Feeling Hot Hot Hot! The Rain Curse is Broken! Two Weeks of Fun in the Sun! COMPLETE

[dilligaf212]

I am moving along here almost caught up .. I love your pictures of the castle the side views they are amazing they could be on a post card

 

[Mysteria]

Hi Myst! Glad to see you back! I hope this means that things are going well and Den's recovery is going smoothly.

Thanks. He's got a long way to go but he'll get there.

All caught now and can't wait to read more.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I am moving along here almost caught up .. I love your pictures of the castle the side views they are amazing they could be on a post card

Hogwarts was so well done (aside from the unfinished ride arena).

Thanks. He's got a long way to go but he'll get there.

All caught now and can't wait to read more.

Will update tomorrow. Tonight I am supposed to be cramming for my Maternity and Child Health midterm that is at 8:30am tomorrow but instead I am here on the dis.

 

[dilligaf212]

ok I am finally caught up ..Did you guys really see yourself in the memories on the castle?? We were to far away to really see when we went.. I love the Wolf family videos I was actually asking someone one here about them the other day I couldn't remember their name ..

The pictures of the lake were amazing and that Hotel looked so cool..Your brothers crack me up.. They are always up to something

I would like to go to Universal someday but I don't think it will be any time soon. The Harry Potter would be pretty neat to see but I haven't heard anything great about it besides everyone raving about the butterbeer. Also not being a huge HP fan I can't see putting yself through all the crowds and taking a day away from Disney to go see it..

looking forward to reading more and hoping I don't get so far behind

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

ok I am finally caught up ..Did you guys really see yourself in the memories on the castle?? We were to far away to really see when we went.. I love the Wolf family videos I was actually asking someone one here about them the other day I couldn't remember their name ..

No, that is just Alek and Erich being goofs, would have been cool though if we had!

I would like to go to Universal someday but I don't think it will be any time soon. The Harry Potter would be pretty neat to see but I haven't heard anything great about it besides everyone raving about the butterbeer. Also not being a huge HP fan I can't see putting yself through all the crowds and taking a day away from Disney to go see it..

looking forward to reading more and hoping I don't get so far behind

My advise is to not go to Universal unless you have an interest in seeing the whole park. The Wizarding World is cool and the the theming there was awesome but not worth the price of a ticket, in my opinion, if that is the only part of the park you are going to visit.

 

[Busymom85]

Great trip report. Epcot is lovely that time of year. I'll have to go then sometime.
Thanks for posting.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Great trip report. Epcot is lovely that time of year. I'll have to go then sometime.
Thanks for posting.

Epcot is pretty all year round but the Flower and Garden festival makes it absolutely beautiful. I recommend visiting in May, you get to see Epcot dressed up for the festival and the crowds are usually fairly light.

 

[PirateKate]

All caught up again!! WWOHP looks really cool. I'd love to go someday, but not until my boys are old enough to appreciate roller coasters. I thought both Butterbeers looked good. Getting both kinds was a great idea.

 

[CandleontheWater]

Caught up again!

That hike looks like something else! I don't think I'd be up for it either, I'm kinda a wuss when it comes to heights. The sentinel rock formations look really neat thought!

those are some mean crowds at Harryland! I would like to try the butterbeer one day also, it sounds sooo yummy!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

All caught up again!! WWOHP looks really cool. I'd love to go someday, but not until my boys are old enough to appreciate roller coasters. I thought both Butterbeers looked good. Getting both kinds was a great idea.

Waiting for the boys to be older is a good idea, there is not a whole lot at Universal for really little kids.

Caught up again!

That hike looks like something else! I don't think I'd be up for it either, I'm kinda a wuss when it comes to heights. The sentinel rock formations look really neat thought!

those are some mean crowds at Harryland! I would like to try the butterbeer one day also, it sounds sooo yummy!

