Sunday, June 5, 2011

Our Rocky Mountain High - Part 1

Lured by the stories that the Canadian Rockies were some of the most pristine and beautiful scenery in the world, the Gardener and I set off to visit this snow capped wonderland and find out for ourselves if these rumors were true~~





Over the next several weeks, I would like to share with you our adventures, photos of the incredible natural beauty, and passages from my journal as we traveled about on our amazing trip to the Canadian Rockies. We took hundreds of photos and I want to share with you the best of the best. If you cannot travel to the Rockies yourself, then let me take you there in this amazing photographic journey~~

(remember you can click on any of the photos to see them enlarged~)

"We have arrived here in Calgary, home of the 1988 Winter Olympics. From the plane I could see the snow covered mountains in the breaks of the clouds. I can hardly wait to be up close to those mountains, I have heard stories that they are so beautiful."


"~~founded by pioneers and deeply proud of their frontier history - we have found the people of Calgary to be incredibly welcoming and kind. We are going to spend the next couple of days doing all the touristy things~~





the view from the TOP of the Calgary Tower








I'm trying not to look scared here - but I really am! That's as far back as I am going!!




Dinner at the top of the Calgary Tower in the revolving restaurant. Touristy - yes. Wonderful - YES!!! We sat here until the sun started to sit - almost 10 pm! The view was amazing!





The Aerospace Museum of Calgary - (when you have a husband who is also a pilot - you do not miss any aviation Museums!)



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"~~ we spent a wonderful afternoon at the Prince's Island Park - right across the river from the skyline of Calgary - such a peaceful and beautiful place to walk and picnic. A really special place - I loved it here~"




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The First settlement at Calgary - Fort Calgary. A wonderful museum - literally just minutes from our hotel and located right in the middle of the city. I love how the city continued to evolve and grow and yet this special place remained here with some of the original artifacts.



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The skyline in the distance - reflected in the windows of the museum.



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"~~ we left this Calgary this morning headed for the mountains of Banff and Lake Louise. As we were leaving - we stopped by the famous Gina Brown's yarn shop. I was so excited to spend a little time here - I have been a reader of the Gina Brown knitting blog for a while now."



"Total yarn love!!"


"~~the shop was filled with beautiful yarns and I was in sensory overload! I am coming home with some gorgeous yarns!"




That's the Gardner over there smiling - he is a good sport to go with me when I visit yarn shops! Marriage is 50/50 right - that means I go to Aviation Museums and he goes to yarn shops!



We had dinner in Calgary with relatives of one of my best friends. Meeting Molly and Austin was truly one of the highlights of our trip. Now - we feel as though we also have "family" in Calgary! "Thank you both for a wonderful evening - for the dinner and the chance to visit with you in your lovely home.. We will be thinking of you often~~"




"~~we left Calgary behind - taking with us some wonderful memories and also the joy of new friendships. When we were only about 20 minutes from the city - we began to see the snow capped mountains in the distance. "



"~~nestled in the foothills of the Rockies - only about 25 minutes from Calgary - sits the quaint and rural community of Bragg Creek. Because it is so close to Calgary - people come from the cowboy city to enjoy some crisp fresh mountain air and some absolutely stunning scenery.~~"




" ~~winding among farm pastures and rolling grasses, the Elbow River swiftly brings with it the cold waters that have traveled the distance from the snow capped mountains. We stopped in Bragg Creek for some picnic lunch supplies and headed off to nearby Elbow Falls, the place where the Elbow River collides with the rocky slopes of the mountains to form an amazing natural spectacle~~"


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"~~ we spent the entire morning at Elbow Falls - walking around on the trails, relaxing by the roaring rapids, the water was so COLD!! I could have stayed here all day~ just sitting on one of the benches beside the stream - the afternoon sun feeling so warm and wonderful on my face~~"




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"~~ by late morning we were on our way to THE mountains. I hated to leave Elbow Falls, truly it was a wonderful place and I really could have stayed there all day ~~ but the mountains are calling my name. Tonight, when I sleep they will be outside my window. In the morning when I wake up - I will see the place that I have wanted to visit for such a long time - Lake Louise. But first - we are spending the afternoon in Banff - I can hardly wait~~"


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I'll be back with Part 2 soon~~Vicki

26 comments:

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

I have fond memories of a vacation with Mr. R and 2 of our 4 sons at Lake Louise. We had a spring snow and we Californians were freezing. Good times! Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing.

Deb said...

Vicki ~ I've always thought that a trip to the Canadian Rockies would just be delightful, and your pictures are telling me it's true! I'd love to travel from one end to the other! I'm enjoying all the wonderful scenery you're showing us! Thanks for taking us along!

Donna said...

You do know how to travel!! You take the most amzing pics!! IO feel like I have been there! I remember when my parents took that trip and they thought it was their most beautiful trip. Looking forward to part 2!

