Day 10: Visiting Vikings and watching for huldefolk…

New Iceland

Gimli has been on the top of my list of places to visit since day one of planning this cross country journey. However, Gimli has been on my radar for years. Why? My Nana had her “cuppa”(her all-day coffee) out of a Gimli, Manitoba mug on the regular right up until her passing. I grew up listening about stories of Iceland and hearing of the Viking settlement Gimli. Learning about the huldufolk or as she would say “The Little People” and of the Icelandic folk who loved making music, writing stories, and watching for faeries.

Gimli is known as New Iceland. Named by the first wave of Icelandic persons who immigrated there, as they were promised land by the Manitoba government to farm and build their lives. It wasn’t an easy transition. The journey across was treacherous and the winters were hard. Out of 300 who immigrated, only 50 stayed! Though they were great fisherman in Iceland, the new comers struggled on Lake Winnipeg. Fortunate for them, the First Nations were welcoming and willing to teach them how to fish these waters.

Now for the exploration of Gimli by our crew. We were welcomed to Gimli by a mighty Viking, standing tall near the harbour of Lake Winnipeg. To enter Viking Park you come through the concrete border, which has Gimli’s history etched on metal plaques. Gardens encompass the mighty statue. While Icelandic family plaques line the walkway presented by loved ones and those who donated to the park.

Next was the New Iceland Heritage Museum. A small museum but with great character. We began with a short film about the immigration to Manitoba and the new beginnings of those who braved the journey. Displays of poetry, tools, the homesteads, and clothing kept us busy. And then…then Moose and Bowie found the dress-up corner. Complete with swords, spears, furs and of course Viking helmet’s. We had our fun and visited the gift shop and away we went.

We enjoyed shopping and browsing for a little while until lunchtime. We all made our way to Europa. A small, kind of strange looking place covered with posters of food items everywhere. But a slamming busy restaurant, people coming and going nonstop, must be good. And it was, including the biggest poutine I’ve ever seen, not even Bowie could finish it.

After lunch we made our way to the waterfront and really took in how big Lake Winnipeg is! Looking in the distance you could see white caps from the wind, and big waves were crashing the shore. The breakwater protecting the harbour has murals painted along, some were in the process of being restored.

We hopped into the truck for one final stop…an important one: Sugar Me Cookie Boutique. A friend I met at work told me about them years ago and even shared a prairie treat with me. So I made sure to visit now that I am finally here. Vinarterta…ask any Icelander from the prairies and they’ll fill you in. Dates or Prunes and Icing vs No Icing…that is a long standing debate. I used to make one with my Nana around Christmas, and I still make mine every year, but Sugar Me Cookie’s Vinarterta is next level!

Treats ✅️ Souvenirs ✅️ Good times had ✅️

It was time to go. We made our way back to Winnipeg. Loaded up the jeep and said our goodbyes. Until next time Winnipeg.

Now unbeknownst to me…we had one more milestone to hit today.

The Centre of Canada 🇨🇦

At this point we have been travelling for 10 days! Then we see the Manitoba Stars. An attraction coming up…The Centre of Canada. We have officially made it half way across the incredible Great White North! 96° 48′ 35″ The Longitudinal Centre of Canada.

We pushed on after that crossing the border into Ontario, Chris’s home province. We had a hotel booked to stay the night in Kenora.

Until tmrw, cheers Mel xo 🤗

Day 9: Exploring Winnipeg with an old Islander…

Grab a tea or a coffee, because this post is a long one thanks to a great day in Winnipeg, Manitoba!

Good Morning Winnipeg!!! Great start to day 9, Cousin was working from home for the morning. Chris and Moose slept in while Bowie and I got up and played with the kids, the fluffy white cat Kiki and Willow the half husky with the biggest, cutest ears! Who also likes to rub your leg, hand or foot with her paw so you have to pay attention to her. While cousin was working he was even making breaky for everyone (egg sandwiches with sausage, ham, tomatoes and cheese). When he was finished work, we all got ready and headed out for our tour of Winnipeg.

The Forks:

First, The Forks. I was unsure what to expect, maybe a little market by the river…NOPE. A massive 2 story indoor market with food vendors and shops alike. With an expansive outdoor grounds that extends out along the river boardwalk. A gem of a place for Winnipeg. These aren’t just restaurants or fooderies, these are top notch culinary delights. As well as fun shops to explore, many that you won’t find anywhere else. There was families and tourists like us, but also the regulars. People just chillin on the couches in the lounge upstairs. Stroller groups of Moms, getting coffees. Others who came for a beer, oh did I forget to say that. Yes a full beer and wine bar open amongst all the other vendors.

A unique meeting place for all.

