Hi Em. (Thanks for watching the plants. There's plenty of chocolate to keep your kids happy.) Yep, "fraught" is a good term for that sometimes.
Today Dad & I beat the other tourists out to breakfast at the locally owned cafe, Coco's, although it was 9:30 already--rainy days and Mondays always get them down?? By the time I had my third cup of free trade coffee (the so-called "Prince of Darkness" brew was especially good) and written the last of my postcards to Village Urchins, the crowd was squeezing in.
We drove to Lake Maligne (rhymes with, um, spleen)...spotted an elk cow munching all the dandelion leaves in sight. At the lake, we hiked around the beautiful blue-green water in the cool drizzle: Seattle type weather, "eat your heart out Eric" is right. Watched seven geese a-preenin' and a lone loon diving for lunch, or maybe second-lunch. Hiked faster when the rain stopped and the mosquitos came out for their second breakfast, lunch and second-lunch. Lush green grass in the glacial basins, toadstools and wildflowers galore. I finished my hike by drinking hot chocolate in the cafeteria, surrounded by multi-generations of Taiwanese tourists, and I'm sorry to say I could not resist purchasing some silly gifts in the gift shop. Also leafed through a very educational book to get when I return home: "How to S*** in the Woods." (Pardon the ***.) There's a chapter specifically directed at women, too ;-)
On the way home, saw some tourists from Washington feeding Pringles to mountain goats outside their car window. Not the brightest idea, but a good photo op nonetheless. Saw a bull elk just outside of Jasper, munching away. This is prime munching season for elk (as well as for tourists and, at the top of the food chain, mosquitos).
Dad noticed today that the one McDonalds in Jasper closed last month. Imagine that, a McD's closing in a tourist town! (But where will I find a tasty fountain Coke here? Oh well....I'll just drink the Prince of Darkness coffee @ Coco's.)
Rod--if you're reading this--are you able to remember the name of the steakhouse in Banff?? If not, no big deal. (I could live a long time w/out a steak, but my dad loves his meat and potatoes, although he'll try tonkatsu, too.) We'll be in Banff Tuesday night-Thursday night. |