The Final Drive

Tomorrow will be an early start to the day as we make the long drive home.  It is funny how at the beginning of the trip we talked about five and half weeks being so long, but now that it is over it seems to have gone by too quickly.  As I sit here late at night blogging, I am sad at the fact that our trip is coming to an end.  Some of the things that I am grateful for and have enjoyed watching are:

1. watching how much the kids have bonded with one another and played with each other
2. enjoying new and exciting experiences together, free of distractions
3. hearing the kids say that they are going to miss Grammy and Papa when we get home
4. being the only ones here for one another
5. watching the kids snuggle up to Grammy and Papa, seeing Emma jump on Papa’s knees and snuggle in
6. seeing the kids snuggling up with one another on the couch
7. watching their confidence grow in different areas
8. sharing stories of our days’ adventures back at the trailer
9. pushing the kids outside their comfort zones
10. watching Josh and Jamie take care of their little sister and teaching her new tricks and random things
11. all of the holding hands, hugs, kisses, and uppies!

Our life on the road for the past five and a half weeks.

Our comfy home away from home.

Over 6500 kilometers later

Living in a 500 square foot trailer

Five and half weeks on the road

A nine and a half hour drive home

Spending every minute together . . . 

Priceless!!

We are finally home!!!

Last Full Day of Our Holidays

Well, we got off to an early start today once again as we had tickets to do the lake cruise and the gondola ride in Banff.  Michelle thought that the lake cruise was at a lake around Lake Louise, so we prepared ourselves for an hour drive making sure that we had all of the necessary road trip stuff.  As we were driving to Lake Louise, Michelle spotted a sign to Lake Minnewanka 15 minutes into our drive, so we quickly pulled over at the next turn off and headed for an information desk.  Yes, I get it that the early bird gets the worm, but when the information desk is still not open because it is too early . . . perhaps I should still be asleep.  Anyways, when we finally confirmed what Michelle had thought, we headed back to Lake Minnewanka . . . we were lucky because it saved us from an hour and forty-five minute drive there and back. 

As a side note . . . I say lucky because Michelle did not have her head down buried in her latest challenge of Candy Crush!  Yes, Candy Crush!  She is addicted!  You know I envisioned, us chatting across Canada planning our future, reconnecting as a couple, sharing our deepest secrets, solving the world’s problems, discussing our pedagogical beliefs around education . . . but no, this has not been the case as most of our talk time has revolved around when she no longer has any lives to continue playing.  I never thought I would hear these words come out of Michelle’s mouth, “hold on kids, I am on a timed challenge”.  It has been fun listening to her get frustrated and say, “Candy Crush!!” when she passes a level in her celebratory sing-song voice.

Anyways back to our lake cruise.  It was interesting hearing the different stories from our tour guide Ben, who shared some of the historical aspects of the area and about the animals that inhabit the surrounding forests.  The kids enjoyed hearing about the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear and what to do when confronted by one.   They also liked hearing about the time in which a cougar was photographed by a couple of local guides attacking a mountain sheep.  

It was a nice change as we got to see Banff from a different perspective.

After the cruise, we decided to hang out by the lake relaxing and enjoying the view.

Yes, that is Emma way out there.  She did a great job maneuvering the kayak in the lake.

Always the builder finding ways to make it work . . . despite what I say.

Josh the builder, Jamie the boater and Emma the baker.

How can we not love a day at the lake like this?

The last thing on our list of things to do in Banff was to go up the gondola on Suphur Mountain.  I must admit that we, as a family, were pretty much done doing things.  When you got to the top of the gondola, you could climb up a bunch of staircases to get to a peak to look over Banff and the surrounding area . . . well, lets just say that we took a quick walk around the patio and headed back down the gondola.  Michelle and I both agreed that if we did this at the beginning of our trip we would of climbed up there for sure.  In the gondola, the kids would wave at every one that went by and either cheer when people waved back or say, “bush league“ to everyone that did not.  As you could imagine, we heard “bush league” almost every five seconds going up and down the gondola.  Thanks Captain Canada!  Another great saying they learned from you.

