7 great iPhotos Banff and west

September 18, 2013

Just a note to thank you for writing.  It s so nice to know what you are doing and what is going on in your lives too. We really do appreciate.  

I will have pictures from our resort here in Kelowna, BC. later in the week.  We are here until Sunday and then back to Seattle for  short time and then home in October.  

It will be good to get home for  short time.  

More later. 

Take good care of yourselves and others.

Ric and Jan

Banff Springs Hotel 

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Looking downtown Banff

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Old museum in part

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waterfuall

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Glacier in Glacier National Park in Canada.  Not connected to the one in Montana. 

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More of a glacier

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Driving west along river to Kelowna, BC

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12 great iPhotos Lake Louise, Canada

September 18, 2913

Pictures of Lake Louise. 

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Lake Louise Creek coming out of the lake. 

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The Fairmont Chateau overlooking Lake Louise

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Beside of hotel looking over Lake Louise and the snow and glacier. 

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Lots of bees in the flowersM

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Lost of flowerw

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Harpist in lobby of the Fairmont Chateau

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Inside bar area looking at picturesque lake and mountain.  It was breathtaking. 

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This is in the village of Banff

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10 great iPhotos Calgary and Banff National Park

Sept. 18, 2013

Hi.

 I will send a couple sets of pictures as I have way too many for one email.  I will post more on Facebook if you want to see more.

We had a great time in the park.  These were on our to Lake louise. 

Enjoy!  

Ric and Jan

Passing by Calgary on way to Canmore, AB Canada

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Part of the city

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Farming out of Calgary with the Canadian Rockies in the back ground. 

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So many mountains with rocky tops. 

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Gateway to Banff National Park

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One of many animal over passes or under passes.  Highway has high fences all through the park.  We did not see any wildlife dead or alive so I guess the fences work.  

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Unusual mountain formation. 

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Gorgeous blue green Bow River. 

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No clouds except this one over the mountain. 

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Same cloud over mt. but snow is very visible. 

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13 great iPhotos Japanese Gardens

September 12, 2013

HI.

We visited the Nkka Yuko  Japnese Garden earlier in the week.  Being here in the middle of the city it was surprising how quiet, cam, peaceful and serene it was.  The garden was amazing and  have come to believe that gardens are my favorite place to visit.

As we left we noticed many young ladies with their babies and strollers walking along the sidewalk in front of the gardens.  It is obviously a safe and good place to walk. It is actually a large park in the middle of Lethridge and this is only  small part.

Such beauty and balance was hard to leave.

Tomorrow we leave for Banff and Lake Louise.  

Later.  

Ric and Jan(ice)

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This is the entrance to the garden.

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This is a symbolic well deep in the forrest and the source o clean pure water for traditional tea ceremonies.

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Outside the pavilion.

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Dry Rock Garden

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Overlooking part of the garden

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One of several bridges over the water.

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The five piers of the pagoda represent earth, water, fire, wind and sky.

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Ric ringing the bell.

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The Pavilion which houses beautiful nature art work.

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Water falls

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Leaving

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12 great iPhotos

September 9, 2013

Hi,

You are probably getting tired of my mail but if I don't write soon, I will not get it done. 

We arrived in Canada Friday and will be here for the week. This pretty sign greeted us on our way into the country.

Yesterday we attended the Lutheran Church which is nearby.  That was an interesting experience.  The people there were some of the friendliest we have encountered in our attending churches as we travel.  More so than in the USA.

This morning started with a loud shrill noise that we could not identify at 6 AM exactly.  I thought it must be the alarm but it wasn't.  Finding nothing, we went back to sleep and and at 6:09 the shrill noise awoke us again.  Finally we got up and discovered it was the smoke alarm with a low battery.  But it did not chirp-it lasted several seconds.  There was no visible battery and no one at front desk until 7:00 AM. It also woke the people next to us and they got up!!    We finally got someone to come in and disarm the thing but it was too late to get any more sleep then.  They took it away to change the battery and re -attached  it this afternoon. So maybe tomorrow we can sleep a little later.

Later, we visited Fort Whoop-Up National Historic Site.  It is a replica of the original which was washed away by a flood in 1915.  It houses Thunder Chief Gallery and offers a first hand perspective of the Blackfoot culture.  Many of the artifacts and clothes were given to the fort by Thunder Chief's descendants. Thunder Chief took part in the Last Great Indian Battle in 1870 in the river valley where the fort now stands. It was very well done and the slides prior to the tour helped explain the history. There were 12 rooms along one side and I included just a few.  The rooms were well stocked and one wonders how they all fit in!!

Take care and we will see what the rest of the week brings. 

Ric and Jan

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Paradise Golf and Resort Clubhouse.  Our condo is about 1/2 mile away.

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See the fort in the background.

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Blackfoot tipi

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Inside of fort

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Saloon was social center and where some weddings and funerals took place.

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Kitchen

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Medicine 

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Stockroom and store

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Tipi in center of courtyard

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Ric overseeing the carriages

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This is the river and valley west of Lethridge that we cross when we go into town. The fort was just on the right at the bottom of the hill.

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