Sunday evening… I have to say, that the goodbye from the „Black Whiskey Ranch“ was quiet simple and easy compared to the „Farm Haute Goat“. Bev and John are really two people who are nice and lovely, but as much as I liked it at their place, I liked it more at „Haute Goat“.
Anyway, Bev brought me tot he Train Station south of Calgary, I took the train to Downtown, Central Station and from there on, I went further with an UBER to my AirBnB. On the train I had a nice conversation with a canadien who is divorced from his wife and he brought his 6 years old daughter back to her mother. I had a sweater from „San Francisco Giants“ on and he saw it and started to have a conversation with me, because he grew up in San Francisco and went a couple of times to matches of the Giants. Pretty cool. My UBER driver after I arrived at Central Station was weird… He asked me about Angela Merkel, her politics and how I feel about it. To my happiness, the drive took only 10 minutes and I arrived at my AirBnB. It was so nice to see Sandra and Lina opening the door and to welcome you. They showed me everything and after moving into my room, we went for a walk and for groceries. The AirBnB is a multi-party house. In the Basement, weh have Paul, a doctor from Mexico, who is trying to get PR here in Canada. Next to him is Eric, a guy from Nigeria. They have their own living room downstairs with a TV, further down in the basement weh ave the laundry room and they share a bathroom together. In the first floor weh ave in total 5 rooms. One o fit, ist he kitchen. We all share one kitchen together. Across from the kitchen ist he bathroom that Lina, Sandra and I are sharing. Then weh ave one room in which Sandra and Lina are sleeping and next to it, is my room. We´ve got a proch and a nice living room and dining area. In general I have to admit that I like how the AirBnB is granted. We´re living north-west of Downtown in a really cute neighborhood with big houses. Maybe I´ll attach a video oft he AirBnB and the neighborhood. In the evening Lina and Sandra showed me our neighborhood, we went for groceries and walked down the nice Kensignton road. A road where you have different restaurants, bars and nice little stores. We took some take-out with us and went back to our home. In the evening we ate together and relaxed.
Monday: Lina went to work at 5am. Sandra had something to take care of around 10am, so I decided to walk up and down the streets, I had to get some stuff and also other groceries. After my morning walk, I sit on our porch, read a book and enjoyed the beautiful sunshines. Around 11am I had a phone call with an employee of the „WN“. He wants to write and publish an article about my year abroad. After it, I went Downtown, picked up Lina from work and we went home together. One more time, Calgary is a cool city, but u really can´t see a lot here. On our way home, we stoped at Dollarama (something like “PostenBörse”) and bought some things that we needed. In the evening we ordered Poutine (really good) and I cooked pasta bolognese for a midnight snack and the next days. We watched a movie afterwards and went all to bed.
On Tuesday Sandra and I started to make plans for Wednesday to Friday. We wanna rent a car for those three days. ROCKY MOUNTAINS – we´re coming. Around 12 we went to the McHugh Bluff ( a nice lookout point on top of a hill) and picked Lina up again. We went through Downtown, they showed me something and we had a lot of fun. In the evening I preapred Bacon, asparagus and potatoes with a dressing for all of us and I went to bed early, because next day we would have to get up early.
Wednesday: My alarm started around 5:40am. Because I went to bed early on Tuesday, I wasn´t tired at all. After Sandra and I took the bus to the airport to pick up our rental car, we took the Trans Canada Highway to Banff. At about 10:30 we arrived in Banff. I wanted or rather had to buy spikes, because in winter almost all hikes are impossible without spikes. No sooner said than done. After that Sandra and I met Kathy at the meeting point and then we hiked the Tunnel Mountain Trail. A 4.5km long hike with 266 vertical meters. Really a great hike that wasn’t that strenuous. From the top of the Piek you had a great view of Banff and the surrounding mountains. Problem was all the time only that we have made with extreme caution this hike, because in this area Cougar danger prevailed. Fortunately we survived it. Cougars usually do not attack people. But you should not be in their territory, especially if they have just killed something or have just given birth. After this incredibly beautiful hike we did a second hike around Tunnel Mountain, along the Bow River to the Hoodo Stones. What are Hoodo Stones? I’m attaching a picture 🙂 A great hike, but it was more disappointing than impressive. After a total of 20km in one day, we brought Kathy back to Lake Louise. Unfortunately it was too dark to see the lake. After that we made our way home and were home at 12pm.