Our last dinner together, Skip and Ron joined us at the trailer park where magic tricks were performed by the boys and a bike show was put on by Emma.  Josh learned a couple of new tricks from Ron and showed him a couple of new ones that he had been practicing to show him.  Jamie performed the Magic Spell trick without a hitch.  Emma’s bike show had us in stitches as she commentated the whole way.  “My first trick, wait”, My second trick, wait”, “My thirsh trick” (third) . . . basically it was the same trick either sitting down or standing up doing a wheelie.  Every time she performed a trick she was smiling from ear to ear.  It was a fun night talking, performing and of course roasting marshmallows for s’mores by the campfire. 

Not too sure what they were talking about, but I love this series of pictures.

Canmore

Michelle and I both agree that Canmore feels like a smaller scale Whistler.  The views are amazing from our trailer as we overlook the Rocky Mountains.  

Exploring near the trailer.

Our view from the trailer.

Jamie and Emma just had to try out this bicycle repair stand.

Michelle thought she made a mistake because the drive from Jasper was only about an hour, whereas the drive from Canmore was two and a half hours to the Columbia Ice Fields.  Well if it was a mistake, it was a great mistake because it was the most scenic drive that I have ever been on . . . even Michelle was inspired to take some photos while we drove.  When we got to the Discovery Center, we headed over to the buses that would take us to the Athabasca Glacier.  

The kids loved the monster bus and our guide’s tacky jokes.  The boys enjoyed drinking from the melting glacier as it “tasted better than well water” according to Josh.  Emma simply liked playing with the natural ice cubes that she found on the ground. 

Next on our agenda was the Sky Walk, which is a clear glass bottom that overhangs the valley below at a height of 325 meters.  

I was a little surprised by the kids’ reaction when we finally got onto the bridge as they very cautiously stepped out onto the glass.  Jamie was shuffling his feet slowly behind us and felt comfort when I held his hand.  The view from above was amazing as everything below looked tiny.  Josh wanted to get off of the bridge after awhile, in which I don’t blame him. 

While we were on the bridge, I asked Josh to take a photo of Michelle and I when a nice man said that he would take a family photo of us.  Great!  As the man lined up the photo I knew we were in trouble because he said to me, "I can't see you, I can only see me in the camera".  So I took back my phone and made sure that he did not take a selfie of himself.  The man snapped the photo and handed me my phone and said, "if you don't like it I can take another one for you".  When I viewed the photo I said to him, "no this one is great, thank you".  Here is his photo.

Thanks Josh for retaking the photo for us.

A beautiful place to enjoy as a family on a hot summer day. 

On our way home, we made a couple of stops to dip our feet into the river and to skip some rocks.  A great day once again on our summer road trip. 

One of my favourite parts of summer is being able to slow down and just hang out.

Marda Gras

Today we headed to the Marda Gras Street Festival in Calgary, where there were different retail booths, food trucks, music, and lots of games to play for some free prizes.  We spent about four hours going from booth to booth browsing their stuff and trying to win some free prizes.  The kids walked away with sunglasses, pens, Frisbees, bead necklaces, tattoos, candies, bracelets, and hats. 

Emma loved petting the cute puppies.

Good luck Josh!

The boys won a couple of hats hitting the top shelf.  A few shots flew over the net and hit the building behind the goal.

The coolest thing that we got to do was “Share a Coke”, which was a promotion that started in Australia.  In line, we were given a small can of Coke to drink which helped us cool down from the heat of the day.  When we got to the front of the line we typed our names into the screen on the side of the truck and out popped a personalized can of Coke.

