Jasper

The next National Park on the list this year is Jasper, which is about smack dab in the middle of Alberta. It's just not easy to get to because it's far from everything. It's 4 hour drive from Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, and a 6 hour drive from Calgary. From Banff/Lake Louise you take the TransCan 1 until the Highway 93 exit where you begin one of the prettier drives in North America...the Icefields Parkway. 

The scenery is spectacular for 150 kilometers. Jasper Park begins at the Columbia Icefield

 

That might not look huge...but it is! The icefield is fed by 8 glaciers and has been on this earth for millenia.

From there we drive the 102 kilometers to Jasper townsite and Whistler's Campground our "home" for the next few days.

There are still fires in BC, but the wildlife watching is pretty good. Tonight we are taking a wildlife safari to see more.

 

Lakes

We spent two days at the Lake Louise "end" of Banff National Park. Lake Louise is beautiful and way too crowded. Everyone seems to have heard about the Lovely Lake Louise so they make a pilgrimage there. Last year when we tried to see the lake, the traffic was backed up on the TransCan 1. We decided to go anyway and just could not move, so we said "good bye Lake Louise, maybe next time." This year was next time, and we did see the lake and about a million of our closest friends.

But, when we took the walk alongside the lake, the crowds subsided some and we could enjoy the beauity of the turquoise water.

The next day we got up early and drove to nearby Moraine Lake which might be even prettier than Louise, and far less "discovered."

Early in the morning the lake is still as glass and the reflections are stunning.

The blue of the water is incredible and there are not any crowds. The reason is simple. The parking lot is limited, and when it gets full, ParksCanada blocks off the road. Something they cannot do at Lake Louise.

Moraine Lake is a blue gem that nestles in the Valley of the Ten Peaks and it takes your breath away.

Banff

Our caravan of 3 RVs has made it to Banff. All the planning has worked out so far, but I was "biting my fingernails" waiting for something to go wrong. So far so good. Three more "tests"---arrival in Lake Louise, Jasper and back to Banff--then my fingernails will be safe!

The mountains in Banff are wonderful. They look like layer upon layer of greyish silver rock. The Bow River is turquoise, painted by the glaciers

From the top of Sulphur Mountain, the view to Banff "town site" is amazing. Mt. Rundle (on the left) dominates the landscape, while smaller Tunnel Mountain, stands right in the middle of the town and the blue Bow River wraps around the landscape. It's absolutely stunning. 

This is the Banff Springs Hotel, built by the Canadian Pacific Railway sometime in the late 1800s. The hotel was modeled after a Scottish castle. It overlooks Bow River Falls and dominates the upper town site. 

We took this raft on a 2.5 hour float trip down the Bow River. The white foam in the background is from the Falls. Our guide was born on the river, and his daddy is still rafting the river too. In fact we saw his daddy rowing another raft. I guess it's the "family business."

At first our ride was peaceful and filled with wonderful scenes of mountains and trees along the river. But there are fires in British Columbia and they started to "flare" up and soon our vistas were marred by smoke and even ash.        

And then it became a bit worse...       

The sun was obscured by the smoke, but we could still see the red tinge of the sun of the water...    

The fires are about 25 miles away and while they are not in Banff per se, their aftermath is.

I'm happy to report that this morning the air is clear, but there's no telling what the afternoon will bring. Today we clean up our campsite and get ready for Lake Louise where we will be camping tomorrow.

 

Zoom Zoom Zoom

This afternoon as we were pulling into our space at the campground, we could hardly concentrate on what needed to be done because of the noise. I looked up and saw 4 tiny jets flying in formation. 

And they were heading right toward the ground at a zillion miles per hour. At the last moment, they straightened out, and headed back into the wild blue yonder.

They made a great arc and headed down again. The noise was deafening and the show was wonderful.

Then they made a giant heart in the sky with 3 planes flying in one direction and the fourth flying in the opposite. When they met at the bottom of the heart, the singleton was flying upside down as they met each other. 

They look so small but they made a mighty big noise!

 

We viewed a wonderful show for about 30 minutes. Later we saw a sign saying there will be an air show here in July 22 and 23. We will be in Canada by then, happy that we saw a preview.

 

 

I Made These

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I made a pair of baby flip flops for my pedicurist...it seemed to be appropriate somehow. She will get them next time I see her.

These are "kitty bottom" coasters...My niece sent me a picture and asked if I could recreate them...so I tried.

