Family Time -- Victoria

A week and a half after our road trip, we were back in the car heading out to The Island.  Our two day trip had the usual stops at the usual hotels, eating at the usual places.  What can I say?  We're creatures of habit.  The only glitch was having to wait for the ferry.  Usually we make the three o'clock.  This time we didn't.  The entire parking area was packed (I've never seen it like this) and they were not letting cars in until a ferry came.  Turns out one ferry crossing had been booked by a California car club which backed things up (see Deuce Days below).  Bonus for us, was we were the last ones on the 4 o'clock sailing and the ferry slowed through The Narrows because a pod of killer whales.  My first time seeing orcas so close.

After getting settled in the condo, we arranged to meet a friend of Melissa's, JoAnn and her family at the Northwest Deuce Days car show.  Her parents-in-law have attended 4 of these (held every 3 years) and this was the biggest.  Over 1500 cars, all older than 1950, and over 100,000 people attended.  We took the bus down as parking would have been impossible and met JoAnne as they were checking out the other cars.  Of course, we drooled over the yellow 1932 Ford her father-in-law had lovingly restored.  Being a Deuce, it was a hot rod that had been modified.  He had driven it from Nebraska at normal speeds.  After chatting for an hour or so, we headed to the Bard and Banker for lunch.  The last time we were in the building, it was a Christmas store so much had changed.  I ordered calamari which was excellent and Glen had a grilled cheese sandwich.  Glen enjoyed a couple of Hoyner Pilsners.  I had one but much preferred Race Rocks Ale by the Lighthouse Brewery.

Geoff, Melissa, Elijah and Miles arrived August 1st for a week of fun (see my photos on Shutterfly) by the sea.  The Victoria Clipper arrived at 6:00 pm so we planned going to the White Spot near our condo for supper.  We even made reservations as on their last visit (see Fun with Family), dinner had been very late.  Unfortunately, our wait at the White Spot was even longer.  We think they didn't have enough cooks as their drink service was good.  And, we weren't the only ones waiting.  The kids kept busy colouring but everyone was a bit frazzled until our food finely arrived.  We were very disappointed in our experience, especially since it was the first time we've had such poor service.  Knowing they were at fault, they gave us a 10% discount--not enough, people!!

Geoff wanted to relax the next day so we did stuff around the condo like playing games (thanks, Meg and Mike for Dixit!!).  We did go to Galey Farms to pick up strawberries and corn for supper.  We got talked into buying a baker's dozen (13) which meant I had to find a big enough pot to cook it all.  It was deliciously sweet.

Wednesday morning, we did a brief walk around the Inner Harbour and the Legislature grounds then headed to Butchart Gardens after lunch.  We had reservations at the dining room and the manager called us to say there was a concert that night and parking would be tight.  Geoff and Melissa had never seen the gardens in the summer and they are impressive.  Melissa and I took oodles of photos and the boys had fun in their own way.  Riding the carousel was a highlight for them.  Supper was at 5:15 and we just finished doing the garden tour in time.  We enjoyed a lovely dinner.  Glen and Melissa had gnocchi and beef, Geoff, salmon, and I enjoyed Cowichan chicken.  The kids ordered cheese pasta and the chef accommodated Miles desire for tomato pasta instead.  We all left pleasantly stuffed.

Thursday morning, everyone was up early so the family could go kayaking.  Glen's knee/hip problems meant he and I bowed out of this adventure.  We were to meet them for second breakfast at 9:00.  Victoria Kayak, located on Swift Street near the Canoe Brewpub, offered a sunrise tour of the Gorge and Inner Harbour.  They learned how to paddle and also had a history lesson.  We took the bus down and got photos of them paddling (see above photo).  We then drove to Moka House, Shoal Point, for coffee and pastries.  The butter tarts were very tasty!  Since we were close to Fisherman's Wharf, we went there to feed the seals then bought some oysters and sablefish for supper at Finest at Sea.

Fridays have become beach day so we hauled beach mats, beach blanket, buckets, cameras, and chairs down to Willows Beach.  The kids set up for castle building while Glen settled into his new camp chair.  The low beach chairs have proven difficult for him to negotiate.  Geoff made a beeline for the shore and quickly slipped off his sandals to paddle in the ocean.  Later, Melissa and I joined him for a stroll along the shore where we saw geese, sanderlings, and a huge jellyfish.  On our return, we spotted seals frolicking off shore.

We (and a good pound of sand) went home and changed into nicer clothes.  Geoff wanted to treat us to lunch at the Marina restaurant in Oak Bay.  We'd been before with the grandkids and had such a great time, we were up for repeating the experience.  While we waited for a table, Melissa planted a letterbox stamp she had carved after being inspired by a First Nations sculpture nearby.  We were seated in the corner of the restaurant so Geoff could gaze out to sea and I could look at the boats in the marina.  As we dined, Miles spotted an otter at the end of a jetty and by the time we'd finished, three were cavorting in the rocks next to the restaurant.

Saturday, Melissa and Geoff headed downtown to shop and enjoy lunch together.  We had fun playing with the boys.  Sunday, Melissa had arranged to meet her "Auntie" Laurie in Sidney and invited us to tag along.  We did the walk of sculptures which snakes along the Sidney waterfront then we went to the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, a non-profit aquarium showcasing the creatures who live in the nearby ocean.  It opened in 2009 with the blessing of the Coastal Salish natives and features everything from jellyfish to crabs.  It evens has a touch pool where you can feel anemones and sea urchins.

 As usual, we had lunch at the Rum Runner.  The boys enjoyed burgers while Glen, Geoff and I had their shrimp and crab sandwich.  So very good!  Salad fixings are plate decor until you put them together.  Afterwards, we walked around town looking at used bookstores until Glen and Geoff had had enough.  Each grandson found an Asterix and Obelix to read on the plane home (I think they finished them by the time we got back to the condo).

Geoff and Melissa then took the bus downtown to have dinner and an evening together while we watch the Olympics.  Their experience at the Bard and Banker was not good so after eating, they walked to the Churchill Pub and had a much more enjoyable experience.

Monday morning, we got them to the Clipper early so they would get good seats and said goodbye.  We spent the next two days doing laundry and cleaning the condo but their visit was so worth the effort.

Road Trip '16 -- And Back Again

By the time we got up Wednesday (July 6th) morning, Geoff was on a plane bound for St. Louis.  We were in no rush to leave but wanted to make Sheridan, Wyoming by supper.  The best thing about saying goodbye was knowing we'd see everyone again in August.

