I know, I know, I’m a little late for the big holiday up north. I was working, dammit, and didn’t get time to post pictures this past week. Here, however, are the long-awaited photos of our road trip to Canada. There are a lot of them, and I was going to split them into two posts, but what the hell.
I joked in a previous post that we were going to flip a coin at each intersection to decide which way to go. That was only partly true. We actually had a destination in mind, Fairmont Hot Springs in eastern BC. We had a week of time share that was going to expire if we didn’t use it soon, and they had an “efficiency”* suite open for one of the weeks I had off, so off we went. We didn’t plan how we were going to get there until we had the car packed and we were sitting in the driveway with the maps all over the place. Surprisingly, given that John and I are both happiest when we can give orders and expect everybody else to comply, we didn’t fight at all about the route that we ended up taking. We took a couple of leisurely days driving there, with frequent stops along the way.
Here’s our first stop. We got a bright and early start, about noon, and I hadn’t had nearly enough coffee.
This was our first night’s stop, in eastern Washington. Ahhh, wine and knitting.
By our second night, we’d gotten across the border and into Canada. We stayed in an old Victorian B&B in Cranbrooks, BC. Sweetpea found a buddy. She’d heard that there were bears in Canada, so she really was looking forward to the trip. I think she’s trying to explain to her friend how to knit socks.
By the third night, we’d made it to our timeshare home. Here’s the setting for our first dinner. Note the fancy candle holders.
I’m not exactly sure that I remember where this next photo was taken. This is bad, it might mean that the alcohol might be finally killing off more than the weak brain cells. John might remember. Honey? Any idea?
Next, your standard tourist photo taken through the front windshield of the car while it’s moving. I’m not sure what it says about my photography skills, but the shots out the front window were some of the best scenery shots.
Here’s one of the seaming party that I had for the Eggplant sweater.
It was getting dark, I was almost done with it, and the lighting wasn’t very good. John, always ready for an emergency, had packed his camping headlamp.
The sock enjoyed the drive through Kootenay park.
I’ll bet you didn’t know that they put benches along the trails in the park, just so we can sit for a minute and knit socks.
After our timeshare stay, we moved up north, to the resort with the late-night drinking boys I mentioned in the previous post. Sweetpea liked this place, too.
We took a hike, where John held up the world for a while.
We saw lots of waterfalls.
We had cocktails by the little stream outside our cabin. Yes, John brings his own martini shaker along on vacations. How can you not love a man like this?
Some of us drank bourbon.
And more Guinness. Remember, Guinness is good for you. Trust me, I’m a doctor. This one was enjoyed in an Irish pub in Banff. I remember this one.
We took more hikes.
We sat by that creek some more. This one was taken on the Solstice. We sat out until almost midnight (quietly, I might point out), and I got the opportunity to actually wear my new sweater. Right then, I wished I had made the collar higher.
We took more walks.
We saw a real bear. We are pretty sure that this fine specimen was a grizzly. It was right off the road, and dozens of tourists were out of their cars, dragging their little kids as close as they could get to take photos. We snapped this from the safety of inside the car. People always astound me in their infinite stupidity.
Sweetpea was really pissed that she missed that one, being back in the cabin and all.
The sock got to see glaciers. This was taken at the Columbia Icefields. This was pretty exciting for us, as we live close to the other end of the Columbia River. It makes me happy somehow to know that I’ve taken sock photos at both ends of the Columbia.
After all Stephanie’s talk of the hot Mounties, I finally found one. I couldn’t talk him into holding the sock, though.
We stopped at the Chateau Lake Louise for a cocktail. I think I might be the first person to sit on those benches and knit socks.
We saw more wildlife:
This is John’s favorite photo of the trip. It was the car stopped right in front of us. For some reason, this one made both of us laugh.
Last but not least, Sweetpea got to see some more bears.
The End.
Happy Fourth of July for all of you that celebrate it! Next time there will be knitting photos, I promise.