We shopped and browsed every store in The Forks. Took the elevator to the very top and had a panoramic view of the whole locale. We went on a walk about down to the dock just steps away from the market on the Assiniboine River. Now, it’s not called the forks because of the amazing food vendors. To find out more, our group hopped on a river tour with Captain Guy. Our first historical stop on the tour was at the legislative building. Here our Captain directed our attention to the statue of Louis Riel, the founder of Manitoba. Riel was an advocate of the Métis for their land and rights and led 2 rebellions before being hanged for treason. Capt. Guy spoke passionately and warmly of the “Father of Manitoba”. He also discussed ‘The Golden Boy’ who stands atop the legislative building. The Golden Boy is modelled after the Roman god, Mercury. In one hand he holds high a flame; to represent the youth who are the future of Manitoba. In his other hand a bushel of wheat; to represent the fruits of labour. The Captain sped us away to many historic places along the rivers. One of my favourite stops was the ‘Esplande Riel’, which crosses the Red River. A foot-passenger bridge that was once a restaurant, unsuccessfully due to NO PARKING in the very cold Winnipeg winters. It is now an IT building. Note: The Red River got its name by an explorer for its reddish-brown colour.

OK, so did you put two and two…rivers together? Yes you got it. The Forks got its name for where the 2 rivers meet: The Assiniboine River and The Red River, in the heart of Winnipeg. Indigenous Elders have said Winnipeg meant “muddy-waters” for how the water appeared when the two rivers met. Both rivers were used as a means of transport, trade and politics for many Indigenous nations and later European fur traders. We all soaked up the sun, the easy breeze and the history until we returned to the dock.

After our tour finished, we walked along the river boardwalk and fed geese and ducks. Moose was one with the goose, hand feeding some corn to one in particular…until it pecked him. We explored the grounds and the Oodena Celebration Circle, a way to view constellations with the naked eye during certain times of the year. Cousin had a quick appointment at lunch time, so we found ourselves at Wienerpeg. Home of the most incredible hotdogs with fun and tasty home made toppings (the Scandinavian for me, the Wienerpeg for Moose and Poutine for Bowie). There is so much to learn and see at The Forks. I highly recommend a visit should you find yourself in Winnipeg, I would spend most weekdays or weekends there on the regular if that was in my backyard.

Assiniboine Park:

Our next stop of the day was to Assiniboine Park, a name that took me half the day to pronounce correctly. Google Maps kept rerouting us to Assiniboine Forrest, attached to the park, but about 10 minutes away from where we were trying to go! So, after getting lost twice and running from an ambulance, we finally found our way to the main parking lot. We met with Cousin and Girlfriend at The Pavilion with all the kids. We wandered the art gallery, which had a Winnie the Pooh exhibit going on. Most of the kids didn’t realize that Winnie was a real bear and that all the stories were inspired by him originally.

There are a lot of attractions at Assiniboine Park, including a zoo, which we decided to forgo today. But we did enjoy the Nature Playground. All the kids needed to run, play and stretch after a busy day at The Forks. We began to walk the grounds, all while enjoying the geese and catching up. The park is very active and lively. Bike riders, runners, walkers and those out for a stroll just like us. We walked and talked with a temporary leave of the park for a surprise. Cousin directed us all across the bridge and across the street to Sargent Sundae. An ice cream store that has been hard a work since 1984 and doesn’t need anything other than its name to attract eager customers. While we all read the menu and ordered, at least 10 people had arrived ahead of us and again after us in a 10 minute period. Whatever your ice cream fancy is, they have it: floats, sundaes, flurries, soft cones, hard cones, malts, milkshakes…and so much more! Sargent Sundae is a Winnipeg staple. Make sure to get in line, it will be worth the wait.

With ice cream in hand we walked back across the bridge and through the forest path over to the English Garden. This had to be my favourite part of the park. Lush garden beds with flashes of colour everywhere. As you follow the brick pathways you find yourself alongside the dense garden beds with blooms and grasses galore. Keep to the paths and you will come across fountains and the cottage. There are many statues in the gardens, including the Queen Victoria Monument which was donated to the City of Winnipeg for her diamond jubilee and relocated to the gardens in the 1960’s. Our final pass through the park was to the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, some of which made Bowie blush. The sculpture garden is met with a large pond full of lily pads and sculptures in every corner, very serene.

We made our way back to the cars. All the kids opted to go with Girlfriend. Chris and I drove…alone…for the first time in a week!!! Back at home we had a quick dinner, then headed outside for an evening fire pit complete with a marshmallow roast!

Winnipeg! What a great day.

Cheers xo Mel.

Day 8: Seeking familial ties & heading to Manitoba for others…

We had a really great stay at the Emerald Park Ramada. The beds and pillows were so comfortable and we all woke up refreshed, thank goodness. Everyone headed down to the cafeteria for breakfast. The dining area is really nice, bright and clean. While we had breaky, Chris and I got caught up on the latest news out of NS and all the clean up efforts going on. We have been in touch with our new landlords and everything there is a-ok. We both look forward to getting there soon to help however we can.

