Blogs from Canmore, Alberta, Canada, North America

After a lovely dinner, a good sleep and a delicious breakfast, we said cheerio and a massive thank you to Marg and Warren, loaded up Megan and headed south along the road the road back towards Calgary. There was a very faint smell of smoke, in the air, with a slight haze on the distant horizon. Along the road there are a few RV (caravan & camper van) ‘shops’ – one was called RV There Yet– very clever! As we reached the north of Calgary we turned right onto the Trans Canada highway, and soon had the view of the eastern Rockies visible in the distance, shadowy silhouettes behind the grey of the smoke. As we got nearer they mountains became clearer, their craggy peaks towering over the road, some with dots of snow still apparent. ... read more

Today we head three hours west from Hanna to the town of Canmore in the Rocky Mountains, not too far from Banff. We‘re sad to be leaving our wonderful hosts; they’ve plied us with endless food, drink and great company, and turned their home into a COVID hospital to accommodate us without a second’s hesitation. We both feel a lot more comfortable about Emma being so far away from home with this great family keeping a close eye on our baby girl. We’re also sad to be leaving their insanely goofy canine Neo. When I went outside this morning he went crazy as usual, howling with joy, and jumping and slobbering all over me. Apparently LeeAnne has this to look forward to every day when she comes home from work. Emma tells us she’s never been ... read more

June 8 Benchland Trail, Canmore Warmth bathed us from our morning start to our afternoon departure. While the best of Skrastins Club hikers tackled the steepness of Lady MacDonald, my group of less ambitious walkers strolled along the lower Benchland Trail. Pine trees still sported bright new tips. Aspen leaves twinkled in the pale sunshine. Dandelions have colonized the trail edges, interrupted by white flashes of a few tiny flowers. Columbines stretched their bowed heads above the leafy carpets. June 15 Sundance Canyon, Banff With the threat of rain, yet the sight of bright blue sky between puffy white clouds, I set off fully protected by rain pants, waterproof jacket, and wide brimmed hat. To promote better access for lots of people, the path was paved for quite some distance. The Bow River marshland startled us ... read more

Since spring came early to southern Alberta (and other places), I also started hiking early this year. This day some of us in the Skrastin's Outdoor Club walked in the beautiful Bow Valley, which was adorned with fresh green leaves. Brushing against the bushes released the fragrance of dry green willows. Actually, we saw more dogwood than willow. Peeking up between new grass shoots were tiny yellow, white and purple blooms. Crocuses tracked the sun like solar collectors and dotted the fields of last year's dried grasses. Teen-aged Douglas Fir trees sported bright red tips of new growth, and some were still covered with exploded cones. The light breeze kept us feeling spring's coolness under the mildly sunny sky.... read more

It felt like a dream! I never knew that something so spectacular was possible. I have seen the Scottish Highlands, the Giant's Causeway, The Cliffs of Mohar and some of the historical wonders of Europe but this place seemed to be something more. It was more than what I imagined it would be when I got on the bus after Teacher's Convention and went to Canmore, part of the Canadian Rockies that I had been so desperate to see and one of my major reasons for wanting to do the exchange. It seemed at one stage it was never meant to be as the bus was delayed by an hour, in which during that time I witnessed a girl go off her nut at security of a confusion of the ticket where she concluded by ripping ... read more