Blogs from Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada, North America - page 17

We are very lucky to be staying in the Fairmont Banff Springs a castle of a hotel built in the middle of the Banff National Park. I will try to take some photos from around the hotel in a separate blog. Banff itself is very Swiss looking and is buzzing with tourists, heaps of AUSTRALIANS in fact the only other Kiwi couple in our group is the photo in my previous blog of Brenda and Neil from Hamilton. We went on a Sightseeing tour of Banff and the surrounding area, later joinging our optional activity the Gondola Ride up Sulphur Mountain which is 2,281m above sea level. There was an great view of the Canadian Rodky Mountains. There had been a 3ft snow fall only the 1 week previously so there was a lot of snow ... read more

From Calgary, we headed into the Rockies. Our first stop was Banff. After a little exploring of the town, we drove over to the Banff Springs Hotel. Eddy's company had designed and manufactured many of their lighting fixtures, so we sort of felt as if we owned the place. And what a place! And what a view! Afterwards we walked up to the Rimrock Resort Hotel and from there, took a cablecar to an observation point far, far above the valley floor. Again, what a view! We walked, (more like scrambled), down from the mountain top, catching sight of an elk on the way down. That night, we camped out, for the first time on the trip. It was at a small camground, which was part of the national park. The next day, we explored Johnston's ... read more

I can't believe we can finally use a geographical description that isn't Lake Louise!!! The level of excitement I'm feeling about that seems a little sad doesn't it?? Anyway, the reason we are able to use a description other than Lake Louise is because we are now mobile! Yes, that's right, we've taken the plunge and bought a used car. Not sure whether the plunge component relates to purchasing a car, or having to deal with used car salesmen. My guess is the salesmen, particularly as the one we ended up buying from was missing more than one tooth, and had the appropriate grin to match. Everyone knows buying a car can be difficult, slightly scary, time consuming.... Our purchase was all of those things, and more. Firstly, we had to get to Calgary to buy ... read more

It was very cold, even in September Travelled from Kansas to Washington DC then flew to Calgary. When I left Kansas, it was 90 degrees and then when I got to Canada it was right at 32 degrees F. I brought fleece socks and hats and gloves and even went and bought sweaters at the salvation army. I layered it on to go to work, only to find the native workers in shorts and t-shirts. They had a fit over my "southern" accent and my layered fleece. What can be said, it was cold. Not to mention my accent is not southern, but midwestern, which they informed me that the midwest IS southern to them. I suppose it is, but by this point, I was feeling a little out of place. Now, the trip to the ... read more

Well, we are now back in the lower 48 after a week or so of travel. Sam, Erin, Shannon, and I left Seward, AK on the 21st of September headed for Chena Hot Springs just north of Fairbanks. Two other Luckville compound friends, Jason and Matty left a day earlier. Twelve hours later we arrived at the hot springs in blow freezing temperatures and under a bright green tornado of the Aurora Borealis. The Northern Lights shimmered green and white all night long, dancing and at least helping four tired freezing travelers not be bitter while setting up tents with frozen tent poles. We set up tents and eased into the hot springs where we met up with Jason and Matty. The warm water instantly cured us of our long drive and made our night of ... read more