2014 Blog 249: Four Wheels at Elk Island

No. We did not see an elk in the Elk Island at all.  But it was a breezy nice biking excursion we made.   There was apparently a run and boat race going on. It was beautiful to watch it on the side.

I think there is trouble with my bike though as it was flat again.  Gladly, this time I brought those tiny air shells, so I was able to pump in air right there when we needed it.  The wind was great. The water looked serene.  The blue & gray dragonflies looked so magical. They were flying as if giving us the lead towards our last stop… which was by the 2 red big chairs. It is the one in the photo. It was a lovely surprise.

Today’s ride was my 500th kilometer ride this summer. Oooohlalala.

Thank you for going with me, my dear Thorr.
Can we go for another good bike ride before winter finally comes?

 

2014 Blog 215: Day 9 of 9 – Vulcan

Today was the last leg of our road trip. We still had about 500 km to drive to get home. In this leg, we made stop to the little town of Vulcan. This town interests visitors due to its trekky theme. The town had a gigantic icon of the spaceship enterprise replica. There is a Spock’s Bar. There is an interesting Museum that has authentic items from the Star Trek series. There is a tourism center where you can find more exhibits and souvenirs. At the tourism center there is also a studio where you can take photo shoot with star trek theme background. I think that all would look better in the evening because of the lights effect!

The town has a very interesting theme and has good concept. However I also think that it still need some good funding to improve its presentations.

We planned to stop just for an hour but we ended up lingering around for 2 hours. It was a worthy stop after all. Long live and prosper!

Are you kinda trekky?

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2014 Blog 214: Day 8 of 9 – Finding the Petroglyphs

We are back to side of the Canadian border. Today we deviated 44 km off the track to explore the “Writing on the Stone” Park. It was a good stop. We meandered through the hoodoos. We scrambled up, down, and between the different rock formations. I think it would have been prettier if it was already towards the late afternoon. Though it was too hot when we were there (being at 2ish pm), we managed to hike portions of the trails.

In this park are rock carvings which was done by the First Nations. It was touching to see their story carved on stones. We ventured in finding the Trail of the Battle Scene. It has carvings about the “Retreat Up the Hill” Battle that has happened in the Milk River sometime in 1866. The location of the carvings is a fantastic view. The carvings itself is epic to find.

 

 

 

 Do you know the story of the battle?

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2014 Blog 207: Day 1 of 9 – Waterton

We are now at 611.9 km. The weather was perfect today. We managed to have time to stroll in the town, wander by the marina, go up the Hill which locates the Prince if Wales Hotel , the Cameron Falls, and Cameron Lake. The last time I was at the hill of Prince of Wales, it was so windy and beautiful. Today, it was so peaceful and as beautiful as I remember it. The Waterton Lakes is where the boundary between Canada and US becomes seamlessly invisible. It is such a pretty place.

Is there a boundary?

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2014 Blog 204: Bundle Up in Rundle

In our recent stay at Canmore, we opted staying at Rundle Mountain Lodge.  It was the cheapest available that we can get at that time.  I think it was an okay place to stay.  Although it is old here and there, it is generally alright if you are just looking for a place to stash overnight.  If you are doing outdoors all day, dining out as well, coming home late, then this lodge is good enough.  It has  comfy bed, electric fan for the summer days, small coffee corner, clean shower.    Prices is pretty decent plus you can get an AMA/CAA discount. It has an outdoor jacuzzi which is not too bad.  Just remember though, it is not a resort.  I would give it a score of 3 out of 5.

You looking for a place to stash in Canmore?