It was a pretty stress-free trip north.  We saw lots of pronghorn antelope and a huge herd of bison (very close to the giant bison that marks the border between Colorado and Wyoming).  We stopped for lunch near Chugwater (population 212).  The town was named for the sound bison made when they hit the ground after being driven off a buffalo jump (according to native legend). Who knew?  The town's claim to fame is the bucking horse emblem on Wyoming licence plates, Steamboat, was born there.

We then motored on to the Hampton Inn in Sheridan, dining at Sanford's Grub and Pub.  Again we enjoyed Bomber Mountain Ale in quart mason jars but we knew better and didn't order an appie.  Instead, I had Yllihp.  Yeah, I couldn't pronounce it either.  Turns out is it Philly spelled backward.  It was very good and the coleslaw was creamy heaven.

The next day, the plan was to stop at the Little Bighorn National Monument and find/plant a letter box.   When we had visited the museum and cemetery back in 2010 (see Day Two-Where the Deer and the Antelope Play), we discovered the grave of Major Marcus Reno.  We bought a pamphlet that told us the story of this much-maligned man.  He was branded a coward for leading an organized retreat when his troops met the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians on the Little Bighorn River.  Reno fought the accusations and was cleared of all charges but the public was against him.  He probably suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and turned to drink.  He died of cancer a poor man.  His descendants and others interested in the man fought to have him re-buried at the Custer National Cemetery.  This was done in 1967 and he is the only officer of the 7th Calvary buried there.

I had carved a stamp to honour this historic figure and we planted it in the cemetery.  We then read the clues for the other letterbox and discovered it was also in the cemetery.  Another box was down by an abandoned hotel so we headed there.  Unfortunately, an elderly Crow woman and a puddle thwarted our efforts to find it.  Next time we pass this way, we'll get it.

There is a lovely rest stop just west of Billings so we headed there for lunch.  Unfortunately, it was undergoing renovations so we ate late near Bozeman.  Due to the weather issues we had coming down (see Road Trip '16 -- There), we drove west along Interstate 90.  It meets I-15 at Butte where  we headed north.  High on a hill overlooking the highway was a giant (90 ft) white statute of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Called Our Lady of the Rockies, it was built by a man who had prayed to Mary  promising to build her a statue if his wife recovered from cancer.  The project blossomed into a community effort, taking 6 years to complete.

In Helena, we stay at the Holiday Inn Express and eat at the restaurant next door, Buffalo Wild Wings.  The wings there are large so we shared a medium plate of tradition wings, then added onion rings and celery/carrots sticks for a balanced meal (yeah, right).  Beer was Lewis and Clarke Amber which we've had before and really enjoy.  It is a Helena brewery that uses locally grown ingredients.

The next day, July 8th, we were homeward bound.  We even played Paul Brandt's Alberta Bound on our stereo system (it always makes me tear up).  We made good time and were at the border at noon so decided to have lunch in the Sweetgrass rest stop.  Just as well as there was a long line up entering Canada and I'd have been starving had we waited.  If there is a line taking longer than any other, we'll find it.  So we sat for over 30 minutes waiting for our turn.  Our border guard seemed very thorough so we wondered what he was asking people.  When our turn came, he asked the usual questions about alcohol and cigarettes, then let us go.  Took all of 3 minutes.

We arrived home, quickly unloaded the car, and headed to Scotsman's Well for supper.  I had a buffalo chicken wrap with sweet potato fries and Glen ate spaghetti and meatballs, all washed down with Big Rock's Traditional Ale.  It was good to be home!

See photos here.

Fourth of July Weekend

This wasn't the first Fourth of July we've spent in Colorado (see Day Seven, Eight, and Nine - Aurora) but it will be the most memorable.  Melissa had booked two sites at their favourite campground, Reverend's Ridge in Golden Gate Canyon State Park on January 1st and that's when the road trip plans began.  Geoff had just started his new job so didn't know whether or not he would get vacation time.  Turns out he could take off Friday (Monday was July 4th) so we spent the morning loading up our two vehicles.  Elijah and Geoff's guitar came with us.

The hour and a half drive was made longer due to a horrible accident but both kids had fallen asleep so were spared the aftermath we witnessed.  Then we hit a thunderstorm which had us worried we'd be setting up camp in the rain.  Luck was with, though.  The sun came out just as we reached the campsite.

The boys had never slept in a tent by themselves so had a few issues setting it up.  Fortunately, it was a tent we'd given Geoff years ago so we knew the ins and outs of its erection.  Our poor old tent was showing its age and looked very saggy.  This became an issue when it started raining (with Armstrong camping, rain is a given).

After a couple of false starts, we had a fire going and Melissa had all the fixings for chicken fajitas ready to go.  I had bought giant marshmallows so the 'smores were amazing or so I was told.  I don't like this camping dessert.

Rain began during the night and our tent got quite damp.  Geoff fixed it by knotting up our bungy cords which tightened our fly.  Just as well since neither Glen nor I had had a good night's sleep.  Turns out some of the problems I foresaw about us 'oldies' camping actually transpired.  Glen had been nursing a sore hip for several months and the stiffness made getting dressed a chore.  This became a big problem in our tent (originally bought for backpacking 30 years ago).  The bottomline is if we camp again, we need a taller and wider tent!

Saturday we were to go fishing.  Miles is a great fisherman so we headed out with him to the Slough Pond.  Glen did his first cast and caught a small trout.  Before I could snap a photo, he'd had tossed it back.  That was the first and last fish caught that day.  Melissa and Elijah went on a hike and we all met back at the campsite for lunch.  It was raining again.

When the rain stopped, we headed to Dude's Fishing Hole.  A short hike meant we didn't take our folding chairs.  Just as well as we weren't there long before it poured.  I was the only one wearing rain gear so Geoff ran with the others back to the car while Glen and I brought up the rear.  I didn't realize we were at 9000 feet so couldn't understand why I was having problems breathing.  I'd had similar issues on Pikes Peak years ago so high altitude exercise is not for me.

Geoff got the fire started in the rain while we huddled under their picnic table cover.  The kids had made a friend and we had fun playing a camping game Melissa had brought.  We had hamburgers for supper and the rain let up enough for us to do 'smores again.

It was still overcast the next morning so Geoff built up the fire for a huge breakfast of bacon and scrambled eggs.  Glen cooked the eggs as that is his specialty.  We went fishing at Ranch Pond while Melissa and Elijah drove into Golden to get more ice.  After an hour of casting, I caught a fish!  I've never caught a trout before and it was pretty exciting.  Geoff said it was a keeper so Miles helped me bring it in and Geoff used his pliers to remove the hook so it became 'our' fish.

When the pond got crowded, we headed back to Slough Pond and Melissa and Elijah joined us as she had seen the car while driving back from Golden.  Geoff caught a fish on his bottom line so we had two treats for dinner.  Of course, two fish do not feed 6 people so we fried some brats on the fire and had a side of beans.  However, the fish were the more than delicious!