Back on the road we headed to another small town. This time it was for my Grandpa Harold (my Dads father) and his brother Clayton. They were born in a small town called Maryfield, Saskatchewan. Maryfield is about 2 hours and 20 minutes from Emerald Park. When you turn onto the drive you are greeted by signs as you enter, saluting their local champions and notable ‘Whitetail Country’. A very small town indeed with 311 residents, a quiet corner store, post office and The Arlington Hotel. A lovely memorial garden for the residents is situated in the middle of town to have a sit or walk through. I wasn’t sure what buildings, but my grandpa and his brother built a couple in town back in their younger days. Dad and I wondered if they still stood when we spoke on the phone, before we arrived. My memories of my Grandpa Harold are filled with family holidays in Vanderhoof, BC. When we spent summers there we would walk the property, get a peek inside his workshop and play in the fields, even feed the horses. Winters were incredible…SNOW!!! Real, deep, can’t hardly walk snow. Something an Islander kid very rarely experienced. We would toboggan, flop around, even had snow forts built for us. Very special memories indeed.

Now keep in mind, if this is a trip you may do…Saskatchewan very rarley has rest-stops so plan ahead! I was feeling pretty bad for the Truck Divers out there. We headed out from Maryfield and began to make our way to Winnipeg, Manitoba. My cousin, whom I grew up with next-door most of my life now lives there with his 2 kids and girlfriend. So onward we go for 3.5 hours onto hwy 1 and a time change! We were within the Manitoba border about 30 minutes when the landscape began to change. We still had fields of gold, but beyond those were trees, lots of trees. And flashes of purple emerging from the bushes. Slowly the flat fields became rolling fields, how they still look perfectly manicured by the combines and tractors…I’ll never know. We had our first flash of rain, not long 10 minutes maybe, since leaving Vancouver Island. I thought of my friend Laura back home as I passed through her hometown of Brandon on our way through.

FYI Manitoba has their highway signs figured out! For one the highway number or junction you’re on…has a picture of a buffalo on it…ummm fun.

And two, when there is an upcoming attraction or point of interest all you have to do is watch for the shooting stars!

Getting into Winnipeg is interesting. The drivers…many of them hesitate. Hesitate to accelerate at a green light, stop sign or just passing another car. Maybe its because the roads are like being on a ride; bumps and grooves and dips galore. And its not the friendliest city as far as navigation goes. I would know, we’ve just about travelled halfway across Canada at this point. Once we rode the rollercoaster for about 20 minutes we made it to my cousins!

It was dinnertime! And my cousin is a great cook, he actually enjoys it too. Homemade pizza’s and local beers from all over Winnipeg. After the kids headed to bed, the adults dipped into the beers and cider…and a taste from home. A surprise bottle of scotch from Shelter Point Distillery made in Campbell River, BC. Through stories, laughs and cheers, the 4 of us had a great evening getting all caught up.

Bedtime so we can explore Winnipeg tomorrow. Cheers Mel xo

Day 7: Saskatchewan! Going back in time…

Waking up in Lloydminster, AB. A late wake up again. And today started a bit different than the others. Everyone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. It was a very cranky start to the day. Packing was frustrating, everyone leaving their stuff out was frustrating, getting regular hygiene routines was frustrating…for everyone. We headed down to breakfast and were greeted by the nicest waitress. Even though it was a continental breakfast, she took our orders like a full-service restaurant and her smile never waivered. She was my favourite part of our stay. Her smiley presence, however, did not turn our tables mood. We sat and ate in silence, saved our pleasantries for our kind waitress. When finished we packed and loaded the car then hit the road in silence still. I think because we have now been crammed in a car together full time for 7 days, we have hit travel fatigue. We have hit full carload fatigue. We have hit close quarters fatigue. We have hit personal space fatigue. We stared out the windows watching the terrain change to fields of gold and hay bales. The mood in the car began to change slowly with the change in scenery. We turned Moose and Bowies attention to the vast horizon seen from all views of the car. No hills, no big trees, mostly fields, hay and the highway. Many farms have their own lakes and pond, some of which dried out show large amounts of salt! It was the reset we all needed to continue the day in a more positive and pleasant way. The change in energy was truly needed as this was THE driving day. Point A to B, with one stop in mind: Elfros, Saskatchewan. It was 4 hours and 57 minutes to Elfros from Lloydminster. A town that’s name barely comes up on Google maps but held such great significance to me.

Why such a detour for a blip on a map like Elfros, you ask? For my Nana and for me… It was somewhere I felt I must go. Not out of obligation but out of a want for connection. For our family history and for love. Elfros is an Icelandic settlement with a population of 90, no not an error, 90. This community is a part of my heritage, one that I am quite proud of and am continuing to explore and learn about. But more importantly Elfros is where my Nana was born and raised with her siblings; Lenore, Barney, Helgi and Sigrun. All children to David and Helen Johannson whose parents emigrated directly from Iceland. When Nana would tell us stories from her childhood, she would always smile when she spoke of her prairie days. From what I remember, they were of happy times filled with music and storytelling, farming and family. Though I now know tough times were had. They endured harsh winters and freezing temperatures, even freezing blankets.