Yeah, heights are not my forte either. The hike up Sentinel Pass as you could see was fairly steep and there weren't any trees to "break my fall" should I slip and fall.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

The Crazy Stepmother Chronicles: August 2011

Day Nine: Banff National Park: Valley of the Ten Peaks Hike

After our little lunch break we turned right and made our way down the Eiffel Lake trail. The nice thing about this part of the hike is that it was pretty much flat, no strenuous climbing.

This trail offered great views of the Ten Peaks. The bad part of the trail is that one side of it was a steep slope and Marcus, still acting like a naughty dog, kept trying to go after any animal he smelt or saw and often that meant trying to yank whoever had the leash down the steep slope.

We had to break again because Maria had to make an emergency trip into the woods.

Eiffel Lake!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Eiffel Lake was so pretty! I just loved the sapphire blue colour. The colour kept changing as clouds passed over it and then the sun would hit it again and it would start sparkling.

I did not like crossing this part of the path, very scrambly.

We couldn't actually get down to the lake, so once we reached a good spot to break we took a seat and relaxed. Dad and Maria went a little further up the trail while we stayed behind with Marcus, they were only gone for 15 minutes or so, they wanted to see what the rest of the trail looked like as they were thinking off hiking the rest of the path in the future. We were visited by one of the cute little ground squirrels.

A few of Dad's pictures from that part of the hike.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Once Dad and Maria got back from their exploring we started to make our way back.

Along the way we saw TONS of marmots, they were all over the rocky part of the trail and they were really loud chattering to each other. I didn't get any pictures but Dad did.

Soon Moraine Lake was back in view.

After a painful hike downhill we were finally back at the start of the trail.

Here are Dad's pictures from the last part of the hike.

This is a crazy mushroom we found on the side of the trail, doesn't it look like a snake?

It was nearly 6pm by the time we finished the hike. Dad suggested visiting the gift shop. This was amazing to me as the Dad I grew up with hated gift shops! Before doing anything else though I wanted to get my boots off as my toes were once again screaming in pain. I hobbled over to the car and slipped my flip flops on. I then browsed the gift shop where I bought nothing. Maria pouted because Dad refused to buy some ridiculously overpriced knick knack. I pulled Dad away and asked him to take my picture down by the lake while the others went to wait at the car.

This is part of the Moraine Lake Lodge, the rooms look really nice! It is very small but very nice.

I saw this guy next to the lake. It reminded me of the Crasher squirrel in Banff from a few years ago. He became really famous and people inserted him into all sorts of photos. Here is the original.

After getting those last few photos at the lake I made my way back to the car. It was our last night in Banff and while I enjoyed the trip I was glad it would be my last night sleeping on the ground! I stayed at the campsite while the others went to another one of the camp talks, another one about bears, A Year In The Life Of A Grizzly.

Once again I slept throughout the night with a little help from Advil Cold and Sinus.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

the squirrel is the best

once again terrible pictures.

 

[KatMark]

Lessa, yet more stunning pictures of a beautiful area. Thank you so much for sharing.

That squirrel was absolutely adorable; and if I had seen that mushroom, I would probably have screamed thinking for sure it was a snake.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

the squirrel is the best

once again terrible pictures.

I thought the squirrel was pretty awesome as well.

Lessa, yet more stunning pictures of a beautiful area. Thank you so much for sharing.

That squirrel was absolutely adorable; and if I had seen that mushroom, I would probably have screamed thinking for sure it was a snake.

I think Marcus whimpered when he first saw it. Thank goodness it was a mushroom and not a snake!

 

[ohboyx3]

Loving your report. Your brothers crack me up. I guess that's what I have to look forward to with my three boys!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Loving your report. Your brothers crack me up. I guess that's what I have to look forward to with my three boys!

Perhaps if you are lucky! Or unlucky, depends on how you look at it.

 

[englishrose47]

Loved all the scenery Lessa !!! I am back and trying to catch up on the Dis and work !!!I am soo ready for a chance to sleep in this weekend !!! Say Hi to Beth !!!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Loved all the scenery Lessa !!! I am back and trying to catch up on the Dis and work !!!I am soo ready for a chance to sleep in this weekend !!! Say Hi to Beth !!!!

Welcome back Rosie!