What’s on the iPod: Somebody That I Used to Know by Walk Off the Earth (originally by Gotye)
Hi. Miss me?
I missed all of you. I just went nearly a week without any Internet connection and while it’s sad not being connected to the world, it’s the most refreshing, freeing feeling. If you haven’t tried it in a while (ever??), do. You’ll be shocked at how much more creative you become.
We arrived last night at a respectable hour — 7:30 pm — without any idea how we’d get home from the airport. Yet neither of us were stressed. We both had this feeling something would work out. Turns out it did. I turned on the phone after we landed and found the text from daughter — she was outside waiting, having not had to work the double shift she was scheduled for. We knew because that’s how the entire trip went. Things just worked out.
After a fantastic week in Vancouver with people we adore and love (and who run the best B&B in the city — I’m not kidding), we headed out of the rain and into the Canadian Rockies. It was love at first sight. The drive there was increasingly gorgeous, and we came upon a small town on one of our stops for gas and food — Hope, BC. He was hoping to see a sign heading out of town that said “Abandoning all Hope”, but alas. It was just “Come again!” We liked the town so much we stayed there on the way back through.
Onward to Jasper, AB, which is a town of 5,000 residents and one that’s inside the national park. In fact, that’s what makes these Rocky Mountain towns so great — they’re inside the parks, so their growth is regulated by the government. Amen. For when we headed outside of the park, we saw just what can happen when people decide they loved vacation enough to live there. But back to Jasper.
Great trails everywhere, from inside of town and outside. Given the exceptional food we had every morning during our stay in Vancouver, we were glad for the hiking. We stayed in a lovely place (photo above) — a cluster of cabins and chalets along a river, again in the park (everything is in a national park). The river was loud with rapids, which was great to fall asleep to every night. The property was well-manicured and thought out to provide maximum relaxation. And relax we did. I was beginning to think I was a slug with all my sleeping in. But we earned it — we hiked every day, and not short hikes, either.
We drove into Canmore our last day and did some great hiking there. By now we had acclimated well and were feeling more fit (I actually lost weight this vacation!). So we took a trail that sent us up the mountain, but then we decided to see what was through the mountain pass, so we added about an hour each way to that hike, and we came back to our cabin spent, but happy.
Home called. We were forced by work and family to head back to Seattle for our flight home. We drove through Glacier National Park, which wore scars cut by several avalanches — trees and heavy snow everywhere. It was beautiful. We were to stay in a motor inn in Revelstoke, but we were feeling like we could drive some more (only three hours), so we canceled our reservation and kept going. We ended up back in Hope at a lovely B&B run by a woman who’d moved to Canada from South Africa decades prior. She had a nice home that was impeccably renovated and furnished. She gave us more suggestions for walks, which we took and were not disappointed. But we were tired. So we headed to Seattle without much delay.
There we went to the Boeing plant to see their gallery. Neat little display, but lacking on anything really to write home about. So off to our B&B, where we’d stayed last year.
Trouble was our innkeeper had fallen a few weeks prior and had nearly died from bleeding on the brain. She said it was lucky she fell walking into the hospital to visit someone, but from what her friends said, she was lucky to be alive at all. She had completely forgotten about us showing up (understandable), but wouldn’t hear of us going anywhere else. We were reluctant to stay, but her friends assured us she wasn’t going to wait on us at all — they did. We kept it low-maintenance and did what we could for ourselves, and we gave her bear hugs as we left. She remembered my mother-in-law and remembered us even though we’d stayed just one night. She’s the type of person who gathers people in like lost sheep, and judging from the number of people who’d come to see her (some from Santa Barbara by car), it was obvious her charm.
Home now and to work right away. I gained clients while I was away, and I have deadlines. So I must put toothpicks on the eyelids and get something done today as I try to get back into the correct time zone.
Glad to be back among you all.
What a fabulous trip! Yes, we missed you, and are glad to have you back, but love the trip stories and photos.
Missed you too, Devon! It was such a great time we didn't want to return!
Yep – you and my sister must have crossed paths in the Canadian Rockies. Seems like May is a great time to go there. My kind of weather, too!
I'm glad you had a great, relaxing vacation, Lori, but am also glad you're back.
Welcome back Lori. That sounds like an awesome trip that you'll remember forever. We missed you immensely. Writers worth week(s) was great and I want to thank you again for the opportunity to post. I love your pictures, please keep sharing and telling stories of your adventures.
Miss you? Is that a rhetorical question? 🙂
I love Canada and these stories and pictures are great! I used to go to Vancouver quite a bit. This has made me want to take another trip.
Welcome back, Lori!
Paula, I'm glad to be back. Yes, I think your sister and I were in the same place at the same time. Did she stay in Banff or elsewhere?
Wade, grateful to be back amongst my chums. 🙂 Thanks for lightening the load for me with your excellent post last week.
I thought of you six times or better, Cathy. We were sooooo close to Idaho. Definitely still too far away, but closer than at this moment, for sure! Missed you, too. 🙂
Heck yes I missed you… and unhooking – great idea. Love the pix to0.
Hugs
She was in Banff a few days (but not at THE Banff), she also mentioned Radium Springs and Kimberly. I'll have to check her travelogue.
Paula, we were on the road to Radium Springs — 93. It was 115 km to our west. Not exactly neighbors. 🙂
We never went to THE Banff, either. That was on purpose. We'd heard stories of the touristy nature and avoided it.
Anne, missed you, too. 🙂
I finished a massive project Friday at 130am, well Saturday morning, and pretty much haven't fired up the computer til now- Tuesday at 2p. You know what though? That's all it took for me to get excited about my work again!!
Gorgeous trip. And I love that song. It will always remind me of my trip to Virginia Beach at the beginning of May.
Sometimes even a short break is a good one, Anon. And I love Va. Beach. Nice vaca!