Getting into Elfros we passed Quill Lakes. Big Quill Lake is so big, it was like having the ocean in the distance. We pulled off hwy 16 onto the dirt road. Took a left turn on Fjord Ave and found the hand-painted ‘Welcome to Elfros’ sign (est. 1909) surrounded by beautiful flowers and waving flags, Canada and Saskatchewan. Included on the sign were the directions to the Icelandic Pioneer Memorial: 3 blocks north, 2 blocks west. Now remember, the population is 90, so you cannot get lost. Elfros is a sweet, charming and incredibly well cared for village. The memorial has a large bronze statue of a family with a plaque below ‘Vatnabyggd’, the Icelandic Club of Saskatchewan. To the left of the statue is a list with many of the settlers’ names from the Lakes Settlement that is also mapped out and then a brief history of the Icelandic settlers who made Saskatchewan and Manitoba their new home. The memorial is surrounded by trees and a peaceful park area. For a small village, its lovely to know that this bit of Canadian history is not only preserved but maintained with care. Moose and Bowie played at the park for a few minutes on Olaf Street before it was time to go. I was about to pull back onto hwy 16…for some reason I wasn’t ready. I turned around and drove through the few streets one last time. Skol Nana.

Making our way to Emerald Park for the night we drove down a rural hwy. And every few farms we would watch those fields be tended to by a farmer as he drove the combine to harvest his crop. It was sunset when we arrived in Emerald Park, how lucky for us. A real Saskatchewan sunset. We checked into the Ramada hotel. Quickly unpacked, got dinner and then went to the pool. We all had a great time as there was 2 waterslides, a sauna, and a hot tub. Great way to end off a wonderful and special day

Goodnight for now xo Mel

Day 6: Getting Ready for West Eddy…

Bowie helped with the blog name today…and it definitely fits the bill. I’m behind on my posts I know. Thank you Fantasyland wifi, or should I say lack there of! It was a struggle to get the last one out and this one has had to wait…but I’ve got some good access today. So, lets catch up.

West Edmonton Mall! Easy start to the day because we were already at our day’s destination, we woke up there. First off breaky and caffeine…at Starbucks. Ok check. Now if you’re in North Americas 2nd Largest Mall, where would you start? For us it was the Lego store. Can I say wow! Bowie had scoped it out already on our evening mall excursion. Now in person I now know, The Lego store… has… EVERYTHING! Star Wars, Harry Potter, Halloween, The Titanic, Bricks of every colour, Build Your Own Lego Character. It is a kid and big kids dream. There was built and on display a near life sized Lamborghini built from Lego bricks, that had working lights and sounds, a 3ft tall Storm Trooper and the Millennium Falcon. We even made our own Lego characters! Did you know you can make your own? Now you do, so here’s how step by step:

1. Scan in your box, once it is paid for. (don’t worry, friendly staff are here to help you)

2. Name your character, whatever you like! Mine – Viking Princess

3. Customize their outfit: You can opt for a premade “shirt”, then customize it with stickers. Or draw your own creative top. Don’t forget the back

4. Once your happy with your design, submit…its off to the printer. Your character gets printed in real time!

5. While in the printing process its time for you to get down to business. Pick a head, hair/hat, legs/dress, and an item or accessory. You can even ask for different arm colours. Moose did.

6. Time to assemble and display *Important note* If there is something specific you are looking for, the incredibly friendly staff will help you find it!

There is so much to do at West Ed it just depends on how you want to spend your day. Waterpark! Amusement Park! Mini Golf! GO-Karts! Shopping! We gave the option to Moose and Bowie. The kids talked about the waterpark, but also wanted to do some serious shopping. They’ve had pools at every hotel stay along the way apart from one, so they chose shopping. It takes 1.5 hours just to briskly walk the entire mall, so we had some ground to cover. We browsed as a group for about an hour. Then Chris and Moose went off on their own and Bowie and I did some solo girl shopping. Everyone worked up an appetite so we all met back up at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co for lunch. Mmmmm Shrimp. We all continued shopping until our feet couldn’t take us anymore. 4 o’clock struck and it was time to get moving on…but where do we put all our bags? The Jeep is full to the max! Well, we MADE them fit with strategic stacking and packing…

We needed to put some distance behind us, so we hopped onto hwy 16 (the Yellowhead), and headed to Lloydminster, AB. This town is about 2 hours 45 minutes away from Edmonton, but it’s on the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan which would set us up to make good time tomorrow.

Fun fact: 2 of my uncles and my aunt lived in Lloydminster back in the ‘70s. It is also the furthest East in Canada I have ever been! Into all new scenery for me here on out. Getting to our hotel was an adventure on its own. We arrived in town…holy hell the roads…bring your 4×4, they are unkind to any suspension, be prepared. Also, Google maps had us heading into an old folks home instead of our hotel… Our makeshift way to get there included crossing through 3 parking lots just to arrive at our hotel. We checked in to the smallest hotel room yet, but we’re all tired so who really cares. Chris ran over to the grocery store and picked up dinner and I repacked our new finds into our already full bags. We all settled in for an easy night. Then off to bed.

