meringue pie for myself, and sadly very few, if any, places where I live sell it by the slice. Hence, I now never get to have lemon pie

 

[Steppesister]

That's what she said.

(There are board rules so that was the best I could do. I thought @Steppesister would appreciate the attempt anyway )

Extremely noble effort- and successful too.

"Picturesque"....? That may be the first time I've ever heard that one... might catch on; you never know!

 

[Terra Nova guy]

Note to all my parentless readers.
Don't have kids.
They're horrid.

Wish someone had told me that 9 years, 8 months plus 9 months ago....

Well... okay. We're Canadian.
You can never have enough mitts.

Absolutley true. We have a drawer dedicated for them in our front porch. Another for toques. I feel very Canadian now.

Okay... this time I'm positive
I know which photo I like better.

Tell me which one you like for
free and easy bonus points.

You know, I'm not sure about these either. I liked the second one, but then noticed the dudes with the camera on the lower right. There's more of the mountain in the first and I like the sunlight on the trees, so I'm gong to say the first one.

(Oddly enough, not many people
visit glaciers in Florida.
Probably because of Disney.)

Well, they do have Blizzard Beach, so...

"There are no restrooms
on the glacier! Please use
the restrooms before boarding."

So, no writing your name in the snow, I guess? Sad.

Once on the buggy,
we crawled (top speed, 25mph)
along a gravel road,
heading towards the glacier.

Hmm...you'd think $1.3 million would buy a few extra horsepower.

I don't normally like plain water.
But this stuff was amazing!

I've had iceberg water and it really does taste different. They say the iceberg water is 10,000 years old. I suppose the glacier water is similar.

We got back in the car
and headed out.
We drove for about
two hours, and were
a bit disappointed.
Low clouds obscured
the mountains.

The same thing happened to me when I drove from Calgary to Banff in summer 2015, rain and low clouds. It was my first (and maybe only?) time driving there. Luckily, we stopped for lunch in Banff and the sun came out for the drive to Lake Louise.

Eventually we arrived at Lake Louise.
After a quick bathroom break
we walked over and saw
this iconic view.
(well... it'd be iconic
if it had been sunny.)

As I mentioned, I lucked into a sunny day in Lake Louise. However, I did not make it to the lake for that iconic photo. I spent too much time drinking a, ahem, beverage at the top of the ski hill across from the lake. I can show you Lake Louise on a (mostly) sunny day though in one of my pictures. Trust me, it's there. Just look reeeeaaaalllllly far in the background.

Fuuuuudge.

I do not believe that is the word you were looking for...

I'd left it on the TP holder.
In the restroom...
Two hours drive north...
At the Icefields Discovery Centre.

Questions, next round:
1. Next update's a short one so...
Favourite music genre?
(i.e. Rock, Pop, Country, Jazz... )

2. I make two phone calls before
the day is done.
Who to? (hints were left.)

3. What did we eat for dinner?
Chicken, burgers or steaks.

1. Country, but I'm OK with most anything besides hip hop and heavy metal
2. One to check on your sick DD, another to the Icefields Discovery Centre to see if you iPod was still there to make it worth a 2 hour drive backwards.
3. Burgers

PM sent...

 

[pkondz]

Once again your pictures are amazing! You're a photographic

I'm a small smiley wearing a beret?

Thanks for sharing some of nature's beauty

You're welcome!

I really love that just you and Ruby are getting this time together.

It doesn't happen very often!

Forgot to mention that I was happy when you posted you and Ruby holding hands on the trail.

It made me think of a magnet we have on the frig. We bought it on our Disney trip. Minnie is pulling Mickey's hand as they're heading for the castle. We thought it was appropriate since I was the one who kept track of our time and plans. "Just follow me honey" He did and we had fun!

I totally get that!

I will not win this contest but can hope to stay in the middle of the pack.

You can still win, actually.
It'd be tough... but...

I love Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks but when the latest Bruno Mars song comes on, it makes me want to move
At work we had a "rule" so much time on "rock" station and some on a "country" station. I didn't care because I like music. It was a current hits country station, so not any oldies, As co-workers called them, "twangy" ,drink whiskey cause my wife left me and my dog died songs. I don't mind hearing Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan because they can be up beat country/rock. I stand/ walk on my feet 75%of my day so like Luke's song "Shake it for me Girl", it puts a little sway/shake in me and my work.

Okay!
Shake it baby!

1. I'm not sure what genre I'd fall in. I like music that makes me want to sing and dance. Maybe rock or pop/rock.
2. I'd say you being a good dad: 1.call the sick child to see how she is 2. The Discovery Center to see if they found ipod
3. Let's go with a burger

Noted.

PM soon

Standing by...

They was going so good for you guys! Loosing iPod and that info would really be sad! I hope you do get it back!

All will be revealed... or not... who knows!

 

[pkondz]

Awesome photo's.

Thanks Shirley!

I live in fear of losing something or someone when I go on vacation.

Losing "someone"????


There's got to be a story there.

 

[pkondz]

Of the two, I prefer this picture.

Two for two, I believe...

I actually learned something new...never realized there was a different between enquire and inquire. Enquire is for generally asking about something, and inquire is reserved for making a formal investigation.

This TR is nothing
if not edumacational.

I award YOU bonus points

SWEET!!!!

Of course -- they're not really worth much.

oh

1. No easy listening/classical? I guess I'll go pop.
2. kids/glacier place to enquire about ipod
3. burgers

Noted.
And you can pick any genre you like.