Rockies 2 – Beaver Mines

Friday 29 April.

Unfortunately we were unable to use our invitation to the Royal Wedding – we were snowed in!

With every good intention of joining the rest of the world in celebrating the happy couple, we ventured out 5 minutes up the road and promptly came back to our warm, cosy cabin. We were defeated by the conditions of the road, the driving snow and my cowardice at driving in such conditions.

The day however was not wasted – marking was done, hot tub used and books read (“Guardian of Being” by Tolle and McDonnell – a wonderfully illustrated contemplation on the value of pets). 

I think this is our car!

View from the hot tub.

View in the hot tub - scary!

Cosy Cabin - a fire and food sets the mood

The weather eventually cleared and we took a stroll through the local area and finished with a warm, welcome coffee at Stella’s Inn.

I think I am stuck in the mud.

Wake me up at closing time.

A lusciously, lazy day in perfect surroundings and company – with apologies to Kate and William.

Rockies 2 – Crows Nest Pass

Thursday 28 April.

An awe inspiring drive through the historic and scenic pass.

First stop was the town of “Frank” where in 1903 a landslide killed over 90 towns folk and buried some of the coal mining town. The interpretative centre is another outstanding tourist draw card.  The account of the landslide is told through a mixture of personal stories and factual detail. Lucky we arrived early so we kicked ourselves out to find somewhere for a late lunch.

View  over the rock slide

Side of Turtle Mountain - the rest is on the ground.

Following our reflections on the hardships of the early pioneers to the area, our   thoughts were sidetracked by encounters with the World’s biggest Piggy Bank and the World’s largest truck (see yesterday’s post for photos). We ventured into British Columbia to the tourist town of Fernie. 

Spring can be as fickle as service at Walmart and today the service was not flash. Snow flurries, bustling winds and brass monkey temperatures curtailed our outside activities.

We did however brave the elements to view the Lundbreck Falls, a picturesque fishing spot when permits and weather allows.

Just hold that pose a little longer - it is only a light breeze!

Who needs to see Niagara Falls!

Rockies 2 – Waterton Lakes National Park.

Oh!

Wednesday 27 April - our second visit to the majestic Rocky Mountains. This time we explored the picturesque Waterton Lakes National Park. Some of our savvy Canadian friends had wondered why we were visiting such a beautiful place in April.

The GPS says turn right?

After confronting these snow covered adventures we also wondered if we were in the right place at the wrong time: 

So we turn right then what?

I think I can wait.

Despite experiencing four seasons in one day we realised Waterton Lakes is filled with picture postcard scenery, friendly wildlife and the deserved status of a World Heritage site:

Local resident of Waterton Lakes

Cameron Falls

Waterton Lake

The town of Waterton lakes

Hanneke making her way back to our hotel - The Prince of Wales.

Time for a quick rant.

Whilst we have only been in Canada a relatively short time we have grown very fond of the Canadian idiosyncrasies. Canadians are amongst the friendliest and politest people on the planet, yet they drive on the wrong side of the road; they live in the second biggest country in the world, yet houses go under the ground for extra room; Canadians have the biggest RV’s (recreational vehicles) and trucks in the world, but only have a number plate on the back; are second to none in their fanaticism for Ice Hockey, postponing political debates for playoffs. Canadians must be the biggest consumers of windshield washer fluid in the universe and with very good reason. It is every Canadians right to go hunting, yet you risk death so as not to run over a snake:

It is not only passenger vehicles that Canadians like to super size, but shopping malls,  packaged foods and cleaning products, roads, car parks and anything that their town may have an affiliation with. 

Just spending a penny

A piggy train?

And this is the largest truck in the world.

But more than anything, the reason we would want to adopt Canada as our permanent second home is the Canadian prairie-dry sense of humour:

 Our doors may be open 24 hours a day but dinosaurs don’t have to use the main entrance.

We will export our dirty, polluting, planet destroying petroleum to our friendly southern neighbour and we will just use a bit of wind

If you are game enough to get to the front door we have a vacancy

I hope they don’t forget to wake up

Danger - Disco Dancing Deer

A place by any other name!