* Translate that as “small room tucked into a corner overlooking the parking lot, with a miniature kitchen and no air conditioning”.
Gorgeous!!
The more I learn about Banff the more desperate I am to see that place. All the photos look great and the Grizzly seems a bit fierce.
John brings his own martini shaker? Hmmmmmm…. need to get John to teach Dana the fine are of making Cosmos….and bringing your own martini shaker on vacays. 🙂
Oh, what a wonderful vacation! Your photos are fabulous. Great shot of the grizzly. I once saw a guy in the Smokies feeding a bear marshmellows. The bear was standing on its hind legs and was at least 10-feet tall. The guy was about six inches away from him, handing out the goodies. We didn’t stay around to see if the bear got more than candy.
Looks like you have had a wonderful vacation! I have yet to knit socks in Canada…..but I have sat on those benches 😉
My Husband is from Montana, so I have been to most of those places to see where he vacationed as a child.
Fantastic trip pics! Aahhh…mmm…Guiness…!
I wanna go! Great photos.
It looks absolutely fabulous!! Such gorgeous photos…
You did have fun! Love your Teddy Bear.
Wow, it looks like it was a great vacation! I’m very jealous, as I have not made it to British Columbia yet, and I love traveling in Canada.
I’m glad that Sweetpea had fun as well. It’s always a shame when the whole family doesn’t enjoy things …
Have a Happy 4th!
The trip looked fun. It’s nice that you let Sweetpea join in the fun.
You do look like you are enjoying your Guinness. I have never had one myself. I always thought it had to be good, just by the looks of it.
🙂
AWESOME pics! Wow, SweetPea looked just like the real bear you saw! Awesome views, timeshare, knitting, & animals!
glad you had fun in our end of the world, there is nothing really the same as the BC mountains, it is one of the things I miss most about living on the westcoast! Love the headlamp.
What gorgeous views! and those bear sculptures were fabulous!
Great pics, Lorette. And they were a nice reminder of our past trips to the Banff/Lake Louise area.
Fantastic pictures! That grizzly is awesome! I’ve seen bears up close while hiking (a little too close!) but never a grizzly, thank goodness. The Mountie is pretty hot, too.
Funny how all the scenery is sitting right out the windshield. I love the pic you took.
And the headlamp is an essential knitting tool, especially for travel. I just bought a new one, more stylish than my first one, with filters that help retain night vision. You look very stylin’ in yours. 🙂
I love the photos. I am from Ontario Cananda but have never had a chance to go out west. Looks like you and your husband always have a blast travelling!! Happy 4th!
Cool photos! I love the eggplant sweater. E
It sounds like you had fun–especially Sweetpea!
Glorious pictures Lorette, thanks for sharing! Looks like a wonderful time!
omg! u married the man of my dreams….no fair 🙁
I’m back cause I just nominated you for an award on my blog! Go have a peek 🙂
Awesome trip pics. Did Vern make the trip? Makes me want to go to Banff again. If I drive (well, if my husband drives) there from Texas, how many socks can I knit?
What great pics! Hard to tell if it was Sweatpea or you guys that had the better time! You looked so professional in your sweater surgery gear 😉 Seems headlamps are handy gadgets to have around!
I always love your vacation photos, you have a knack at catching the moment.
so glad Sweetpea didn’t seethat one live bear though, she may have been tempted to run off with him, he was quite handsome (well if he was a him).
I love the picture of Sweetpea…and the headlamp! Looks like you had a great time!
Quite the rack on that baby. I had to laugh about the weak brain cells. So close to what is probably the truth!
this is a drive by comment – loved the photos – didn’t have time to read your text (hey, I’m honest)
looks like you had a great time 🙂
hopefully life will settle down soon, and I’ll get back to actually “reading’ blogs
Wow – what a beautiful trip!
Beautiful photos of a beautiful trip! I spent two summers in Banff and looking at your photos made me very nostalgic. And I love the pic of you and the sock with the Guinness! 🙂