Until tomorrow, Cheers Mel xo

Thinking of NS…

While we have been having fun and exploring. Please know that it is not lost on us that the tropical storm, Hurricane Fiona, was headed straight for our new home in Pictou County. Chris and I had been checking the weather and news daily for updates before she hit. We had hoped that Hurricane Fiona would lose strength, or even change paths. Sadly for the people of Nove Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland/Labrador it did not.

Met with winds of upto 150km/hr the destruction Fiona left in her wake was significant. Power outages, trees uprooted, complete homes and roads lost or washed away. A storm of this magnitude I have never experienced, and we have our fair share with King tides and high winds on the West Coast.

Our hearts and thoughts go out daily to our soon to be community on the East Coast. Though the damage is devastating, and some have lost their homes, thankfully no lives have been lost. Our thoughts are with them as they continue to restore services, clear roadways and rebuild.

Mel xo

Day 5: Dino Bones and the Road to West Ed…

Strathmore treated us well. Our stay at the travel lodge was so comfortable. Everyone slept well. In the morning we made our way to the dining area for a full continental breakfast! This particular Travel Lodge has the other hotels beat this far for their continental breakfast. Moose made his own waffles, Bowie had toast and cream cheese with fresh fruit. Chris and I both had omelets, fresh fruit and bacon. There was so much more to choose from, fuel for the road!

Todays destination – Drumheller, AB. For those of you who don’t know what’s there, I’ll fill you in. Dinosaur bones! I have wanted to visit the Royal Tyrell Museum since a friend mentioned it quite a few years ago. So today was pretty much for me and I just hoped the kids would enjoy it too. Driving through the hills into town is quite remarkable. The road has twists and turns and the hills are all around. It is really cool to see the appearance of gradient layers and the drastic change of colour within the hills. Before you fully enter town you are greeted by a “Welcome to Drumheller” sign with a large T-Rex attached. So ya, you pull over and take the picture…

Driving through town the dinosaur theme game is STRONG! Dino hotels, dino statues galore, dino lamp posts, dino digging, dino playgrounds, dino business…that’s all I can say about that, to quote Forrest Gump. But it works, because when we pulled up to the museum it had only been open for about 40 minutes and the parking lot was filling up FAST! As we made our way to the entry, there are dinosaur sculptures placed along the walkway ready for a photo op. We were greeted by staff outdoors to direct us to the correct line. As we got our tickets from the gal at the ticket booth, she didn’t ask for payment. So per Canadian rule…I offered. Tada it was a FREE weekend! Bonus point for Moms choice of activity.

OMG Walking through the doors; HUGE carnivorous dinosaur statues in a scene of attack, surrounded by what would be their natural environment. Now the kids are excited. There is a lot of educational material throughout the museum. Some people ran up to take pictures, then were gone. While others would read the content and also take in that particular exhibit. Its all up to how you would like to enjoy it! Just remember to be courteous.

We were somewhere in between. Moose and Bowie’s interest was there, but not lets read it all and discuss for hours on end. There were certain areas of the exhibit that I really enjoyed: The Millions of Years Arches which separated each exhibit by appropriate era(s). The extinction level plaques. Did you know there has been 5 major mass extinctions in Earths history? Me neither, but now we do. The Exploded Skull, pictured above. This really shows what it takes to educate the masses about the dinosaur and fossil world. This discovery was found in pieces, fragments and some bones not found at all. Because the bones for this piece are so fragile, the researchers made casts and even digitized components to make 3D prints just to have it on display. What patience and focus must be needed to execute something so spectacular! Every nook and cranny has something to offer. We learned about fossils, and the varying techniques used to obtain and display them.

Chris found it really interesting how oil and gas companies have made such an impact in the Alberta region, as far as locating specimens. Some of these spectacular finds would never have been found if it wasn’t for active work sites. The Royal Tyrell Museum actually makes a point of showcasing these finds in conjunction with the active worksite and the worker who stopped production to preserve these remnants. Which then go on to become educational displays for all of us.

What’s really cool! The Preparation Lab is visible through a glass window. There are 2 projects that you can see in the works. Tools, brushes and premade casts ready to go. Plus giant vacuums…can you imagine the dust! One thing I found particularly interesting, there was a video clip of a current paleontologist who works with the museum. She noted that there is one tool, an air scribe, that is actually built for paleontology and archeology. All the other tools they use daily are adapted from other professions. Think about it. A toothbrush, paintbrushes, dental picks, and circular saws, glue syringes! Maybe that’s the million dollar idea for someone in that profession…

Now, what you’ve all been waiting for….THE BIG DINOSAURS!!! We’ve made it to the bottom floor, the finale…Though seen from upstairs actually seeing them up close in the gallery…knowing what it takes to recreate these skeletons, these reconstructions. Magnificent, awe-inspiring. It takes you back to when you were a kid and thought you might find a fossil digging in your sandbox…or was that just me? I really liked how they put some of the skeletons in ‘scenes’ like predator vs prey, basking in the sun or similar species living together. Sadly, when you exit this gallery…it is Extinction Level 5…A Deadly Day. “An asteroid about 10km in diameter crashed to Earth 66 million years ago. It was sudden, and left the world in chaos…” There is more, but you’ll have to visit for that.