Just as we finished dinner, a man from the next campsite came over.  He was with a church group and all of them were Asian (except him).  They were having a cook-off and wanted us to judge their food since we'd be impartial.  They were given certain ingredients and had to create their dishes using these.  Melissa, Geoff and I enjoyed some excellent food and met some wonderful people.

Afterwards, Glen and I cleaned up camp while the rest of the family went to a talk on raptors.  Melissa took some amazing pictures of the owls.  Actually, the birds in our campsite were exciting, too.  We had several Black throated hummingbirds visit as well as Steller and Grey Jays, ravens and chickadees.  A hairy woodpecker also stopped by our tent.

It's always sad when one strikes camp but everyone worked together and left the sites cleaner than we found them.  The kids were excited to get home as it was July 4th and we were off to have a BBQ at friends and then do fireworks (they are banned in Aurora but not where Geoff's friend, Brady lives).  The minute we got home, Melissa had a load of laundry in the washing machine and Miles in the shower.  Not sure how we did it but everyone had a shower before we left for dinner.  Brady and Kelli have known us a couple years but we had never met his folks.  What nice people!  They sold airplane propellers of all things and had some interesting stories to tell.  Brady's burgers were 2 inches thick, I swear and he cooked them to perfection.

As soon as it got dark, the fireworks began.  Because this area of Denver is really several small cities, each one had their own display and we had a perfect view of several of them.  When I say the light show went on for hours, I'm not lying.  Brady had a collection of fireworks the kids could light so we had fun watching smoke bombs, firecrackers and explosions of all kinds.  The kids set the fireworks off in the middle of the street then raced back to the house while it exploded.   It was great fun.  During a lull in the action, the kids wanted sparklers so Geoff began lighting them.  The breeze kept snuffing his match so I got the butane lighter from our camping equipment.  We wanted a picture of the four kids with sparklers so Geoff decided to light them all at once.  Sounded like a good idea but what he created was a sparkler bomb which blew up and burned his hand.

He rushed into the house and dunked it into the ice cooler we had for drinks then Melissa drove him to the hospital.  Being the states, he was in and out in under two hours.  He had second degree burns to most of his hand but his fingertips were spared.  None of the kids were hurt despite being close by.

The doctor also told him not to let the incident lessen his enjoyment of setting off fireworks on the Fourth of July.  We thought the same so we let the kids have fun after Geoff and Melissa left and drove them home after the finale.  Miles was a great navigator, getting us out of the neighbourhood onto a road we knew.

Geoff spent the night battling pain with drugs but seemed better the next day.  He couldn't go into work but joined us for lunch at Mellow Mushroom Pizzeria.  Glen and I shared my favourite, a vegetarian pizza called Kosmic Karma.  It was a great way to end our holiday in Aurora.

See photos here.

Family Time -- Aurora

We arrived in Aurora Sunday night (June 26th) and spent Monday relaxing.  Geoff had to work so we lazed around the backyard.  The kids ran through the sprinkler and I had fun capturing their antics with my camera (see photo) while enjoying the shade of their neighbour's tree.

We were to spend the week in town then head to the mountains to camp.  The highlight of the week was a visit to the History Colorado Centre.  During the summer, admission for kids under 18 is free (we saved $16).  Glen was thrilled he paid $2 less because he was a senior.  The museum is downtown but Melissa knew the place to park so we had no problems.  As we stepped into the main atrium, the kids rushed over to a R2D2 type unit and began pushing it across the floor.  A shiny brass disc embedded in the floor activated the machine telling us various aspects of Colorado history.  Each floor of the museum provided hands-on displays which the kids loved.  You could do school lessons in a one-room schoolhouse (nobody wanted to be reminded of school), work the cash in the general store, collect eggs (wood) from pretend chickens, milk a cow (with its own light show), and experience what it was like to sit in a house during a prairie dust storm of the 1930s.  They also had two temporary exhibits -- one called By Their Hats, Horses, and Homes, We Shall Know Them featuring historic photos of Colorado's early days.  The other, Awkward Family Photos, were pictures taken of real families in some pretty funny/awkward poses.  We all have those photos!

After the museum, we met Geoff at his work, Asynchrony Labs, and had a tour of his office housed in an old brick warehouse.  What a great feeling of space.  We planned having drinks at a nearby restaurant but its dining area was closed so we drove to Postino Wine Café (you had me at wine).  We dropped Glen off to secure us a table then found a place to park.  The restaurant is located in the Lower Highlands (LoHi in Denver parlance), a vibrant community of modern condos just north of downtown.  The building was built in the 60s to house the Denver BookBinding Company.  It was a warm night so Postino's had opened their windows to let a breeze flow through.  Glen chose a large banquette on the cusp of the patio.  Not only did they serve wine, but the kids had lemonade and Glen, Geoff, and I had local craft beer.  We ordered three 'boards' to be shared--cheese, butcher's, and pub.  The almond hummus was incredible as were the aged meats and cheeses.

Usually when Glen and I go to a restaurant, we're there for supper as well as appies but no, Geoff wanted to try out an alehouse down the street.  Way down the street.  We walked off some of the appies to reach it.  Called The Ale House at Amato's, it is housed in a place that originally made statuary and fountains.  The Amato family left some pieces behind and the restaurant honoured the building's past by adding their name to the ale house.  Owned by Breckenridge Brewing company, it proudly features this brewery's craft beer.  I enjoyed a Colorado Lamb Pita Salad.  I burned it off climbing back up the hill to the car.

See photos here.

The Good Guys Lost??

We weren't the only ones who have stopped by Little Bighorn to check out the National Monument, friends of Geoff and Melissa took their kids there.  After watching the video of the battle, the youngest told his grandfather that the 'good guys' lost.  When you're young, you want to be the good guy.  As you age, you learn humans can be good and bad.  At the Battle of Little Bighorn, the U.S. 7th Calvary lost to a confederacy of Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors.  Once the good guys, history now paints the Calvary as the ones who deserved to lose.

Glen wanted to see the re-enactment so we made a special stop at Little Bighorn in Montana on June 25th.  The show is hosted by the Crow people and is on their reservation south of Last Stand Hill.  It is at this bend in the river, Indian oral history tells us, that Lt. Col. Custer (see photo) fell (many historians dispute this).  They call it the Battle of Greasy Grass.

The show was to start at 1:00 but since it was first come, first serve, we decided to get there early.  We arrived at 10:00 and weren't the first.  Parking is in a huge field but isn't unlimited so getting there early was a good idea (cost per adult is $20.00).  We were told we could explore the Calvary Camp on the shores of the Little Bighorn River so that's what we did.  We spoke a young lady dressed as a private and learned she was an anthropology student.  As I took pictures, Glen questioned a gun enthusiast who had a display of rifles used by the calvary.  Only the officers carried pistols.