My crochet pal challenged me to make an elephant...two views of this 5 inch critter.

 My next strange project is a donut pillow. Watch this space.

 

Puffballs

This is not a dandelion -- it's a salsify giant puffball

At the perfect time of "ripeness" the umbrella-like tendrils will take off and fly to a location where they will burrow into the ground in order to be ready to bloom next year. 

Not all asters looks the same...this one is all curly where...

...this is not. My wildflower garden is filled with asters.

Eleven

I just finished the eleventh blanket of 2017. It's a scrap blanket very simiar to blanket #10...except for the background color.

#11 has white as the background color, while #10 has black. Which background color do you like the best?

Dirty Dancing

 

1987 Version

A couple of weeks ago a local channel showed the original version of "Dirty Dancing" one night, and two nights later they showed the newest update of the movie. I saved both versions on my DVR and I watched them. First and foremost, I must state that I love the original movie. The music is great, the dancing is great, the characters work and the final dance scene is fantastic. I was hoping the remake would be as good. I'm sad to report that the remake is a waste of film.   

2017 Version

 

  The remake follows the same storyline, but the actors didn't fit their parts. Baby was too chubby; Johnny was too menacing; Dr. Houseman was not believable; Lisa was too cute; Mrs.Houseman ... I could go on and on. The casting was wrong. YouTube has a clip of the final dance scene. Please compare the two final dance scenes and make your own decision. As for me, if I get another chance to the remake of Dirty Dancing, I will skip it.

Signs of the Time

Like many folks, I love to read bumper sticks and other signs written on vehicles. Here are 3 that I've seen recently.

This sign is a sticker found on my friend's RV.

Found on the back of an F-150

And, finally, this great bumper sticker! BTW, Wyoming has fewer people than San Francisco and we like it that way!

 

Summer Garden

Normal people plant tame flowers and enjoy their color. I'm not normal. I fling wildflower seeds out in the fall and hope that something wonderful will happen the next spring and summer. Of course a wildflower garden looks like a bunch of weeds to the normal person. Right now, my "weeds" are in full bloom and I think they are wonderful.

The aster started to bloom on the 6th of July. I'm predicting we will have 8 more weeks of summer.

There are 2 types of harebells...

...can you hear them ringing?

This is a double 3 spot lily...a very delicate flower in the garden. It's sometimes called a Sego Lily. I've only seen this one so far. The flowers sometimes hide amidst the greenery.

     

There's lupine and

Orange Paintbrush and saxifrage that's almost taller than me!

 

 

Wanna a Prowler

I've pictured Prowlers on my blog before. A strange and zoomy sports car that was around for about 5 years and only a limited number were made. This is 2001 Chrysler Prowler (a few Plymouth Prowlers were made) and it's for sale...only       

It's a real bargain...and it's a "convertable" too--I guess dealers do not have to pass spelling tests!

I tried to fold myself into the car and discovered it was hard to do...and even harder to get out. The dashboard with all the dials are in the center of the dashboard, which seems like an unusual place. It has a nice combination of analog and digital readouts...but the odometer is digital and therefore, unseen. 

Prowlers are rare and always interesting to look at...but I don't think I want to own one!

PS...go to Ebay and see lots of Prowlers for sale from $12-40K, most with less than 2000 miles on them. I'm guessing these cars are never used for the daily commute!

Ten

This colorful blanket is the 10th one I've made this year. It's a scrap blanket. I never know what to do with leftover yarn--so I save it and use it for scrap blankets. It's testimony that different colors can get along with each other a lot better than different people can get along with other.       

Independence Day

Yesterday was Independence Day in our small town in western Wyoming. We went to the morning parade and then to the fireworks display at night. The parade was grand...the fireworks were not as grand...but remember we are in small town America in a town of less than 300!

Main Street was closed to thru traffic as folks lined the street with their lawnchairs and coolers. Everyone was happy--the sun was shining, patriotic songs filled the air...all was good.

The Grand Marshall led parade up and down the street...then the horses...then the home made floats filled with kids throwing candy to everyone. It was a kick!

 

There were huge trucks and 

and small carts pulled by tiny horses.

Everyone was having a grand time! The real way to celebrate the birth of our great nation. 

Happy Birthday America!

Favorite

I think this is my favorite flower of the summer...it's wild flax. The true blue color is rare in nature and that makes this flower magical.

Aren't they pretty!