But before we were home we went to “Peter’s Drive In”. They have been making milkshakes since 1962. You can only order at the Drive In and you can choose from 30 different varieties between 1-3 and order a milkshake. Best milkshake of my life!!! Btw… We were there again on Friday too, around 8pm and it was incredibly crowded. There were 40 cars in line ahead of us, so the entire right turn lane was jammed.
Thursday… after a busy day yesterday we started again at 8am. This time we were stranded between Lake Louise and Banff. We hiked the Johnston Canyon Trail. Problem was that the road to the parking lot at the trail was closed, so we had to take a parking lot 6.5km ahead. In retrospect it turned out that it was not a problem, but that best what could have happened. We started walking and didn’t see a single person for the whole 6.5 km, just two park ranger cars. In addition, the Johnston Canyon was swept as empty. Yesterday we had seen cougar tracks and warungs. Today we had seen fresh tracks of a wolf pack on the road. With a bit of panic we still fought our way to the hike. On the way we have made incredibly gorgeous pictures of mountain, nature, trees. Typical pictures, as you know them from Canada. At 1 we arrived at the 5km and 236 meters long hike. A dreamlike Hike. We walked to the Lower and Upper Falls and saw frozen waterfalls, 30 meter long icicles and just nature. After that we made our way back and were at the car at 6pm. 18km again. It was still light so we decided to watch the sunset at Lake Louise together with Kathy and Cora. It was really nice to see Cora again and to see Kathy a second time. Cora is going to New Brunswick at the end of the month to work in a hostel. Lake Louise is not recommended in the winter. Of course it’s great, but it’s still much more impressive in the summer. Still cool!! We arrived back home at 11 and made some pizza.
Friday: The first day on which lina could accompany us. Before that she always had to work. It started at 9am. For once a little earlier. Today we drove only to Canmore. About a one hour drive. We hiked half a loop today. The McGillvray Canyon Trail is 4.8 km long and has 208 vertical meters. This is an Adventure Hike, which means you have to climb up and down rocks, walk along canyons and pull/climb up and down ropes. A really cool and different hike. After 3km we arrived at the highlight. The rock above the canyon on which you can climb. See picture. After that we made our way home. In the meantime I met a Canadian woman who participated in the Powerlifting World Championships. She made the 7th place in deadlifting with 172 kilos. I felt really weak next to her with my record of 80 kilos. She looked like such a crusher. Then we went to canmore for a frozen lemonade at Timmies and then a Baguette at a bakery before heading to Cochrane. At 3:30 pm we had a tour booked at a Wolfdog Sanctuary. We were able to take pictures, videos, selfies with wolfdogs, cuddle them and feed them. Really a great experience.
The guides on site confirmed that Sandra and I had seen wolf tracks the day before, so we were even happier that we survived xD
After howling together with the wolves, we drove back towards Calgary and stopped at “Peter’s Drive In” on the way home. While Lina and Sandra took the car away, I cooked our dinner. Lentils with a delicious sauce, plus pasta and asparagus.
Now I’m sitting on the terrace in the beautiful sunshine and writing this blog entry. On Saturday I did some organizational things. In the evening we went to McHugh Bluff and watched the sunset over Calgary from the mountain. Great week together with Lina and Sandra.
One more day and then it’s off to Vancouver on Monday.
Sunday: Another day with beautiful weather. I sit on the proch and just realxed. I had to take care of different things.
A nice week in Calgary… Looking forward to my journey and stay to/in Vancouver. I´ll let u k about everything.
Tom
Canada Work&Travel 