I wandered to the river and over the hill, came the Calvary!  What an incredible sight.  They were riding two by two down to the river to cross back into camp.  The volunteers had been there for a couple of weeks rehearsing for the show and were still working out the kinks.  It was nice to see the horses up close.  I wasn't the only one snapping pictures.

After crossing the river, they scattered and dismounted.  We met a few of them as they wandered through the camp.  A young man with a split beard caught my eye and we had a chat.  Turns out he portrayed Custer's Adjutant, 1st Lt. William Cooke.  We wished him luck and he laughed saying he was sure they would win this year.

We then made our way to the bleachers as they were beginning to fill up.  I noticed the top seats had backs so scrambled up to them.  Glen couldn't figure why until I pointed out we could lean back.  We ate our lunch and watched as the Crow natives rode back and forth on various errands.  Around noon, the emcee began to tell the story of the battle from the Indian point of view (and yes, he used that word).  He also told of how he got involved in the re-enactment.  By 1:00 the stands were full and the show began.  The major players were introduced and we learned that Sitting Bull was portrayed by a young Canadian.

All the while, the native boys were riding bareback, slipping on and off their horses.  When Custer was introduced, they galloped around the calvary.  The lad who played Crazy Horse was just as crazy as the name implies.  What was most impressive was when they galloped across the river with no hesitation, neither horse nor rider afraid.

A drum circle chanted during the quite moments as various historical characters paraded across the field.  The emcee told of how the West was explored and how the Indians lived.  Jim Bridger was there.  We'd learned about him from a Johnny Horton song.  So were Lewis and Clarke.

While the Calvary was getting ready for the battle, the Indians brought a herd of horses onto the Greasy Grass meadow.  Some of these horses were for sale so it was a chance to show them off.  I went nuts taking photographs.  I was glad I had my telephoto as they were quite far away.

The battle began when Crazy Horse galloped over the river and taunted Custer and his Calvary.  This actually happened, drawing the calvary into the area where the natives could fight them.  We watched the battle across the river and in the end, there were no more calvary and the Indians came riding back with hats and swords.  What a wild bunch!

Afterwards, you could meet the calvary and Indians and have your picture taken with whomever you chose.  There were also several breaks in the program for people to have photos taken with the stars so it was a laid-back kind of show.  Great fun for the whole family.

If you go, be sure to wear sunscreen as there is no shade and a hat is essential.  We were lucky as a stiff breeze kept us cool but it is a hot, dry place.  Some kids sold water and drinks throughout the show so if you aren't prepared, they were very willing to sell you something.  They also had a food stand selling "genuine Indian tacos" as our emcee called them.  T-shirts and souvenirs are also sold on site.

Leaving the parking lot was a bit iffy but we got out in about 15 minutes so were on the road by 3:00.  It was certainly an event worth doing.

See photos here.

Road Trip '16 -- There.....

On June 24th, we headed off to visit grandkids in Aurora.  Glen loves the drive down through Montana and Wyoming but he didn't feel our 2007 Saab would make it so, we bought a new-to-us 2013 Santa Fe SUV.  It has all the creature comforts like air conditioning which the Saab lacked.

We left Calgary, stopping in Claresholm for a break.  We'd been there before but the old railway station museum had been closed.  We did a brief tour of some of their artifacts then headed to Lethbridge.  It's always neat going under the longest and highest railway trestle in the world.  However, the city road meanders through town so travel time is slowed.  Too late, I learned that the truck route was the way to go.

Upon reaching the border we reminisced about our last trip through Coutts/Sweetgrass when Officer Hastings had issues with us bring a load of furniture down for Geoff (see Helena, Herc, Helena).  This time there seemed to be no issues although the officer asked if our grandsons cheered for the Broncos.  Duh!  His computer then told him to look under our hood which he did, then declared, yes, there was an engine in there.  Good to know!

We gassed up in Shelby, Montana then headed to Great Falls.  We stopped for lunch near the Whoop Up trail stop where we had lunch on our first trip south (see Road Trip 2010).  At Great Falls, we headed east, leaving the Interstate behind.  The idea was to cut across Montana and shorten our trip to Billings.

Ten hours later, we arrived at our hotel so the trip Goggle said would take 8 hours took much longer.  In part due to weather issues.  The first storm we hit was torrential rain.  Water sluiced across the highway.  Glen had wondered why the Santa Fe had 19 inch tires but during this, he was glad to have extra rubber on the road.  We were just drying off when strong winds buffeted the car. It's pretty bad when a passenger can tell how hard it is to keep the car on the road.

Then came the hail.  No, we didn't have to worry about our sun roof because the wind was blowing it horizontally across the highway.  We could barely see in front of us but there was no shoulder so we crept along.  Finally, as we crested a hill, we came upon an access road that allowed us to pull over.  We weren't the only ones.  Being hammered by hail was like having a metal cocktail mixer full of ice shaken beside your ear.  Very scary!!  The hail landing on the ground around us appeared to be about pea sized.

When the storm had eased, we headed to Roundup for gas, then came at Billings from the north.  We didn't realize that there was a route 90 and an Interstate 90 and we took the wrong road.  This spit us out west of the city which meant our journey was longer as we backtracked.  We were hungry and tired which didn't help with navigation.  However, we finally reached our hotel, Hilton's Hampton Inn, dumped our luggage and went next door to the Fiddler's Green Pub.  We'd been there before.  They make great pizza so we had that, washing it down with Bozone Amber Ale made by the Bozeman Brewing Company

The next day we headed to Little Bighorn.  On our first road trip, we stopped here (see Where the Deer and the Antelope Play) and did the museum and cemetery.  It was then we learned the Crow tribe stages an enactment on the anniversary of the Battle.  Glen wanted to this happen so we arrived at 10:00 on June 25th (140th anniversary of the battle). See the next post for a description of what we experienced.

After the enactment, we headed to Sheridan,Wyoming.  It was just before 4pm so plenty of time to get caught up on emails, etc.  The Hampton Inn didn't have a restaurant so we asked for a recommendation and ended up at Sanford's Grub and Pub.  What an unique place!  Ever inch of space was filled with old license plates, posters, and memorabilia of all kinds.  There was even a giant alligator!  Beer, served in quart mason jars, was a local ale made by the Black Tooth Brewery called Bomber Mountain Amber.

The food had a definite southern spin.  We had a plate of Buffalo Wing a Ding Dings then were served on the biggest plate I've ever seen Southern Fried Catfish with Crawfish sauce.  Too much food!