DaCraftyLady said...

OMG those are fabulous photos I want to go there. :) It is lovely as is you and your hubby what a wonderful trip you must have had, thank you for sharing, I can't wait to see part two.. :) Debb

yaya said...

Beautiful pics for sure! I've been to rockies many times, but not there. It's a trip we need to do. The scenery reminds me of our Alaska trip a few years ago. Can't wait for part 2!

audrey said...

Vicki,,, Your picture tour makes it seem like I really am there with you. Gorgeous photography!! I would LOVE to spend time in Elbow Falls - the water looks cool and clean. The smiles on your faces certainly tells us that you are enjoying every minute of this trip. Very eager to see the mountain photos!!!!
Lovely.
♥ audrey

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Absolutely gorgeous ! All that beautiful scenery and fresh, crisp, breathable air! Wonderful! One of my best friends when I was a teenager was from Calgary although I didn't then and still don't know much about the area. Several family summer vacations were spent in the Colorado Rockies and my parents were to retire there until they got divorced. :/ Thanks for sharing ! Have a great week. Tammy

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

P.S. The best thing about travelling is not just the beautiful sights but also the friends you meet along the way. :)

PoetessWug said...

What beautiful photos Vicki!! Reminded me of my trip to Canada back in 1970 something...Good memories. :-]

Sea Angels said...

oh I feel like I am holiday with you...what amazing countryside...
Hugs Lynn xxxx

mary said...

Beautiful tour! Hurry, HURRY! Can't wait for what's next!
Mary

SuZeQ said...

You just KNOW I can't wait for Part 2. Your travel postings are fabulous. You should be a contributing writer for a travel mag! Tee hee. Woolen sweaters, down vests, scarves, hats ... and FLIP FLOPS?????????? You crack me up! Love it.

Unknown said...

i so wish i could be where you were! how awesome and refreshing...what fun! you both look so happy. you really do cover a lot of ground!

Mosaic Magpie said...

Wonderful photos! Now I see why you were not at the fiber festival! Although that yarn shop was a great substitute!
Deb

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

Were you the only ones there?
Its so pristine and serene and you seem to have it all your yourselves!
xx
julie

Sandies' Patch said...

Stunning scenery, you won't want to leave!

Sandie xx

Lili said...

Oh I can't wait to see the mountains too Vicki! You always have the cutest outfits which is so fun to look at right along with that pristine scenery! You and the Gardener are so sweet together, especially with his big smile standing right there in the yarn shop. What a fabulous trip and even the airplane museum was very cool too. xoxo ~Lili

Dorthe said...

What an amazing place Vicki,-
I alwayes think of John Denver- and his Rocky Mountain High-when reading this name--I love his music...So sad he left this world, in hi`s flight.
It must be a fantastic experience to see this most beautiful places, dear- you and the gardener are truly blessed to be able traveling all this special places of the US.
I hope you are well, and feeling good, dear friend.

Big hug-Dorthe

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Hi dear Vicki,

LOVELY, lovely photos and I am salivating over your continuing wonderful adventures and great photographs.

Will you adopt Jeff and me? We want to go with you. When will you come to Maine? We're leaving late this year because I am working to finish this new children's book. But, if you come when we're there we will be so HAPPY to welcome you into our little cottage.

I love my gorgeous nest and smile whenever I look at it. You're there for me!

Love,

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

Bumpkin Hill said...

Beautiful, brought back lots of happy memories. I'm having a giveaway on my blog if you want to hop over, Catherine x

Retired Knitter said...

Wonderful wonderful pictures. My kind of trip.

PoetessWug said...

Just wanted you to know that I shared a link to this 'cool' blog post on my blog today! :-)

Finding Joy said...

I love being a lounge chair tourist when I read your blogs. Having never been to Canada there where a joy to look at. It looks very big and rugged country.

Looks like you both had a wonderful time.

Thank you SO MUCH for your lovely comments you left on my blog.

Blessings dear friend

Toyin O. said...

Wow, these pictures are amazing, it looks like a great place to vacation, thanks for sharing.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

What an amazing holiday; I am envious. Sorry, but I am envious! Thanks for letting me tag along via photos...beautiful photos.

fromsophiesview said...

Vicki...As a Canadian, I am so glad you and the Gardener are able to travel to the Rockies and experience these mammoth mountains first hand. You really don't know what it truly is like until you go there...pictures are gorgeous but the actual view, the smells, the tastes, feeling the air...it all envelopes you. Jim and I captured all of this on a cycling trip and really loved every moment...you can imagine those hills while cycling...exhausting but being out in nature really is the best. Yes, and the elk coming from out of nowhere. I really hope everyone has a chance to go there. PS..my father was a pilot also, in WW2..He flew spitfires.