Day 20, 21 and the Drive Home

On our last day alone with the boys, they were slow to get moving. A visit to the Red park, lunch and then just a lazy afternoon. Cullen and I made the drive to the airport to pickup Mike and Mel. Cullen had his shoes on and was ready to go an hour before the time came to leave, he was so excited to see them. Where Campbell more or less ignored them when they facetimed, Cullen was locked on to the screen and you could see he was close to tears and chatty at the same time.

When it was finally time to leave he asked, "are we going to see Mommy and Daddy at the airport?" In his excitement I think he forgot why we were going. One on one time with Cullen is more fun than I can explain. He's smart and funny, a natural athlete and very tough on himself.

We arrived about 30 minutes later, he was still not sure that they would be there. Mike texted me the section of passenger pickup they would be at. It's about a kilometre long with numbered columns and I saw 1-3 but must have missed 4 where they were standing. Cullen said "I see Mommy, I see Daddy, back up papa, back up" in his high pitched voice. There are 4 one way lanes full of cabs and people doing the same thing I was attempting, backing up was not an option. I pulled over to the curb hoping he was not imagining his long lost parents and that I would not have to try and make another pass. A few minutes later we were on on our way home with one very happy little boy.

On our last day in Calgary Sal and I went for breakfast at Cora's. Not a bad meal but no huevos rancheros which I had been craving. We went back to the house and did some packing. Mike suggested a trip to Costco so we drove over along with Cullen.

As it was last year, our last day in Calgary was the first day of the Stampede. We had to wait for the roads in downtown to open after the parade, we were hunting duck. Barbeque duck that is. Stampede parade is basically a day off for most of the offices downtown so once the roads open things get much easier traffic-wise. We were able to park right across the street from the hunting grounds at Wai's Barbeque. As I paid for parking Sal went in and ordered a pair of ducks. I walked into the most amazing aroma. I was instantly craving duck.

AJ and Jess came for supper one last time. Mike grilled steak, Sal had made a ton of potato and pasta salads, and the kids put on a dance show for the ages. Campbell was the star as he changed his moves to suit the music and went on tirelessly for more than 30 minutes.

We turned in early and were up and on the road at 6am Calgary time. Our first day on the road was uneventful. The miles went by quickly and at noon it was hard to believe I had been driving for 6 hours. Sal slept a good part of the way so I was alone with music and thoughts about the trip, the upcoming hockey season and getting back to reality. We saw 34 degrees in Saskatchewan but it cooled down to 29 in Brandon.

In Regina it took about an hour to get through the construction, our only slowdown of the return trip. They have been working on the bypass since the 90's and the cost is now estimated to be 1.8 billion. I really didn't find driving in on the strip and then cutting around the main part of the city on the existing ring road all that bad.

After showering and a nap we went to Montana's for supper and were asleep by 10:30. Up and on the road by 6 Calgary time again. Brandon to Winnipeg early on a Sunday morning means a deserted Trans Canada. The canola is in full bloom and fields were a brilliant yellow.

The last day's drive is always long especially when you hit Ontario and have to slow down as the separated highway ends. We hit major rain at Shabaqua but the sun was shining by the time we drove up out street.

All in all it was a great 3 weeks. Time with the kids and grandkids, mountains and wildlife can't be beat in my books.

Wai's BBQ House

Outside Wai's

the Campbell collection

the Cullen collection

   

From the Passenger Seat

Despite my best efforts to hint without pushing, Sal likes to take pictures vertically. Here is a selection of pictures from her perspective.

Swinging at the Red Park

Desert @ Cleaver

Cullen's grad

sorry AJ, no peeking

Bubble blowing

Grade 1 math

Icefields Parkway

Looking for that shot

Peyto Lake

Icefields Parkway

Icefields Parkway

Gaucho Brazilian

Coast Hotel flowers 

Bighorns in Kananaskis

Post bath time

Approaching Moraine Lake

Day 19, All Quiet on the Western

The boys slept in so the day started slower than normal. Cullen didn't want to leave the house. Sal took Campbell, who was waiting on the sidewalk with his bike and helmet ready to go, to the Red park.

Minutes later Cullen changed his mind and we walked over. There were a bunch of kids the boys know from their daycare so they were busy. Campbell decided it was time to go while Cullen was still playing. I followed him out of the park on the longer route home, but home was not where he was going.

The green park is about 3 blocks away, around a gentle curve, invisible from the red park but he knew exactly where to go. I doubt he has ever made the walk/ride from red to green but I couldn't fool him when I tried to make the turn towards home. We didn't stay long. I think hunger overrode the desire to swing. He led the way home where he and Cullen shared a big hug on the sidewalk as if they hadn't seen each other in a week.

Campbell napped until almost 5:30 and Cullen played after a short rest. We fired up the sprinkler but Campbell said it was too cold and Cullen wanted to play swing ball, similar to tether ball with small rackets and a tennis ball. He is a very athletic kid and it is fun just to watch him track the ball and smash it.

A quiet evening, facetime with Mike and Mel and all went quiet. We watched a few episodes of Orange is the New Black and turned in.

Day 18, New Park Day

Our first night with the boys was all thumbs up, nobody was up during the night and they slept in to boot. We decided to make a short drive to a couple of the other nearby, but too far for Campbell to ride to, parks. The variety of kids playgrounds here in Calgary is nothing short of amazing. They all share the basic components, swings, slides, and various climbing equipment but they are all just a little different. The first one we went to is one I have passed on bike rides a number of times and the large fire truck always caught my eye.  It is themed around a small town with a bank, a Tom's Donuts, a bank, a grocery store and the feature piece, the fire truck. Built into the theme are the requisite swings, slides and climbing gear.