Tuesday 26 April

 

We beamed from Drumheller to Vulcan. Vulcan, Alberta, was named in 1913 after the Roman god of fire.

Dr Spock (he with pointy ears and full of logic) finally visited his “home” town in 2010. 

The agricultural town on the prairies has embraced its “Star Trek” fame with a Vulcan tourism and Trek centre that is shaped liked a space station and inside is a Trekkies nirvana. We had great fun finding out how to live long and prosper.  

No Klingons here!

Spot the odd one out!

Despite its considerable claim to fame the town has its priorities firmly in order as indicated by the local high school’s schedule of events:

Following our futuristic sojourn we ventured back in time over 5700 years to a cultural site with world heritage status

The site is one of the largest and best preserved buffalo jumps in the world. The cliffs were once used by the Plains people as a means of sophisticated hunting; driving the bison over the edge.

The interpretative centre was another fascinating place to visit; again we had to be prised out of the place so the staff could go home.

 Little does she know, our armless reader is about to be pooped on from a great height

We either jump now or end up as a McDonalds Bison burger!

The Cliff!

 

After a memorable drive, taking in the grand vista of the prairies, and the awesome splendour of the Rockies we reached our home for the next five days:

Rockies revisted

102 now.

"Bad" to the bone.

Fred Flintstone meets John Wayne.
We are in the "Badlands" of Canada (appropriate scenes for many a western) surrounded by Dinosaurs.

Drumheller, what an amazing place. If the landscape wasn't stunning enough, we are surrounded by 75 million year old fossils and it has to have the world's largest dinosaur..........

"Stop tickling me with that palm tree"

View from a Tyrannosaurus tongue

Ever wondered what the inside of the world's largest dinosaur looks like?

Telemarketers can ring at the most inconvenient moment

On Easter Saturday we had the opportunity to visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. We arrived before lunch and they had to escort us out after the 5.00 pm  closing time. The displays were visually awesome.  Most of the fossils were found in and around the Badlands area which added to the experience. We cannot look at a rock now without seeing a fossil in it! 

Just a larger version of mine really.

The amazing museum

To conclude a wonderful day - sunset over the Red Deer River

On Sunday we visited Dinosaur Provincial Park,  south east of Drumheller. Another excellent day. The weather was beautiful, clear and warm. The scenery amazingly eerie - Hoodoos, Coulees, River Valley, Prairies. Different and interesting walking trails and an interpretive centre that helped explain our surroundings. At the end of another long day we really appreciated why this is a World Heritage Site.

Some of the "Badlands".

A hoodoo and friend

More "Badlands"

I suppose this means I have to stay here!

I think we found the Easter bunnies!

I smell an Aussie or two.

And to top it off we even got to "shoot" some wildlife......

I see an Aussie or two.

Easter Monday was again filled with warm, sunny skies and places to match.
Rosedale kept us in suspension as we crossed the historical bridge which linked the coal mine on the north side of the river to the rail  transport on the south side.

Beats paddling.

No wonder the bridge is so tall if this bloke has to get across.

The hamlet of Wayne lived up to its name sake with a hotel and bar, that has been serving thirsty miners since 1913,  straight from the wild west - no wonder this place is called the badlands.

Looks like an early form of meals on wheels!

From the wild west to the sacred east. Drumheller is famous for its Passion Play that is performed every year in July.

From (John) Wayne to Jerusalem in 15 kilometres.

Despite the explanation of how they are formed we have a suspicion that the local Hoodoos may be  fossilised dinosaur droppings.

Hoo doos or Doo doos?

Whilst on the subject of conundrums - we think we may have found the world's largest :
a) Bike Horn
b) Breast pump
c) Babies Rattle
d) Red sucker?

We had a magic Easter in Drumheller and we must make special mention of the wonderful accommodation and delightful owners Giselle and Leonard. Just as Drumheller is more than B&B (Bones and Badlands) our accommodation was so much more than a B&B.

Our happy, hospitable, helpful, healthy, hosts.

And if you are wondering why Hanneke's arm is in a sling. It is those blasted bones again! She fell of her bike and broke her elbow. The good news is the bike is fine.

The even better news is the operation was successful and she should be able to play the piano before the summer holidays.