A trick we've learned when travelling is to buy your lunch first thing in the morning then you aren't caught somewhere without food, especially when that somewhere is Wyoming (see Oh yes, Wyoming).  It seems most gas stations we stopped at had a Subway restaurant next door.  So, while other customers were buying breakfast sandwiches, I ordered lunch.  We had an insulated bag that kept the drinks cool so it worked out well.

Sunday, we drove through some spectacular landscapes and even at 130 km/hr, the beauty could be savoured.  I experimented with taking photos from the car window which can be seen on my Shutterfly site.  We stopped for lunch in Douglas.  We had no idea why Douglas was there in the middle of nowhere but it was a going concern.  The information centre is well off the highway and Glen almost gave up trying to find it.  An old railway station houses a small gift shop and it is surrounded by an old engine, dining and sleeper cars.  A small park had two picnic tables in the shade.  Very welcoming!  We chatted with the older couple manning the place and learned all about Jackalopes.  This strange creature is a cross between a jackrabbit and an antelope.  We had our photo taken next to one (see photo above) and received a hunting license should we wish to shoot one ourselves (assuming we had a gun).  Hunting season is June 31 (check a calendar).

Originally, Douglas was a stop on the railroad that functioned as a supply depot for surrounding ranchers.  The station was built in 1886 and named for a US senator.  It continues to be home to cowboys although there are oilfields outside of town.

Glen was enamoured with the restored dining car as it was exactly like the one his family enjoyed as they travelled from Ottawa to Colorado Springs 50 years ago.  Etched in his memory is the time he had his first bowl of cream of wheat while sitting in Union Station in Denver.  Little did he know then that his son would live there and his two grandkids would be Denverites.

As soon as you hit the Wyoming/Colorado border, traffic triples and it is slow going as you pass through Fort Collins and its satellite communities.  We took the toll road that goes from the airport to Geoff's place in Aurora.  It was nice to be settled and enjoy home cooking.

See photos here.

Ottawa Reunion

In the fall, my mother (92) fell.  She required knee surgery that led to several months in the hospital.  My sister, Lynda, became her primary advocate with my baby sister, Nancy, helping out.  Both visited as much as they could.

I had been in the habit of calling my mom but with moves from hospital to rehab to a care facility, this became impossible so I began writing weekly letters.  My sisters kept me informed of Mom's progress but it wasn't the same as being there.

Once Mom had settled into the AltaVista Manor, I made plans to fly to Ottawa and visit her and the rest of the family.  Lynda took time off work and hosted Glen and me in her lovely townhouse.  She created some wonderful meals and we enjoyed relaxing with her after busy days of visiting.

I'm a bit of a worrywart and when I saw the booking reference for our flights, I grew concerned.  Doesn't PERBLM resemble 'problem' to you?  However, the flight east was uneventful and we didn't have to get up early to catch it (always a bonus).  Lynda and her boyfriend, Chris, picked us up -- it's always nice to be met at the airport.

We couldn't believe the amount of snow in Ottawa.  Two weeks before, they endured dumps of 50 and 25 centimetres.  Lynda's garden was buried.  But, over the course of the week, it melted enough to reveal daffodils and tulips growing.

With Lynda

Lynda and Chris acted as chauffeurs during our stay so Glen got a break from driving.  And Lynda is the queen of breakfast dining!  I told Glen not to get used to such pampering.

After Lynda's delicious suppers, we'd watch movies or TV.  The first film we saw was "Steve Jobs".  It affirmed what we knew--Jobs was not a nice person.  The second movie was "Across the Universe", a 2007 musical set in New York featuring Beatle's music.  It was very well done.  Chris's favourite animation is "Frozen" and we'd never seen it (comes from having grandsons and no granddaughters).  The final movie we saw was "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel".  It was excellent and had us wanting to travel to India.  We also watched several episodes of MASH.

Monday (Day 3 of our visit) was Lynda's yoga day so she convinced me to join her.  I've let my yoga sessions slip over the last 6 months but she assured me it was yin yoga and I'd be fine.  I wasn't.  I've never used pillows, blocks or bolsters while doing yoga so.  I also wasn't used to holding my positions for so long.  Suffice to say, I hobbled around moaning and groaning for two days afterward.

Lynda is famous for her teas so on Wednesday (Day 5), she invited some of her friends over to meet us and enjoy sandwiches, sweeties, tea, and wine.  It was nice to put faces to the names I'd heard over years.  What a nice bunch!  Some were retired, some semi-retired but all seemed busy working on various projects.  It inspired us to think over our own retirement plans.

Thursday (Day 6), Lynda wanted to check out another care facility for Mom so she and I went to see what the Garry Armstrong (had the right name) had to offer.  Owned by the city of Ottawa, it has 180 rooms and a lovely open dining room on each floor.  Even the semi-private rooms had windows.

Friday (Day 7), we went to Beechwood Cemetery to view the grave of Glen's mom, dad, aunt, grandfather, grandmother and older brother (very much a family reunion) as well as the one belonging to his Grandfather Armstrong and grandmother.  The snow had melted enough so we could reach the graves and pay our respects.  We also found one of two letterboxes hidden nearby.  We had lunch at the Clocktower Pub and Craft Brewery in New Edinburgh.  Its unique pub menu had an Asian flare so I ordered the Korean Beef Sandwich and Glen had Cheddar and Bacon Grilled Cheese while Lynda ordered their Classic Burger.  She and I enjoyed their Bytown Brown Ale while Glen had their Bitters.  Very tasty!

Saturday night (Day 8), I made my 'famous' pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw and Lynda bought an apple pie.  We had a great dinner with Chris joining us.  I had made a mistake while mixing the pork rub spices but the sandwiches were still good.

Sunday (Day 9), I spent the morning packing then we went for a walk to Lynda's grocery store.  Chris arrived around 3:00 and we headed to the airport.  After supper in the Bytown Taps Pub (too much arugula!) we boarded the plane.  We were 30 minutes late leaving due to a computer problem but the pilot made up the time.  We were home within a half hour which is some kind of record.  The taxi driver forgot to set his meter (the first time I've heard a driver swear) but we knew what we usually pay and he was happy with that.

With Nancy

Sunday (Day 2) morning we headed out to Lanark County to visit Nancy and her husband, Andy.  We were to meet at Wheelers for a pancake breakfast.  It is a family business begun by Vernon and Judy Wheeler in 1978 with a sugar shack selling maple syrup products.  They opened their pancake house in 1996 having built it with logs and lumber from their sugar bush and derelict barns in the area.  At first it only served customers when the sap was running but after the ice storm of 1998, they decided to open year round.  They developed several hiking trails and in 2000, opened a museum using Vernon's collection of maple syrup artifacts (it holds a Guinness world record).