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2014 Blog 201: Feeling the Hike

I still feel so great doing the hike I did yesterday.  It was probably the hardest one so far that I have done.  It’s not the elevation that has  beaten me up.  It was hard because of the scrambling we did through the rocks combined with the wind that was against us.   I said before that if it was going to be windy, then we won’t do it.  But that plan did not work out.   Most hikers just lingered by the ridge but not all decided to go to the highest point because of the wind.   But those who went have inspired us.     I think it would have been easier scrambling if the wind was calmer.   I read that the average time to ascend was at average of 2.5 to 3.5 hrs.  So I thought our 3 hrs of ascend which included the dozen stops I made, was not too bad after all.   Anyhow, I feel so happy that we did it.   I was mostly glad that Thorr was with me with all these stupid wonderful things I’d like to check on my bucket list.

How about doing another one? 

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2014 Blog 194: Camp: Stuff You Take Home

The weather was perfect the past 3 days.  Camping was so delightful.  The heat was beating us, but not quite. It was a playful weekend. So Imagine the dirty shirts and dirty shoes.  Imagine the dirty beddings that I have to clean.  Imagine the mosquito bites.  These are the things we took home today.

But also.. Imagine the sound of the birds, the squirrel, the water, the wind, and the branches.    Imagine the sound of the kids playing, and people laughing.  Imagine the sounds of wood burning, and fathers telling stories.  These are the things we also took home today.  Wonderful memories.

What stuff did you bring after camping?

 

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2014 Blog 193: Camp: Getting Dirty

Of course it is dirty to camp in tents.  If you try to be clean and tidy, you might feel stressed out.  Just remember, to always wash hands before eating.  It is handy to have that water jug at one corner where people can wash anytime.  After eating, you might want to already clean pots and pans so that they are ready the next time you want to cook anytime after.  It is refreshing if you at least change shirts 2 times during the day.  It will make you feel not so dirty.  I think that it makes sense to shower in the evening (rather than in the morning).   I’d like showering (at least the kids) before it gets dark.    But there is still a potential tendency to get dirty again, because the evening still involves sunset watching, bonfire, and roasting marshmallows.   It is alright to get dirty.  It is camping.  Come on, just wash the feet and the arms and the face again before sleeping.

 

Are you out and dirty? 

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2014 Blog 190: The Kind of Rain

Today was another hot day, with humidex it felt like around 30°C plus.   You would think that since I was born and has lived almost half of my life in a country with an average temperature that could rise to 40°C plus, I would endure today’s heatwave.  Nah.  It was very hot. I felt like I was gonna die  (I am over-reacting, but it felt that way).  I managed to get through with constantly drinking water and an electric fan (indeed I got no aircon). I think I have lived too long now in Canada, that I don’t think I will be able to get through the summer days in the Pacific.   Anyway, after dinner I was out doing errands,  and the light rain just felt so wonderful.  It is cooling the evening down, nicely.  The smell of the wet ground reminds me as a child, on a summer afternoon, sitting by the window at my grandma’s house in Batangas, waiting as the rain ends, anticipating the time that I could go out and play again.

 

Don’t you love the rain after a really hot day?

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2014 Blog 180: A Living Photograph

Have you been at Edith Cavell in Jasper (Alberta). It is a viewpoint for a spectacular close up of the glaciers at Mt Cavell. We have been there a few times before, bringing in friends to show off the beauty of the Canadian Rockies. Edith Cavell is one of our fave places. It already offers a beautiful view right from the parking lot. It only involves about 2 k easy hike which is so pretty itself. Really. I find it such a pretty hike. The hike leads to a small lake of ice bergs. A little further hike is an ice cave. Sadly in 2012, in one early spring morning, there was a huge avalanche that reached past the parking lot. It is lucky no one was in the area when this happened. The area was closed for 2 summers. This morning we just made time to see it. Sadly, half of the original trail has been closed. The ice caves are no longer visible. But you know what? It is still beautiful and worth visiting.

As I said the short hike is an easy pretty hike. It is perfect for parents who want to have a little adventure with the children. It is perfect for anyone who just want to take it in, embrace the rockies. I find the scenery so perfect that whenever I am there, I feel that I am inside a living photograph. Really pretty.

Have you been there too?

 

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