Whatever Wednesday - More Helicopter and Wow Banff

Afraid of heights - nah!  I loved the front seat  of the helicopter

More glories of Banff  from above

In May - still snow on the mountains.   Hooray!

Clear skies.  We were beyond lucky

 Yep - glorious. 

Thanks Canada for being so  damn perfect

Finally Friday - Don't Fall In

Listen.

Look

Stay on the path

Look Up


 

Don't Fall in Johnson Canyon

Whatever Wednesday - Athabasca Glacier

 Got to ride in the Arctic Terrain vehicle up  to the Athabasca Glacier.  Very impressive piece of equipment.  Our driver  was a lad from Blackpool,  England.  

Another gorgeous day and while  cool, it  was not bitter cold

Avoid the slush parts.   (oops, Ray did step in a melty spot and  got his shoe, sock, and pants leg wet. Silly boy

The ice chunks were SO clear

I'll pose happily with the Maple Leaf.   Oh Canada!  You filled my heart with  joy

Monday Moments - Lake Maligne

Oh Canada - we were lucky that the ice had just melted from Lake Maligne and we could enjoy a little boat  cruise. 

Old dock
 

glacial colors

Such a view

And a sacred spot for the indigenous folks in the area.  Look, but don't  think about putting a foot on that Spirit Island. 

Very mystical aura. 

Whatever Wednesday - Stay Upright on Skates

Oh Canada - Ice Hockey time.  Here's a new recruit - Ray

Rah for the Canmore Eagles. We enjoyed the  ice hockey experience.   Some  films, stories, history of ice hockey, and more. 

Ray and I are suited up.  You can't see my ankles waver.  It's been  a long,  long time since I  was a little girl in  PA and went ice skating. 

and here  we  are with a fellow traveler, Gwen.  She ended  up being quite good on the ice hitting pucks.  Ray and I clung to our ice "walkers" and shuffled  our feet.  I let go for two seconds to attempt a puck hit.  Happy to report I  did not fall down.  

Just  getting on  all of the gear was tiring.  

Alas, while in Canada, our Dallas Stars  got beat in  playoffs  by  the Edmonton Oilers. 

Then in  the  Stanley  Cup - the Oilers were  beaten by the  Florida  Panthers for  the second time. 

 

Whatever Wednesday - Athabasca Falls

Can you hear the roar?

whoosh

power

majesty

beauty

Thank you Canada!   My eyes  are full of wonder
 

Finally Friday - Enjoy the Views

Early in our Canadian Rockies trip - oh  darn, just a little pit stop.  Cold  water, snowy mountains, greenery.  

A view out the bus  window.  Glad to leave the driving to someone else - thanks Trafalgar Bus Tours

Stretch the legs in front of some fun displays

How many people  could cram into that  cable car?

 Hooray for the Maple  Leaf!

Hope you have  a scenic  weekend

Finally Friday - Lovely Lake Louise

What better place to start our Trafalgar bus tour, than a stop  at Lake Louise. As you can tell, it was  a  lovely day. 

 It was end of May and snow  still topped the  mountains

Beauty along the little walking path

Blue skies and trees posing

Nature's natural watercolors

Enjoy your weekend!

Whatever Wednesday - Whoa Calgary

Whoa Calgary!   Yes, we started our Canada adventure at  the Calgary Tower.  Yes, those are my feet on the observation deck. 

And a sign we don't generally see in TX in  May. Guess it's still possible in Calgary, though we had warm temps  and enjoyed  patio eating without fear.  

This just kicks  off our Canadian Rockies adventures.  Hope you like mountains,  lakes, and glaciers. 
 

Vibrant Vancouver

 On September 3rd, Ray and I flew to Vancouver, Canada to begin our cruise adventure. Vancouver proved vibrant, sunny, and warm. We delighted in walking along the harbor.

 Any city on water is wonderful

 We toured Stanley Park. Here's a Little Mermaid statue

 Totem poles were unique and colorful, celebrating some native heritage

And the runner statue is emblematic to me of a city in motion.

We enjoyed our oh-too-brief time in Vancouver and thank our friends to the north for their hospitality.

Now it's Monday and I'm back to work for a full week slog. I shall be getting back to regular posts and visits. Hope everyone is well. Let's have a great week.

Happy 4th of July/ Oh Canada Day - July 1st

 I am back in the United States and ready to celebrate July 4th on Thursday. But I'm going to start boring you with my Canada pics.  Je me souviens is the motto for Quebec and it means I remember ...as in culture, sacrifice, and history. I think it neatly applies to America too. I remember and shall honor history.

 The Citadelle in Quebec offers 300 years of military history.  It's the largest fortification built by the British in North America with a strategic position overlooking the St.Lawrence river. It is an active military garrison for the Royal 22nd Regiment.

 I was very impressed with their museum tribute to the Canadian peace keeping troops in Afghanistan. I've not seen this in the United States. Kudos to our friends in Canada.

 The weather on Friday and Saturday was rather horrific - crazy wind, some rain, etc. Thus the big changing of the guard ceremony was cancelled. But we were lucky to catch the mini-change. These young men are somber and strict in their formality. Tight formation and ceremony.

So, Happy 4th in the United States and Happy Canada Day back on July 1st. I learned a lot about our friends to the north and definitely thank them for our friendship.  (and the fireworks Monday evening were spectacular)