Post Extinction a final exhibit of what species were able to evolve or survive is left to explore and then exit through the gift shop. Now we were really lucky with this free day, because as we exited we heard the ticket booth tell the HUGE line-up that the museum was sold out…this was only 1:00pm! Happy Dance for me. We headed out to the hills and explored briefly, then it was time to go.

Getting to West Ed…

Moose was getting antsy as he was ready to shop. Off we go on our way to West Edmonton Mall. Yes it’s a 3 hour drive and yes we just left Calgary. But we’re on an ‘Epic Adventure’. We’re taking the unconventional path on an unconventional Cross Canada Journey. Scenic views and good music helps the drive as we travel along hwy 56, then onto hwy 21, and finally hwy 16. We opted to stay at Fantasyland located in the hotel. We got cleaned up and headed straight in…but it was Sunday and closing at 6pm. We had about 20 minutes. There was major disappointment here from Moose and Bowie. We went back to our room to cool off and reset. So I tried to write the previous days blog, but the internet was sooo terrible I couldn’t even upload pictures, gah. Now lightbulb from Chris, lets get dinner…FROM INSIDE THE MALL! What!!! I had no idea that we would had access to the mall and the restaurants remained open AND you can wander around the mall at night! Off to Moxies for dinner and exploring…

Well that is Day 5, a little long of a post and a few days late thanks to shotty wifi haha. Thanks for staying along for the ride.

Cheers xo Mel

Day 4: We went to the Zoo!

Calgary Zoo anybody? How about EVERYBODY! Our destination today was obviously the Calgary Zoo. After we got organized for the day and checked out, we headed straight to the zoo, after one pit stop…Bacon Gouda breakfast sandwiches and a Mango dragon fruit refresher for me from Starbucks. The zoo is 12 minutes away from our hotel, so we had time 😉.

We have arrived!!! Parked ✅️ tickets 🎟 ✅️ cameras ✅️ and in to the zoo we go.

You can purchase your tickets outside at an automated ticket booth, or inside at the desk…very busy FYI.

The Zoo is enormous, don’t plan a couple hours…plan a day. You won’t be disappointed. The first exhibit we encountered was the Penguin Plunge. We actually went back to the penguins before we left because it was so spectacular. First part you see is an outdoor enclosure with Humboldt Penguins soaking up the sun and playing in the water. Which ones are those? The penguins we all think of when someone says penguin…unless you are Benedict Cumberbatch, then they are pengwings, or penglings of course. They are the small black and white sleek and speckled pengwings…oops penguins.

Now Enter Penguin Plunge! The Calgary Zoo boasts 4 types of penguins: Humboldt Penguins, aforementioned, Rockhopper Penguins (the dudes with the rad yellow spikey hair), Gentoo Penguins (the shorter cute, kinda clumsy guys), King Penguins (the big, tall noisy ones with the orange chests). Their enclosure is a wee bit smelly, be warned, but its also very interesting and fun. When you pass through the air locked door you can hear them bleating (or calling) and once through the rock formations immediately you see the King Penguins on the rocks ahead. The dome above is white and blue emulating their natural habitat. Now look behind you, there you’ll find the all too cool Rockhopper Penguins, just chillin, no pun intended. Gentoo’s are walking around, swimming and even a couple are tending their nests. There is a tunnel from one side to the other, the penguins are so fast. Now it is a bit crowded on the enclosure path. But give it time, the big crowds move on quickly. Take in the moment, watch the penguins zoom around in the water, listen to them chatter.

From here we headed to the Canadian Wilds saw black bears, wolves, a cougar, some moose and much more. This exhibit was under construction to give the animals more room so not everything was available, but still enjoyable.

Destination Africa! This was definitely Chris’s favourite exhibit, mine 2nd to the Penguins. First impression were jumping cliff rodents…can’t remember their name, but related to elephants! Then we have the meercats and porcupines. But we were looking for the BIG game, so to speak. Turn around…aha there are the giraffe’s, 4 of them. They overlook the hippos, Grandma and Granddaughter. We watched the hippos as they had there teeth checked and received treats. The staff member educating everyone in this area advised us all “If the hippo with the pink face stops and turns at the fence, stand back, she will spray poop at you!” Ahhhh nature, so beautiful (face palm here). We waited to see if they would return to the water after their treat, but the giraffes were getting frisky…so it was time to go! In the safari area we found the Land of Lemurs to Bowies delight! Ostrich and Zebras, sleeping Lions and so much more.