Over 200 kilometres of tubing bring the sap from 15,000 maple trees to the sugar shack making the Wheelers' 600 acres of forest look like a giant cat's cradle.  The sap is boiled down in huge evaporators.  Forty litres of sap creates 1 litre of syrup for those who love numbers.

Apparently, it is tradition that families head to Wheelers for Sunday breakfast during spring break.  We hadn't realized this but the change to daylight savings time, gave us a leg up on getting there before the crowds.  Or so we thought.  The place was packed but they were well-organized.  A parking attendant showed us where to park and we put our names on the list for a table.  I ducked into the bathroom and when I came out, everyone was sitting at a table.

I ordered the Sugar Bush Special which was two pancakes and three maple flavoured pork sausages.  The cakes were huge but so fluffy I had no problems gobbling them down.  Glen had the Canadian which was french toast, pancakes and sausages.  Chris and Andy had the same while Lynda had French Toast and sausage.  Wheelers also makes gluten-free pancakes so Nancy could enjoy them as well.  No one worried about running out of maple syrup!

After a touring the museums, we headed to Nancy's place.  She has a beautiful home off the grid in the hills of Lanark.  We did a tour of the new work they've done then enjoyed cheese, prosciutto and sweeties with wine, beer and tea.  Oh, and lots of laughs.

With Aunty Mabel

On Monday (Day 3), after a visit with Mom, Lynda drove us to my aunt's apartment.  It was good to get caught up on her news.  She leads a very busy life and everyone in the building seems to know her.  She told us a few funny stories about them.

With Victor

Tuesday (Day 4) we entertained my cousin (Mabel's son), Victor, his wife Wendy and their two kids, Colin and Valerie.  I was shocked to learn Colin had started searching for universities to attend.  Wasn't it yesterday that he was born?  He's tall and into science.  Victor is dealing with some health issues but he didn't come to discuss them.  We had lots of fun enjoying his 'joie de vivre'.  Wendy even got a few words in.  Valerie got bored so watched the movie "In and Out" while the adults chatted.  We ordered two pizzas from Gabriel's for lunch.

Founded by Michael Hanna in 1977, Gabe's is a successful immigrant story of how one determined man made a place for himself and his family in Canada.  Michael landed in Ottawa with little money and no English.  He began his career as a bus-boy.  After bringing his brothers and parents to Canada, they opened a pizzeria in the town of Orleans, just outside Ottawa.  There are now 23 franchises throughout the region.  Their pizza was delicious!


With Mom

Our plans for Saturday (Day 1) was a visit with Mom.  We had a nice lunch in the manor dining room  (see photo) although I believe my veal stew came from a can and Glen's eggs benedict had only one poached egg.  The soup was good and Mom's chicken sandwich looked tasty.  She couldn't eat it all so Glen polished it off.  Dessert was a date bar or honeydew.  I explained this to Mom calling it a honeydew melon.  According to the server there is only one melon and that's watermelon.

We also had a short visit with Mom before seeing Mabel on Monday (Day 3).  Lynda played pool with Mom's new boyfriend and the rest of us watched.  Mom loves playing pool but has to be careful not to push herself as her knee is still painful.  Lynda did get her walking with her walker down the hall and was happy with her progress.

Our next visit was to enjoy St. Patrick's Day celebrations on Thursday (Day 6).  The manor had a quartet of gospel singers playing Irish tunes in the lobby.  We had bought some head-decor at the dollar store so were ready to party.  Nancy and Andy arrived first and Chris drove us there so we were quite the group.  Other than someone's medical alarm sounding, the concert was pretty low-key. Glen said if they played Danny Boy, he would leave but when the woman sang this song, I think everyone wanted to leave.  It isn't an easy song and she had problems.

Afterwards, we were supposed to go upstairs for green beer.  Only three groups made the trek to the second floor where our family commandeered the biggest table.  Lynda and Chris played pool while the rest of us chatted.  Two small plates of pretzels vanished and several small glasses of beer also disappeared.  When the cookies came around, all the menfolk indulged.  As we were leaving, the entertainment director brought us the rest as she was throwing them out.  Glen, Andy and Chris did not complain.  As I'm not a big fan of green beer, I drank some Guinness when we got back to Lynda's place.

Our final visit with Mom, on Saturday (Day 8), we found her sitting in the lobby watching the flag blowing.  She liked the shapes it created.  I showed her pictures of our time in Victoria and she loved the ones I'd taken of the mergansers.  Lynda ran some errands and when she came to pick us up, discovered Mom's hearing aid was missing.  I hadn't noticed because Mom seemed to be responding well to our conversation.  Lynda has a gift for finding the aid when no one else can and true to form, she found it in the bathroom I thought I had searched well.

It was good seeing Mom in high spirits despite the pain of her knee surgery and recovery.  We enjoyed lots of laughs.  Growing old is hard; watching someone you love age, even more difficult but our visit showed us Mom was still feisty and embracing life.

Visit to the Big, Wet Thing

Anyone who knows me, knows I have always mixed my metaphors.  I don't do this on purpose but for some reason, my brain tangles them up.  Perhaps it comes from working alone and my socializing brain can't think and talk at the same time.  Who knows?  However as I get older, I am also losing my 'noun' recall.  We were in Victoria for a month and one day after buying fish at Finest-at-Sea, I told Glen I want to drive by the ocean on the way home.  It came out of my mouth as driving by the big, wet thing.  Of course, it became an embarrassing standing joke that apparently never 'got old'.

So yes, we began the year enjoying our condo in Victoria next to the big, wet thing.  I had had a pretty stressful December--I always devote too much energy to Christmas (note to self--not next year).  Christmas was fun but on Boxing Day, we had to pack up all our Christmas decorations, put away our gifts, and pack for Victoria.  We were up very early the next day, flew out of Calgary and were in our condo by 8:30am.  We unpacked, bought groceries, napped then went to Christie's for supper.  After sharing chicken wings, I had gyoza and Glen had fish and chips.  Tip: Christie's gyoza dipping sauce mixed with malt vinegar is a taste sensation.

Rather than bore you with five weeks of 'we did this on this day then that on the next', I'm organizing this blog into activities.

Birthdays:

There are many family birthdays in January but the ones we celebrated in Victoria were mine at the beginning of the month and Glen's in the middle.  I had been ill a few days before mine suffering some sort of stomach flu so the thought of a fancy dinner didn't sit well with me.  All I felt like was dinner out at Christie's (I had a veggie pizza while Glen indulged in their yorkies stuffed with roast beef). However, we began the day with a session at the driving range (the golf courses were closed due to frost) then drove out to Tillicum Centre to see the new Star Wars movie in the afternoon.

