Year: 2011

Last fall we hiked up and back the east side of the lower lake – it was early November and a bit of a rainy day.  We thought it best not to challenge the gods and try the upper lake. A good thing, as we met someone later that day that had tried the upper in the morning and was driven out by a snow squall.  As it was, we started our hike in beautiful sunshine and completed it in overcast rain. 

I checked the times for this hike on a couple of sites before leaving and one said it would take 3-4 hours.  It took us about 5 hours. We took one 30 minute break for some food and we mucked about the rocky area at the far end of the lake for a little bit taking pictures and the like.  One would have to be moving quite briskly to make it in 3 hours.  We are not the fastest hikers but nor are we doddlers.

That said it is a really beautiful hike.  We went counter clockwise starting at the north parking lot.  Walking along the north side of the lake we had the sun on our left and coming back we were much more in the shade.  The first part of the walk has views of the lake through the trees for the most part.  We kinda lost the trail where it swings south around the end of the lake and ended up on the rocks.  There, you have a beautiful view of the lake and the mountains. 

Here is a link to a short video I took of from there: http://youtu.be/8SqPSn66HPk

We managed to follow the shore line around and eventually reunited with the trail.  Still at the back end of the lake going in a somewhat southerly direction you cross the river over a wooden bridge.  When we crossed last week the river was extremely high.  A little ways past that another slow moving water way
must be crossed by traversing various well placed trees/logs. 

 Coming back the south side of the lake is mostly in the forest but the trail is incredibly lush with areas of moss and some glimpses of the lake.  That is the area were we ran into the moose.  Well we didn’t actually run into it.  We were coming around a bend and there he/she was.  I took several pictures and as it started walking toward us we thought it best to try and shoo it into the woods.  We did.  And the moose did. 

On the way back we stopped to take a picture of the sign pointing out the obvious: Smoke!  We were about to leave and saw a black bear.  I managed to take a few shots of him without getting eaten. 

All in all we walked about 10 miles or 15+ kilometers. It took us about 90 minutes to drive there from Calgary.

I’ve been to see Trevor at Oracle Massage Therapy a couple of times.  I had thrown my back/hip out two or three months ago and he did an amazing job of helping to relieve the pain.  Trevor is not rote or mechanical but seems to be able to address what the problem is and help.  I went a couple of days ago – birthday treat – and am absolutely thrilled with the increased mobility in my back and hip.

Check out the website: Oracle Massage  Give him a call, make an appointment!

I was waiting for someone at the airport today.  If you are ever in any kind of doubt that there is a lack of love in the world then you should sit (or stand) at the arrivals gate at the airport for a while.  Watch people greet.  It was like a piece of heaven.  Small children yelling ‘Daddy’ and running for the hug.  Brothers greeting brothers and not letting go.  Got me all weepy. 

We just finished working at the Stampede in Calgary.  I’ve worked this show selling products in the BMO Center for several years now.  It is a great show.  The staff are wonderful given the impossible task of trying to please all the various vendors and the public.  One of the things that is so impressive at this fair compared to many I have attended in the US and Canada is – it is the cleanest fair that I have seen.  Inside and out.  Most fairs and shows have the cleaning crew come in after hours but the Calgary Stampede has, I don’t know how many people, constantly sweeping throughout the show so that the floors inside and walkways outside are always clean. 

I did have one small beef – over the years the BMO Center has always been well air conditioned but this year I’m not sure if there were problems mechanically or financially but there were a couple of days only that it was cool enough inside for the public and vendors to be comfortable.  Most of the time, even when it was not crowded it was extremely warm.  We tried in vain to find out what the problem was but none of the staff we spoke to seemed to know who was responsible for this.  Hopefully, next year for the 100th anniversary this will be fixed. 

If you can make it to this show during the week you will always have shorter lines and better service.  Weekends are very crowded.

See you next year!

“Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.”
– George Bernard Shaw