Calgary Zoo

We weren’t too sure whether or not we would go to the Calgary Zoo, since we already went to the Saskatoon one earlier in our trip.  We were so glad that we did as we were kept busy for hours watching the different animals roam about.  The day was perfect as the temperature in the previous few days had been scorching hot, but on this day it was relatively cool out so the animals were out and about for us to see.  The penguin exhibit was one of our favourites as you were only separated by about a four inch block of glass that was about eye level.  The kids got a kick out of watching one of the penguins belly flop into the water and getting them all wet.  Josh even got some of the water in his mouth as he cheered when it happened.  Yummy! 

Some of the other highlights were the tigers because we were able to see them up close.  At the time there was a zoo staff member checking the main enclosure, so the tigers were in a smaller area pacing back and forth.  The tigers were about five feet from us at their closest. 

Emma also liked howling at the wolves trying to speak wolf. 

Hooowwwwlllllll!!!

We also got a chance to see the red panda as well more clearly this time, since at the last zoo it was hiding in a tree.  This one happened to be taking a nap on top of the roof.  I am not sure why my kids are drawn to the red panda, but they are. 

Meanwhile, Michelle was on a feather search like no other.  Last year it was rocks, this year it is feathers.  I know she loves teaching and is crazy about planning, but risking her kids’ lives and the threat of getting thrown out of the zoo was a bit much.  At one point, Jamie is leaning over into the flamingo enclosure teetering on the brink of disaster trying to reach a feather with his fingertips.  I being the good parent had to walk away and pretend I didn’t know them.  As I am walking along in another part of the zoo, there is Michelle encouraging Josh and Jamie to squeeze their heads through the fence, risking getting them stuck, for a golden eagles’ feather.  The kids managed to find a few other feathers to add to Michelle’s collection without getting caught or eaten.  I can’t wait for next years great idea!!  Carnivorous teeth perhaps?

When we got back from the zoo we had dinner and Michelle told them that they could go swimming in the pool.  Okay now, lets set the stage here.  The temperature had dropped significantly to the point where I had put on my hoodie and track pants for the first time in weeks.  A storm was approaching as the skies continued to darken minute by minute and the gusts of winds picked up to the point that I may have had to anchor Emma down, lightning was imminent (so lets put our kids into water) . . . and where was Michelle who had this great idea you ask?  Well, it is safe to say she was not heading down to the outdoor pool with us . . . she decided that this would be a good time to do laundry!  Of course, inside, where it is heated and if need be she could wrap herself in a warm towel fresh from the dryer!!!  Meanwhile, every logical parent that we passed gave me the, “are you crazy look”.  We even had a couple of kids say to us, “are you going swimming now?”  But of course, once you put an idea into the kids minds they are set on going . . . lightning storm or not.  On our way down, I kept asking the kids if they still wanted to swim and they all said yes, of course.  So I trotted down with my hood over my head and the strings pulled tight to minimize any exposure to the elements . . . meanwhile the kids skipped down the road giggling away in their bathing suits.  I made a deal with them that if they went swimming they had to stay in the water for at least 30 minutes.  Gee what do you now, there was no line up to get in to the pool . . . in fact there was no one in sight of the pool . . . it was all ours.  Great! 

I think Jamie is shivering in the pool.

Meanwhile, I could see the warm, crackling fires of nearby campers warming themselves at this time.  Jamie lasted the shortest amount of time and when I asked him if he was cold he would respond with his teeth chattering, “nnnnoooo” (blue lips and all).  Emma was the next to come out, whereas Josh seemed fine in the water.  I had to tell Josh to come out as I feared hypothermia was setting in on Jamie as he was getting the full body shivers (not much meat on his bones).  As we walked back to the trailer Emma said, “My teeth won’t stop wiggling”.  When we got back to the trailer, the kids got out of their wet bathing suits and dove under a sleeping bag to warm themselves up.  They were even treated to some hot chocolate from Grammy to warm themselves up.  Thanks Michelle for the great idea!

The kids did not want me to take this picture because they did not want everyone to know that they were cold.