Our holiday started as it meant to go on with a smooth transfer down to Heathrow courtesy of Ross chauffeuring. Had an awesome Thunderbird moment as our cases were dispatched and I tripped every security sensor on the way in. Felt special.
Fairly soon we were feeling gorgeous as we breakfasted in the Gorgeous Kitchen diner, with views out onto the runway and our 787 dream-liner to Calgary. The augers were good. I’ve never flown 7500 km in any direction, with the furthest West being Dublin. The plane is fairly new, wide bodied, ambient temperature with generous windows and in-flight everything. My movie was Bladerunner 2049, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Friday
After landing and customary ‘I’m not on commission’ car hire fleecing attempt, we headed off in our Hyundai SUV. The vehicle was plenty big enough for the four of us and it took me 15 minutes to get used to the automatic and driving on the right. I did start with a comedic moment when I couldn’t actually locate the accelerator in the gloom of the multi-story car park.
Canada is vast with a decent road network. Cruise control is the thing.
We arrived in Canmore in the afternoon, with a mooch downtown and Italian meal
in the evening. The lasagne was on special price and very tasty.
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| A room with a view… |
Saturday
The Coast Hotel breakfasts were fantastic. I went for the buffet and loaded up big on pastries and a great cooked breakfast self selection.
We decided to go out on the trails and had one of the best walks of the holiday. Purchasing our bear spray, we Headed out along the river we took up the Three Sisters Trail (named after the mountains that overlooked it). Along the way we encountered the most amazing huge timber framed homes, each a palace with ultimate views. Mountains everywhere, crystal river. After a pit stop we headed vaguely on the mid line trail back, avoiding the bears (which somehow we did for the whole holiday).
Our evening meal was at the Canmore Grizzly Paw pub.
Sunday
After experiencing steak and eggs and fries for breakfast (yes!!), we left the Coast Hotel and set off to visit Johnson’s Canyon and the Ink Potts ponds. This was a memorable walk, made special by the iced paths that had us, and all others, scrabbling along the raised path by the side of the river. Those rails were clung onto. The drama continued when it became clear that Carmel was having leg problems, requiring a hop along style movement that nobody, especially Ruth, will be able to forget. On the way up we thought we heard a bear, which was exciting, but proved to be our closest encounter during the whole holiday.
The falls were tremendous and the Ink Potts above interesting, but perhaps not worth the extra, seemingly unending, icy trail to get to them. Carmel acquired a big stick and used it to some effect on the more difficult downhill bits that stretched her leg in painful ways.
Canadian drug stores have a much richer and more powerful array of drugs over the counter, soo Carmel loaded up with potent pain relief.
We checked in to our Condo at the Banff Rocky Mountaineer Resort on the outskirts of Banff, acquired through cunning timeshare options. The place proved to be a big hit, becoming our home from home. I chauffered Carmel down to the conference centre for her registration, with an exciting few days to follow, with great speakers and a chance for carmel to present her research with a ‘poster presentation’.
Dinner was at The Elk and Oarsman in Banff where me and Carmel selected steaks, which were fantastic.
Monday
After dropping Carmel back at the conference for her ‘day one’, me Ruth and Ross walked in to Banff downtown, following the highway for about 30 minutes.
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| Carmel – serene conference queen |
We took a bus up to the gondolas that ascend Sulphur Mountain. Stunning views at the top where the Blofeld Centre for International Villainy visitor centre awaited. A salmon lunch included. I reflected on ‘Where Eagles Dare’ as we returned in a small four person gondola to the waiting station.
We then walked down to Bow River & falls from the Gondola station via a lovely woodland trail. On arrival at Banff we took a pavement coffee break at Little Wild Flour Coffee Shop. This place became a favourite stopping point as the coffee was top notch.
Me and Ross walked back to get the car leaving Ruth to shop, before we went to pick up Carmel from the conference. Delighted to say that Carmel had a great time and was looking forward to doing her presentation the following day.
The evening was spent in the Condo, with me cooking up some spaghetti carbonara. An earlyish night as we caught up on sleep in what proved to be a very well insulated, and slightly hot, condo.
Another chauffeur from me with Carmel arriving in good time to ready her poster and get stuck into a talk.
We took the long drive up the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park to view the Columbia Icefield glacier. Another huge visitor centre, with a snow walk as far as we could get on foot to the receding glacier. In a century it will be a lake with trees.
We had another quiet evening in the Condo, with baked salmon a la Ross.
Wednesday
This was a much needed mooch day of relaxed pace, with Banff shopping in the morning and coffee at Little Wild Flour, and supermarket shopping and liquor store for some Canadian rye whiskey and some beers. We abandoned the trip to the Banff hot springs, as they didn’t look that impressive, being largely a warm swimming pool.
Home to Condo for chicken meze meal.
Thursday
This was Lake Louise day, with a park up at the Fairmont Chateau hotel and, to Michael Jackson ‘starting something’, we sat in the deli of this right posh hotel, swilling coffees, before our adventure around the icebound lake. You’re welcome.
Absolutely breathtaking and a really chilled walk around half the lake, before returning with sweet smelling pine sap splayed across the bum of my trousers.
After a pit stop we headed to the Moose Hotel in Banff, which we had ‘chain access’ to their hot tubs, and other facilities. The hotel is fabulous, new, timber constructed and spacious. We sat in hot tubs in the rain mesmerised by Carmel’s inflatable boobs that quivered in the bubbling warm water.
We had cocktails in the swish low bar in the hotel before returning., refreshed and happy to a salmon tagliatelle a la Ross.
Some firewood was acquired as the weather had turned damp and slightly cooler. We had great fun relaxing in front of the fire.
Friday
Our last full day. In the morning we relaxed and took it easy. Ruth and Ross gamefully, for the second time, did some quick laundry and played out some squash as it dried. Then we went off to Banff Trail Riders for horse riding in the afternoon along the spray river trail. Docile and easy horses took us on a horseback river crossing and through woodlands.
The famous local grizzly, ‘The Boss’ was out and active. He’s sired many a local bear, eaten the odd black bear and been hit by the local train service twice. I’m slightly glad that we didn’t meet him.
Elks were spotted and Ross provided expert paparazzi services.
Post ride we had a debrief and coffee in, where else, the Little Wild Flour before a final Banff shopping.
We returned home to get spruced up and catch the shuttle bus into Banff for dinner and drinks at Pacini in the Moose Hotel, with tabled booked for Mr James Bond. Ruth and Carmel turned heads. 🙂
Saturday
Efficient packing, loading and away for a final visit to Canmore for shopping and pavement bagels in the sunshine before depart to Calgary airport.
Sunday
The flight took far less apparent time as we dozed in what was our night time. I watched the recent Murder on the Orient Express, which fell rather flat, and would probably have preferred watching Bladerunner again.
Ross drove us from Heathrow to Bristol and from there I drove Carmel back to our home. I needed a couple of pit stops on the way as I was tired. I also missed the Canadian roads, and views!
Holiday of a lifetime. Loved Canada. Weather fantastic. Might explore Vancouver one day?