bigmacbear (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bigmacbear) wrote2018-08-26 11:59 pm
bigmacbear) wrote2018-08-26 11:59 pm
Calgary Trip Day 5: Sunday
Because of the more rigid schedule for the day (dictated by multiple modes of transportation and our lunch reservation on the mountain), we decided to get up at 6 AM. By seven we were well into our breakfast, and noticed a cute cubby dude with a dark beard at the coffee urn, as well as a group of hot young bears in hi-vis construction gear meeting for breakfast at the high table where the silver-bearded cowboy bear had sat the first couple of days. After breakfast we waited briefly on a comfy couch in the lounge before heading out on the hotel shuttle.
When we got to the airport, after using the restroom we stopped by the Brewster Express desk and verified where to meet the shuttle van. Since we had about 45 minutes we found some comfy chairs by the window. When the shuttle van arrived, the driver noticed my Roughnecks hat and remarked that his daughter had just finished her first season as a dancer for the Roughnecks games. We headed out Route 2 to pick up the Trans-Canada Highway west to Banff. Along the way we passed a First Nations reserve and got pictures of the mountain ranges, although they were obscured by smoke. As we passed the exit to Canmore, I noticed a sign for Silvertip Resort.
When we got to Banff, the shuttle bus to the gondola was waiting right in front of the Elk + Avenue hotel where we left the van. We arrived at the foot of the mountain about a half hour ahead of schedule. We ended up with a four-seat gondola car to ourselves, partly because of our size and partly because the mother and daughter behind us wanted to ride with the party behind them.
We spent the first part of our time on the mountain on the roof deck at fourth-story level, taking pictures and sitting by the fire. Next we explored the interpretive center (or "interpretive dance" as Gary called it) until it was time for lunch. We each had the prime rib special, with roasted vegetables, grilled potatoes, drinks and dessert; the food was excellent.
After lunch we returned to the interpretive center for a short video showing what the view is supposed to look like without the smoke. 😈 Then we headed out to the boardwalk leading to the weather station on a nearby peak, stopping to get some pictures of the bighorn sheep or goat who was wandering very close to the deck. It was rather chilly so we returned to the fourth floor where there was an indoor seating area as well as the gas fires. At three, half an hour before we were due to descend, we returned to the first floor to purchase postcards and fridge magnets. Then we went outside to fill out the postcards, and saw a couple of curious creatures called pikas, which looked like large chipmunks, up close to the boardwalk; and another goat posed for pictures a short distance away. The ride down was uneventful except for my phone battery going to zero as we approached the terminal, so I plugged in my spare.
We found the shuttle to downtown Banff was already at the stop so we quickly boarded and were soon back at the Elk + Avenue Hotel. We mailed the postcards from a box on the next block, and decided even though we'd had such a late lunch, it would be late and inconvenient to wait for dinner in Calgary at the airport. So we had salads and garlic pizza bread at Boston Pizza, and sat by the second-story window watching the world go by. By the time we finished dinner it began to rain lightly.
We just made it to the motorcoach in time to head back to Calgary. The coach stopped at the main bus station before leaving Banff, and I noticed a sign for Squirrel Street parallel to Banff Avenue. Since I'd seen Moose Street parallel to Elk earlier, I concluded there must be an intersection of Moose and Squirrel and verified on the map it is so. We got back on the Trans-Canada Highway and stopped to pick up another passenger in Canmore at the same exit where Silvertip Resort is located. From there, the driver told us, we'd be going directly to the airport.
The turbaned driver picked us up in the hotel shuttle (this time in dark blue) and we spent the rest of the evening washing clothes and packing up. I also left a message for Dad and had a chat with Colleen. We got to bed about 10:30.
When we got to the airport, after using the restroom we stopped by the Brewster Express desk and verified where to meet the shuttle van. Since we had about 45 minutes we found some comfy chairs by the window. When the shuttle van arrived, the driver noticed my Roughnecks hat and remarked that his daughter had just finished her first season as a dancer for the Roughnecks games. We headed out Route 2 to pick up the Trans-Canada Highway west to Banff. Along the way we passed a First Nations reserve and got pictures of the mountain ranges, although they were obscured by smoke. As we passed the exit to Canmore, I noticed a sign for Silvertip Resort.
When we got to Banff, the shuttle bus to the gondola was waiting right in front of the Elk + Avenue hotel where we left the van. We arrived at the foot of the mountain about a half hour ahead of schedule. We ended up with a four-seat gondola car to ourselves, partly because of our size and partly because the mother and daughter behind us wanted to ride with the party behind them.
We spent the first part of our time on the mountain on the roof deck at fourth-story level, taking pictures and sitting by the fire. Next we explored the interpretive center (or "interpretive dance" as Gary called it) until it was time for lunch. We each had the prime rib special, with roasted vegetables, grilled potatoes, drinks and dessert; the food was excellent.
After lunch we returned to the interpretive center for a short video showing what the view is supposed to look like without the smoke. 😈 Then we headed out to the boardwalk leading to the weather station on a nearby peak, stopping to get some pictures of the bighorn sheep or goat who was wandering very close to the deck. It was rather chilly so we returned to the fourth floor where there was an indoor seating area as well as the gas fires. At three, half an hour before we were due to descend, we returned to the first floor to purchase postcards and fridge magnets. Then we went outside to fill out the postcards, and saw a couple of curious creatures called pikas, which looked like large chipmunks, up close to the boardwalk; and another goat posed for pictures a short distance away. The ride down was uneventful except for my phone battery going to zero as we approached the terminal, so I plugged in my spare.
We found the shuttle to downtown Banff was already at the stop so we quickly boarded and were soon back at the Elk + Avenue Hotel. We mailed the postcards from a box on the next block, and decided even though we'd had such a late lunch, it would be late and inconvenient to wait for dinner in Calgary at the airport. So we had salads and garlic pizza bread at Boston Pizza, and sat by the second-story window watching the world go by. By the time we finished dinner it began to rain lightly.
We just made it to the motorcoach in time to head back to Calgary. The coach stopped at the main bus station before leaving Banff, and I noticed a sign for Squirrel Street parallel to Banff Avenue. Since I'd seen Moose Street parallel to Elk earlier, I concluded there must be an intersection of Moose and Squirrel and verified on the map it is so. We got back on the Trans-Canada Highway and stopped to pick up another passenger in Canmore at the same exit where Silvertip Resort is located. From there, the driver told us, we'd be going directly to the airport.
The turbaned driver picked us up in the hotel shuttle (this time in dark blue) and we spent the rest of the evening washing clothes and packing up. I also left a message for Dad and had a chat with Colleen. We got to bed about 10:30.