The best part of the day might be the Gorillas. There is 2 ways to visit these beautiful, yet very powerful primates. 1: Travelling through the rainforest and its inhabitants, to the indoor enclosure. Here you see the gorillas play area. And the friendly mice who have found an easy meal. Or 2: At the outdoor seated viewing, which has staff and a volunteer for questions. #1 was where we first saw there troop. The silverback male, who I watched quickly grabbed a banana leaf and slung it over his shoulder. As we watched them, watching us too, one of the females came over and turned around. To our surprise, she was carrying a baby with her. We learned the baby was 5 months old, and beginning to explore on there own! Highlight of the day for sure.

Exploration Asia! Moose was pretty excited about this one. When you enter the exhibit there are hand painted canvas banners along the walls. Some of different animals, and then the continent. Ahead, a red bamboo forest. We came across a large glass enclosure, unsure of who was in there. It was foggy and steamy…and then movement. It was a very large Komodo Dragon He walked though the trees and branches with such purpose. His powerful legs and sharp claws were pretty scary, then he’d turn and flick his tongue. He wasn’t slowing down for anything or anyone, not even for a picture.

Across the hall are a couple of White Handed Gibbons. These 2 were very entertaining. One guy was just hanging around in his hammock, the other…literally hanging; on a hope with one arm. ‘Rope’ began to swing along the rope, switching left to right…then ‘Hammock’ decided to show him up! They briefly chased each other until Hammock returned to his restful spot. Outside we watched a Tapir sleep against the bamboo…until we saw the sign that said “Stay 8ft back, Tapir will spray urine!” Nope. That’s enough for me. Off to the camel and the snow leopard haha.

There was soooo much more honestly. This is already long enough. But The Calgary Zoo exceeded my expectations. Friendly staff you can tell are happy to work here. Different zoo exhibits very easily marked and identified, and ALL THE ANIMALS!!! Plus traveling with kids there are washrooms and restaurants or other opportunities for a drink or snack all throughout the park.

The only negative thing about the zoo I can say is not about the zoo itself, but the way some people allowed their children to behave towards these incredible creatures, whom we are fortunate to have to opportunity to view and learn about. Parents please remember you and your children are guests. Teach your kids to have respect for all including the animals. Don’t allow them to bang on the glass or yell at the animals. Otherwise…leave them at home. Maybe an unpopular opinion…but I don’t care.

Farewell Calgary Zoo. We take fond memories with us as we head to our next stop. We decided not to rush the rest of the day and headed to Strathmore, AB. We booked in at the Travel Lodge. In the parking lot we were bombed by little black beetles, they came and went so fast, anyone know what they are? I almost ran inside haha. But we were very pleasantly greeted by the front desk. We did some homework then headed to the pool. Which was the cleanest pool we have yet had. The waterslide was wicked fast. I happily watched the kids launch out the bottom over and over again.

That’s all for today, I am sure its enough. Tomorrow we head to Drumheller!

Cheers xo Mel

Day 3: Spectacular Sunrise and Changing Scenery

“If you are in a beautiful place where you can enjoy the sunrise and sunset, then you are living like a lord.”
Nathan Phillips

What a way to wake up! I took my tea and sat on the patio of our hotel room at The Buffalo Mountain Lodge while the family slept. I brought my wrap with me as I sat enjoying the chill from the morning autumn air. I love autumn, leaves are changing, the air is crisp and I can enjoy my favourite fall drink, a Caramel Apple Spice from Starbucks. I sat looking at the mountains for quite awhile. I watched as the sky turned pink and the sun came up. Sunrises are something I have taken for granted when working. I started at 6:30am so I am no stranger to seeing the sunrise, but taking the time to appreciate it, I didn’t have the time, or should I say MADE the time. So I am feeling such gratitude on these days having slowed down so I can truly appreciate the natural beauty around me.

Now, how did we spend our day? Very leisurely. We headed into town around 11. I know…late, but we all needed a slow start haha. We stopped at JK Bakery got caffeinated and an easy breaky, Spinach and Bacon Quiche for me….soooo delish. We walked through the street window shopping and absorbing the mountain air and view with every step and happened upon the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. Chris and I asked Moose and Bowie if they wanted to check it out…so we did. A quaint museum with a beautiful collection of paintings, the current exhibit was “Canoe” and historical items related to The Rocky Mountains.

From there we just strolled. Banff is the easiest town to navigate as a pedestrian. One thing I really liked is the crosswalks…I know, but here me out. When you hit the button to cross and the little walk guy lights up…ALL direction’s cross together, not this side, then that side…Traffic stops together and pedestrians cross together. Very clever Banff, well played. Also the accessibility moving around town. Banff is a VERY busy town. There are bike riders everywhere, pedestrians, school kids, and cars. But it doesn’t feel busy out strolling. They have 2 large pedestrian bridges from either side of town crossing the Bow River and Magpies flying all around. We thoroughly enjoyed our morning walking around town. If the Jeep wasn’t so full for our travels, shopping would have been high on my list.