Glen's birthday began with a round of golf (you see a pattern here?) then lunch at the clubhouse (with our friends, Janet and Iain).  We had pea soup and half pastrami sandwich special since we knew we'd be dining at the Marina Restaurant that evening.  You only turn 65 once and that is a cause to celebrate (Glen learned he got a discount on his BC car insurance so was chortling all day about that).    He had his favourite liver paté while I had oysters then we both had the catch of the day, ling cod for Glen and trout for me.

As we were being seated, I told the hostess that because it was Glen's birthday, he should have the better view of the harbour.  When we finished eating our fish, the server brought Glen a plate on which the chef had written Happy Birthday.  It had a single candle and three chocolate truffles. Very sweet of them!  It didn't stop Glen from ordering a creme brulée for dessert.

We were up early the next day to continue his celebration with breakfast at The Shine Café.  We had planned to do this on New Years Day but they didn't open until 9:00 and we couldn't wait that long.  Glen had their signature Eggs Benedict with roasted potatoes while I had their Nemo which featured smoked salmon rather than ham.  I asked for Scottish potato scones which looked more like pancakes than biscuits.

Walking:

There were a few days of solid rain but mostly the weather was cloudy with showers and an occasional jolt of sunshine.  This made walking a treat although we didn't get in as much as we'd planned.  However, we did go down Fort Street so Glen could buy some cigars and several times made our way to the MokaHouse coffee shop via the grocery store.  We also did the trip to Hillside Mall, checking out all the new townhouses being build along Shelbourne Rd.  One day, Monica, a Calgary friend, invited us to coffee at her favourite place, Serious Coffee on Oak Bay Ave and we walked there to meet her.

We also strolled along the beach at Cadboro Bay.  Originally we planned going to Willows Beach but took the scenic route and ended up on the wrong beach.  There were two sailboat wrecks, one of which created controversy as its owners had abandoned it.  It was rather unsightly but made for interesting photos.

Our only garden trek was to Beacon Hill Park.  I wanted to re-plant a lost letterbox and see what was blooming (roses, primroses, and early rhododendrons).  The peacocks were pairing up so we saw several tails displayed.  On our way back to the car, Glen and a Iroquois native began chatting.  He told us of his spirit animals and how he had spit at the feet of the Queen of England.  He had fought in Vietnam and met more dignitaries than I can list.  I began to think he was a bit like Forrest Gump.  He probably thought we were gullible white guys and was laughing at us inside.

Golfing:

We wanted to experience winter golf this year and had the chance to do so several times. The Ridge at Cordova Bay is a well-drained and maintained course so playing there was fun although I had to bundle up.  At one point, I had on 5 layers of clothing.  Janet and Iain joined us and we had lots of laughs over the frustrations of the game.  Twice we went to lunch with them at Bill Mattick's Restaurant in the clubhouse of the Cordova Bay Golf Course.

We also played Cedar Hill Golf course twice.  The first time was a slog but we pretty much had the same score as in the summer.  The second time, the conditions were worse.  We had had a deluge of rain a couple of days before and it did not improve the course.  I was up to my ankles in water in places and hitting from the fairway meant getting a muddy shower.  We played with an older gent called Geoff who said we must create winter golf rules to make play enjoyable.  He often drove his cart partway down the fairway to tee off and he'd move his ball to higher ground if it landed in a muddy patch.  If there is a next time, I will not keep score, that's for sure!

Birding:

Diane and Tony often do a birding trip around the Gulf Islands on a BC Ferry and invited us to join their group.  The first Sunday trip was cancelled due to high winds and rain.  The second one was a go so we awoke at 5:15am to get to the ferry in time to join the rest, picking up Diane and Tony along the way.  Glen was determined to get a senior's discount so told the ticket seller that he was 65.  The man replied, well, I'm 60.  After a moment's silence, I started to laugh.  There are no discounts for seniors on the ferries on the weekend and rightly so.  Our group consisted of 38 birders and I was the only one without binoculars.  Glen had borrowed Tony's old pair.  I figured I'd use my camera if I needed to see anything.  It was a great day for the trip with no rain and little wind but cool enough for gloves.  And we did see lots of birds, mostly in the harbour areas.

The ferry we caught, the Bowen Queen, does a circle route and we remained on board the entire time.  First stop was Pender Island where we saw Pelagic Cormorants whose feathers were iridescent in the sun.  Most of the cars left the ferry here.  Our next stop was Village Bay on Mayne Island (we often buy Village Bay oysters here in Calgary).

As we were going into the narrows between Mayne and Galiano Islands, I wandered off to take photos of the ferry.  A young crew member asked me if I'd like to see the bridge.  He had two men in tow so I guess I was the token woman.  He told us that only a few were invited up to the bridge so I had no time to alert the others of my luck (big mistake).  It was an amazing experience where I talked charts (which they don't use anymore) and sailing with the captain.  He had been in the Canadian Navy and since my Dad had sailed with the British Navy during the war, I felt a strong bond with him.  I also learned a lot about the currents between the islands and how ferry system works.

As we approached the Galiano ferry dock, another ferry came up behind us.  'Traffic control' told the captain he must wait and let the Mayne Queen pick up a dangerous goods truck.  This ferry does a dangerous goods run every Sunday and carries no passengers.  The first mate took the Bowen Queen out into the main channel then brought her around.  Then the captain took over to bring the boat into the dock.  As he did so, I went out on the wheelhouse deck.

I saw Glen on the main deck and called down to him.  If looks could kill!  Turns out he had hunted the ferry for me calling my cellphone several times (for some reason my phone was acting up so I never received the calls).  He was just about to alert the crew I was missing when I called to him.  I spent a bit more time on the deck checking out the birds (remember that's why I was there), then went below to have a picnic lunch with Glen, Diane and Tony.  I was so excited about my adventure that I think Glen forgave me.  Not so sure about the others, though.  I behaved myself on the trip back.  Gotta love the magic of travel experiences!!

Dining:

My mother always says reading my blogs makes her hungry so having a section on food seems appropriate.  To me travel is all about experiencing the food a region offers.  I've already described a few of our meals but others are worth mentioning, too.

It's been several years since we had a meal at The Swans Brewpub.  Diane suggested we meet them there so we walked down.  It built up our appetite (Glen had prawn linguine while I enjoyed their veggie panini) and excellent beer (I had oatmeal stout).  We ate on their covered, glassed-in patio under a very good heater.  I actually removed my outer layers!  Diane wanted to make us shepherd's pie (she is a fantastic cook) so we made plans to meet for lunch at their house in Gordon Head.

