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.