Today, we had found out was thanksgiving in America, Canada celebrates on a different day earlier in the year. We realised that none of us really knew what thanksgiving was. I have just googled it and apparently Thanksgiving Day is ... a harvest festival. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. As we checked out of the hotel we walked passed the kitchen. A large sign read "Hunters if you leave your game in the fridge please put your name on it." For some reason in my head I imagine an old lady going to put something in the fridge and craping herself because as she opens it it is overflowing with a huge stag carcus. We drove off south passing through a place called Wolf Creek. ... read more

Before heading off on a roadtrip, Andre had to go into town and sate his unquenchable thirst for shopping. Every time he plays golf he thinks he should buy a new set of clubs rather than hiring. He'd have a garage full if he was allowed. I think he may have been born with one too many x chromosomes. Once Andre had bought a $500 jacket and we had gone for a tour of Calgary downtown it was time to get ready and head south. Andre and I headed to the airport and hired a Ford Escape 4wd. It was bright and shiny red like a fire engine. It had actually only done 19kms so was essentially brand new. Andre was excited, it was like a new toy. We picked up the girls and did a ... read more

North Americans go nuts for Halloween, weeks beforehand people deck out their yards with all sorts of weird and wacky paraphernalia. I particularly liked one house's decoration which had skeletons in coffins, graves with bones coming out, and ghosts dangling from the windows. They must have spent hundreds of dollars. We were not as excessive, but did buy some pumpkins. I'd never hollowed out a pumpkin before, it was quite novel really. You start by cutting a hole big enough to fit your hand, making sure you keep the piece cut out. Then you scrape and scoop all the goopy insides out. Once that's done you can get on to drawing the face and then carving it. Mine was terrifying, I almost cried just looking at it, Nicola and Tina's were a bit more "cute" and ... read more

Hands up if you know who Chris Cornell is? For all of you with your hands down he's the lead singer of the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave two of the biggest rock bands in the 90s and 00s. He also has a solo career with his biggest hit "You Know My Name" being a James Bond opening theme. I'm not just telling you this for shits and giggles, we went and saw him playing at Calgary University. Nic, Tina, Chad and I rocked up early had a feed and a few drinks before watching support act "Mobile". They are a Canadian band with a few songs that have made it big on the charts. I reckon they sound a little like U2 so expect big things. Chris Cornell was brilliant. He performed with a backing band ... read more

On the way back to Calgary from Fairmont Springs we passed the majestic Castle Mountain and were lucky enough to spot an eagles nest atop a bridge nearby. Usually eagles will have one offspring, sometimes two. This nest had three and the mother in it at once. We watched the squawking children being feed by the mother who was swooping down into the river below to catch fish. It was hard to see the three babies at once, but just before we left I managed to snap a photo with all three. We also made a stop at Kootenay national park. It is a beautiful area with picturesque waterfalls and an array of wildlife. We eyed lots of caterpillars and butterflies. Nic wasn't impressed. She isn't a fan of moths or butterflies, so I have to ... read more