This seemed to be a theme for while dining with Janet and Iain after golf (chowder and smoked salmon bagel at Bill Mattick's), Janet invited us to lunch at their place.  She served a wonderful seafood dish that still has my mouth watering.  The reason for the visit was to meet her sister.  Apparently, Grace thought we were 'invisible friends'.  Although born in Scotland, Grace came to Canada to teach and met her husband, a native Victorian, and settled in BC.

The Beagle Pub has become a favourite haunt of ours in Cook Street Village.  It's a cozy place to dine after a walk in Beacon Hill park.  Glen had fish and chips while I ate a halibut wrap.  The table next to us seemed to be a group of older gentlemen enjoying stories and laughs.  One ordered apple crisp for dessert and reluctantly shared it with his companions.  Glen decided he wanted one, too.  Well it wasn't long before the old men kidded him about sharing with them.  As we lingered over coffee, the group left.  One had propped his cane near my chair and when he came over, explained they were all ex-RCAF, the oldest being 97, the youngest 80.  They met once a week but had to have a walk beforehand (some had walkers in tow).  He and Glen talked planes for a bit before his comrades called him over to re-join them.

What would a trip to Victoria be without a meal at Don Mee's?  As usual, we filled our table with dim sum goodness, getting all our favourites and adding ginger beef and BBQ pork to the mix.  We had enough leftovers for dinner and lunch the next day.  Which was just as well as I spent the day preparing a lunch for Diane and Tony, making the base for sausage soup, the meat sauce for lasagna, and baking Italian lemon cakes.

Since I didn't feel like cooking supper, we planned an evening at Christie's with our floor neighbours, Ray and Cynthia.  They keep an eye on our place while we are away and are very sweet people.  We walked over to Christie's and thoroughly enjoyed our meal together.  Glen and Ray had meatloaf while Cynthia had fish and chips and I enjoyed chicken quesadillas.  During dinner we made plans to meet up with their daughters at Sue's new townhouse.  We hope to move into a townhouse when Glen retires so were anxious to see an example of the newer ones.  We fell in love with it!!  So much room and so much light.  Exactly what we need.

Tradition has it that we dine at airport The White Spot when we fly out of Victoria.  Glen contends they have the best burgers anywhere and I love the light batter of their fish and chips.  We had plenty of time before our flight so instead of sitting in our living room waiting to leave, we left.  When we hit the restaurant it was very busy but we got a nice booth where I could easily stash our hand luggage.  Just as we finished eating, the whole place emptied out.  Glen asked the waiter if it were something we said.  Turns out the young man was a native Islander and also served tables at a golf course which he said we should play.

Work:

It wasn't all fun, games and eating, of course as Glen had scientific papers to review, media interviews to give, lectures to create, and a conference to organize.  I also did work on the conference website, knitted, and spun.  Added to the normal tasks involved with running a household, Glen also re-grouted the master bath's tub.  One day, I hope to lay a tiled floor in there.  We keep promising ourselves this but the whirlwind that is Victoria sweeps away our best intentions.

Better Late Than Never

I'm pretty sure I've used this title before as sometimes life gets in the way of blogging.  This time I was forced from procrastination mode by a good friend.  She knew I'd been to visit the grandkids in November and when she didn't see my blog post, was worried about me.  A fan and a friend.  Thanks, Jennifer!!  The reason I didn't write was because we had more of a 'family' experience than a 'travel' one but that's really not a good excuse.

As readers of these pages know, I love Thanksgiving (see Another Wonderful Thanksgiving) and a bonus of having an American arm to our family tree is I can sometimes squeeze two thanksgivings into a year.  The Canadian holiday is the second Monday in October whereas the US celebrates the last Thursday in November.  Both enjoy the same foods (turkey, stuffing/dressing, potatoes, root veggies, and pies) and the same sense of thankfulness for a good harvest and a loving family.

We enjoyed our Canadian feast with our daughter, Meg and her husband, Mike.  They had just returned from a holiday in Victoria so we had fun hearing about their adventures (the strata had changed the lock on our condo while they were out being tourists).

Our flight to Denver began with my leaving my camera bag at the gate.  Our seats were at the very back (that's where you end up when using airline points) so I had to 'swim upstream' to reach the gangway to retrieve it.  I don't think the flight attendant was going to let me leave but I just brushed passed her in good 'old lady' fashion.  The gate attendant didn't stop me as I bustled past her and grabbed my bag.  It looked very lonely on the empty bench and I was glad someone hadn't reported it abandoned or had blown it up!

Back on board, I made friends with those around me as they sympathized with my plight.  Glen and I were not sitting together so I made friends with a woman from Grande Prairie and a man from Colorado Springs.  Both were hockey fans with children involved in the sport so I learned what I had missed (not much).

We landed in a snow storm--a harbinger of the week ahead.  It took us 3 hours to drive to Geoff's house, a trip that usually takes 30 minutes.  We had the grandsons Elijah and Miles with us as Melissa was at a concert.  They finally fell asleep at 11:00 pm, just before we got home.

Normally the weather of Denver at this time of year mimics Calgary's in October so we brought our polar fleeces and rain jackets and not our winter coats.  There were some shivery days and the traditional Thanksgiving football game played by the Armstrong males was abandoned although Miles and Glen did spend some time outside-Miles making snow angels while Grampy shoveled.

Since the kids had the day before Thanksgiving off, Melissa suggested we see the Poisons and Sherlock Holmes exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.  She used to work as a volunteer at this wonderful place and so it has a soft spot in our hearts.  It also has the best view of the city!

We spent most of the morning going through the exhibits and doing all the interactive aspects of the Sherlock Holmes display.  It was very well done.  Glen and Miles solved the crime!  I don't want to give away any spoilers as the exhibit goes to Edmonton's Telus World of Science in March and I know some Albertans read this blog.  Go see it, if you can, it is so worth the money.

We were all famished afterwards so Melissa suggested we go to Fat Sully's for lunch.  It was close to one of her concert venues, a dive bar that looked like it had seen better days but I gather that's the definition of a good dive bar.  At the restaurant, Melissa assured us one slice of pizza was all we needed and she was so right.  The boy's slices were almost as big as they were (see above photo).  Due to its popularity, we had to wait for a table but as luck would have it, two became available.  We wisely chose the booth.

Other than a take-home meal of Jim 'N Nicks BBQ, we enjoyed the great cooking of Melissa and Geoff and the wonderful beer one can drink in Denver.  We had great fun playing with the kids building things with Lego and creating our own card games (who knew there was such a thing as 2 person, collaborative solitaire?)

The only downside of such a late Thanksgiving holiday is Christmas comes up much faster.  I had to hit the ground running when we arrived back in Calgary.  What with hosting an open house and getting six packages of gifts ready to send off to points across Canada, I had no time to write this blog.  Now I'm glad Jennifer 'twisted my arm' as I could re-live that fun time!