It was time to get moving on, but I had one stop high on my list to see, The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Built in 1888, this historic hotel sits at the base of Rundle Mountain and commands your eye as you drive towards. I took Moose and Bowie for a walk around the grounds and the pictures don’t do it justice. If you have an opportunity to visit, I recommend you do even to walk around like us. You might even see a Maserati, we did!

On the road again, we headed towards Calgary. I would have loved to explore more of Banff National Park and find Moraine Lake. But we do have 6 more provinces to go through. The landscape changes dramatically from Banff to Calgary. Say goodbye to the Rocky Mountains….and big trees. The views from the road to Calgary are filled with cows, horses, hay fields and smaller mountains as it becomes much flatter. But still an enjoyable drive. Clover Leafs for easy traffic navigation as we made our way to NE Calgary to the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel.

We spent the afternoon in the pool and whirlpool while the kids spent most of the time on the waterslides. As much fun as they were having, it was time for dinner. Cattle Baron Steakhouse is right across the road from the hotel, which was on Chris’s Alberta wishlist, so isn’t that just happenstance. Chris had the cowboy steak with fries. I went for the special, a 6oz filet mignon with red wine reduction and prawns. Service was top notch and our meal was exceptional. Moose and Bowie shared a tower of chocolate cake with hearts in the coulis, beautiful.

We walked back to the hotel quite a bit fuller but satisfied, watched a movie and readied for bed. The Zoo awaits us in the morning.

Cheers xo Mel

Day 2: Wildlife, Detours and Spectacular Views oh my…

We started the day just as we had planned. A visit to the Kangaroo Creek Farm in Kelowna, BC. We have been there before, however they have made some big changes since our last visit. First we went to visit the Capybaras, which are the world largest rodent. They love veggies and feel like straw when you pet them. They are very approachable and only stand as high as your knee, and if the capybaras don’t want to visit they just walk away. In the same area is a large barn full of birds and reptiles. We really enjoyed this area, especially Moose. A budgie fell asleep nestled into his ear, and we held a large cockatoo who liked being called beautiful while you scratched her head. Now for the lizards, Moose was in his element. He was holding an Eyelash Crested Gecko as I watched. But this gecko was watching me as much as I was watching him…and then it happened…The little lizard LEPT from Moose’s careful hands and launched right onto my chest!!! YES! I did scream and the barn full of people looked immediately to my direction.

Once I recovered from my gecko attack, I say with tongue in cheek, we headed over to see the Emus. Here Moose had his own attack…by a pen guarding rooster! We initially thought ‘How cute, he’s following us’ so Moose went in for the pet and was met by the PECK! At this point we decided it was time to head to the kangaroo pen. Bowie quickly saw an albino kangaroo and immediately fell in love. She is quite convinced we should get one…not sure I agree. The Kangaroo Creek Farm has quite a few species of kangaroos: Red Kangaroos (the largest type), Bennett Wallabies, Common Wallaros and Dama Wallabies. They all wander or lie around free around the farm and you are able to pet their backs and feed them greens provided by the knowledgeable staff. We will certainly be back when our travels take us this way!

We headed on the road again travelling from Kelowna to Vernon, making one stop in Coldstream Valley to take in the view of Kalamalka Lake. Chris always enjoys this spot, as it reminds him of travels with his Mom and Dad through the Okanagan for holidays. Its vibrant green water is an unrivaled sight. From here we travelled on Highway 1 with beautiful BC lakes along the way until we reached the summit of Rogers Pass.

Rogers pass was one of the highlights of the day for me. Not only were we surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, but the sun was shining with the mountain breeze. This is as BC as you can get. Bowie hand fed Steller Jays, Moose rang the bell and I raked the Memory garden, which was made to honour those lost in the 1910 Avalanche. Did you know that the the all-weather Trans-Canada Highway opened over the pass in 1962? I didn’t! Once we finished exploring we descended the mountain until we reached Golden, BC. In Golden signage advised that Hwy 1 was closed for construction and we had to reroute through Radium Hot Springs. Great…that adds 1.5 hours minimum to our trip to Banff, which was already a late arrival.

What was initially a nuisance turned into a wildlife viewing experience. Kootenay National Park is full of beautiful mountains, grassy meadows, creek beds, and wildlife galore. We were so fortunate to stumble across a black bear just as we were entering the park. How exciting!! But there’s more. As we navigated through the red rock cliffs we came across a herd of Great Horned Sheep, something I’ve only seem once before. We watched as they ate at the side of the road, and the mature adults were alert and wary of oncoming vehicles. I could have watched them all day, but time was not on our side, so we carried on.

We saw a moose as dusk was upon us in our final stretch out of the park. We arrived in Banff Late…9pm. We checked into our hotel at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge, ordered dinner and settled in for the night. What a rustic, cozy place. We felt at home with the fire place, exposed beams and claw foot tub. The kids were in bed quickly. I enjoyed a late night bathbomb and facemask in the tub.

Ready to explore Banff today. Talk soon xo Mel