What a Difference a Day Makes!

Day 5
Kilometers Traveled; 250

Every Canadian or human being for that fact must do this trip. We live in an unmitigated, undeniable, full blown miracle. Today’s adventure took as to Banff National Park, the contrasts from yesterday’s geography is unbelievable until you see it your self. Yesterday was flat for ever, today mountains. As we drove into the range Will and Nate were very quiet in the back seat. I said, “Did you think the mountains were going to be this big?” A very contemplative “no” issued from the back seat. As we drove deeper into the range the peaks got higher and higher, some with snow still dusting their peeks some jagged and rugged. Suddenly, I felt tears rolling down my cheeks because there is just something indescribable about being surrounded by millions of year old rock.

We headed straight for Sulphur Mountain bought our tickets for the cable car and we headed up the mountain. Will and Nate thought the cable car was pretty cool. They couldn’t believe we were traveling over the trees. They also loved watching the other cable cars passing us as they traveled back down the mountain. We arrived at the summit and took in the bird’s eye view of the Beau River valley. The river was the most beautiful shade of turquoise as it winded its way through the mountains and around the Banff Springs Hotel. Then Nate was ready to go. To board walk with hundreds of stairs takes you across the summit over a second summit. Nate was undaunted he was determined to, “use all his energy to get to the very tipity top!” He literally ran most of the way across the board walk and up the hundreds of stairs. There were plenty of adults huffing and puffing their way up but not Nate, he was unstoppable. Will, on the other hand, complained that his legs hut up every single stair. One he reached the top he thought the experience was pretty great and when I asked him what his favourite thing about the day was, he replied with, “everything”; luckily the complaining didn’t taint his enthusiasm for the day! After exploring every rock and looking out from every angle we headed back to the cable cars. At this point Nate had used up all his breakfast fuel. Nate on an empty tank is not a pretty picture, all the way back to the car Nate moaned, “Mommy, my tummy is empty, there is nothing in there, it is sooooooooooo empty. I’m so hungry.” We headed quickly back into Banff to find a restaurant with a great patio and cold beer. We found the perfect placed and settled in for a great lunch with mountain view in the back ground. Will and Nate immediately started talking to the other customers around us. It has been very interesting watching my children charm their way across the country. The start every conversation with, “We are going to Vancouver” which leads into a conversation about our family adventure. People have been so interested in what we are doing. The boys make everyone they meet into their new best friends.

After lunch we headed back to Calgary to Canada Olympic Park. We drove all the way to the top of the Bobsleigh run. It really is impressive to think that sleds hurtle down that track at speeds of 120ks/hr. Back at the bottom of the park the boys hiked to the top of the training run and ran all the way back down. The day ended with another lovely dinner with Lisa and Don. Tomorrow is Dinosaur Day; needless to say the excitement level is high!