After the kids had explored every activity we moved on to what was supposed to be a fountain park but it was under construction and not ready. A series of U-turns and we were headed to another park I had noticed as we drove to the first. The boys loved the U-turns and of course Sal told them I liked going in circles.

In New Brighton the Brown park was one of the larger ones we have visited and also had more kids than we normally find. Cullen was certain he had been to this one before. Sal kept the fact that she had packed a picnic lunch a secret. If the boys know we are packing sandwiches they want to eat the second we arrive. They had watched her make lunch and didn't even want to leave the house because they were 'starving' despite the fact that they had just finished breakfast 30 minutes before. We forced them into the car and when they saw the new (to them) park with the fire truck they forgot about eating. They played for nearly 2 hours before they sat at a picnic table in the second park and wolfed down everything. They were the last to leave the park save one little girl who had arrived late. 

Cullen noticed a strange looking creature in the house next to the park. He went over and got a closer look. It was a cat but the strangest looking cat we've ever seen. I should have gotten a closer picture. Some googling later confirmed what the oddball's face lead me to believe, it was a persian. But the thing had tufts of fur from the elbow of each leg down, one at the end of it's tail and more around it's head. More searching revealed that this is actually intentional. The grooming is called a 'lion cut'. Yikes. Cullen did a great impression of the face for AJ and Jess at supper.

We returned to the house where Campbell napped and Cullen watched some tv. AJ and Jess came for pizza and the kids all played around the back yard. The evening was warm but the shade and a breeze in the back yard made it perfect. Earlier in the day it was a nice 20 with sort of hazy sunshine allowing the extra long stay in the park. 

Peyto Lake Story

Winter snows fall and over many years form a hanging glacier, Peyto Glacier.
During the summer, the snow and the glacier partially melt into Peyto Creek.

As the glacier moves over the rock of the mountain it scrapes the rock creating fine sediment known as rock flour.  Melt water heavy with rock flour flows across the silt plain and into Peyto Lake.

Rock flour suspended in the water of the lake reflects sunlight creating the turquoise colour. The turquoise colour attracts millions of people that just have to climb into any wide angle picture of the lake.

Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja)

I remember many things from the summer road trips we used to go on as kids. My memory of Moraine Lake was one of the driving forces that had me standing on the rockpile some 40 years later. Less significant memories are still rattling around in my head.

The Indian Paintbrush, pictured below, is found lining the shoulders of the mountain highways. The bright colour draws my eye, always has. When numerous plants are lined up the edge of the road looks to be lined in red. I remember noticing these plants from the back seat of the family car.

A quick google search provides interesting details. The roots actually invade other nearby green plant roots and steal nutrients. It is the state flower of Wyoming. The colourful part of the plant is not the flower, they are nearly invisible and edible. Also known as prairie fire, desert paintbrush and painted cup. The common name originated from the use of the plant as a paint brush by several native tribes. There are 200 species of the Castilleja growing from Alaska to the Andes.

more info on Wikipedia

Day 17, Alone

Our first day alone with Cullen and Campbell. The boys adapted to not having parents around without a hitch. We went to the green park, they took long naps, played around the house and in the yard, had baths and went to bed all without any fuss. Their short facetime with Mike and Mel went smoothly. It got warm but nowhere near 30. Looks like our drive home will be spent baking and dodging thunderstorms.

Playing around with my best shot of our grizzly resulted in the new header. He doesn't look so small in that pose does he?

Avalanche on Icefields Parkway

Much like the signs warning drivers of wildlife on the road, highways in this area have signage warning that this is avalanche country. In both cases the last place you expect to see a moose is where the sign warns you to be vigilant. With our bighorn sightings that occurred within the warning zone every time and then this scene, I'm beginning to believe.

This was just a few km up the Icefields Parkway. We passed it on the way in and I marked the location. On our return I pulled over and took a few shots. I did some research and found that this was supposed to be a controlled avalanche. Two American snow-shoers were killed in another avalanche close to this spot below Mount Hector.

Here is the CBC article I found date May 05, 2017:

More than 24 hours after an attempt to trigger a controlled avalanche brought down more snow than intended and buried part of the Icefields Parkway near Lake Louise, there's still no sign of when the section of road will be re-opened.

"We have road crews in there with heavy road machinery," Parks Canada spokesperson Tania Peters told CBC News Friday.

"We're working to clear out that debris. There is a large volume of it. It's going to take them some time," Peters explained.

The Icefields Parkway, which is a section of Highway 93 North, is blocked between Lake Louise and the Saskatchewan River Crossing. The snow debris is 15 metres deep and covers 100 metres of road, Peters said.

Crews triggered the initial avalanche as part of their seasonal risk reduction efforts, but it brought down more snow than intended.

"Routine avalanche control work on the Icefields Parkway yesterday

[Thursday] evening produced a larger result than expected from Mt. Hector," according to a statement on the Banff National Park Facebook page.

Park officials immediately closed Highway 93 north between the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 11 after the avalanche was triggered.

At the time, officials expected the route to be closed for at least 24 hours.

Avalanche technicians and road crews remained on-scene Thursday night. 

Pictures posted with the article 

I could hear melt water rushing about 100 feet below the road. Notice the guard rail that was destroyed for about 125 feet. The 8 x 8 posts were snapped clean at the ground as were trees pictured.  Another article reported that last winter was the worst avalanche cycle in more than 25 years.

Pictures I took of the scene.

twisted guard rail

looking up the path of the avalanche

looking down the steep hill below the highway