Happy Birthday, Emily!

Today is Emily's 7th birthday! Here she is in Samantha's gift - a cake costume for her "baking" birthday party! She rode her scooter to school in it!

Halloween 2015

Except for a few rainy days - like major flooding rain! - it has been a beautiful fall here in San Antonio/Houston. Samantha and Emily dressed up as "cotton candy" for Halloween - they even smelled like cotton candy! And so did the garage! Kyle had to follow behind them and pick up all the tufts of cotton that blew off their costumes. Samantha was embarrassed at the last minute when she decided her, costume was a little too "cute and poufy" for a nine year old and wanted Heather to make it look scary!! Even Jack, the dog, was in costume - Emily says "he's a Jack-O-Lantern, get it?" There are many families in the subdivision that go "all out" to decorate for Halloween so it's a fun night to be out walking.

Although, October has not been all fun. Heather had major surgery on October 21st to remove a pineal gland cyst from her head. She is fortunate that a world renowned neurosurgeon, that specializes in pineal cysts, is the head of Neurosurgery at Memorial Herman Hospital, here in Houston, and that it was diagnosed and treated quickly. I have been in Houston with her since before the surgery and she is doing very well - got her stitches out and the OK to drive yesterday at her two week follow-up. Despite the reason, it has been fun to be here with her and the girls (and of course, Kyle!) I'm going back to SA on Friday. Missing Roger!

Heather and Kyle went to a Halloween party for a short time on Friday night. She was feeling pretty good and they figured it was too good an opportunity to really scare everyone! She was the patient and Kyle was the surgeon! Megan wanted her to put a hatchet coming out of her head and Kirt, our nephew, suggested Frankenstein bolts in her neck!

On The Road Again!

After a nice respite in Michigan, enjoying time with family and friends and the great fall weather, we are once again "on the road" to Texas! Anxious to see family and friends there too!

We traveled through Amish country yesterday - it is always so interesting to see horses and buggies on the road and hitched at the local businesses; clothes hanging on the lines to dry; and women in long dresses and bonnets out working in their gardens. We even saw a farmer plowing his field with a team of horses! I think there is something to be learned from their simple way of life!!

 We went to Roger's 50th (yes,50th) class reunion in September and had a fun time renewing old friendships. They put all the classmates senior picture on their name tag but most of us don't look quite the same!

We also had a nice get together with all of Roger's family, We don't see them nearly often enough and the grand kids are growing up so fast!

The Hewletts 2015

Judy, Mel and I went to see Aunt Max and Aunt Dot and then had dinner with our cousins - Diane, Pat and Cindy - and I had lunch one day with my nursing school room-mate, Joanne - so it was a busy time back "home."

Roger is going back to work for a few months so we will be staying in San Antonio until next March. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to replenish the coffers! Easy for me to say - I'm not the one working!!!

Teddy Roosevelt National Park - Bully Pulpit Golf Course

We couldn't believe it when yesterday dawned sunny and lovely! So we booked a tee time and then went for a drive through the park. We have been here before but wanted Judy to see the different beauty of this area. We didn't see the buffalo herd but we saw one playing "king of the mountain." We also saw the wild horses and a coyote stalking the prairie dogs. All the prairie dogs were "barking" to warn each other of impending danger as they scurried to their holes!

The Bully Pulpit Golf Course is rated one of the top #100 courses in the states. The holes are entwined in the hills and canyons of Medora - it is challenging and beautiful!

We had lunch at the Teddy Roosevelt Hotel and finished the day at the Medora Musical. A nice break before finishing our drive to Michigan.

Montana

Wow! What a change in scenery as we drive east in Montana! Weather is nasty - in the 50's, raining and with 35 mile an hour winds - someone needs to tell them it's August - it's summertime!!! We did not experience anything like this in Alaska!

We are spending the night in Medora, home of Teddy Roosevelt National Park. Hoped to play golf at the awesome Bully Pulpit golf course tomorrow but.......weather will have to improve drastically!

Not exactly the way we would have liked to spend our 46th wedding anniversary but a small price to pay for a great summer!

Johnson Canyon

A drive down Bow Valley Parkway between Lake Louise and Banff led to more gorgeous scenery and Johnson Canyon.

Johnson Canyon was our last hike in Canada and an especially great one! The trail leads up the canyon through a wooded area along Johnson Creek and soon becomes a “catwalk” that is literally attached to the canyon wall. A sturdy railing prevented me from panicking!

We walked to the lower falls and when we got there discovered a cave in the canyon wall that you could get through to see the falls from an opening on the inside. It was awesome!

A walkway for wildlife over the highway

A little ice cream to rejuvenate us and then on to Banff. We shopped around, enjoyed happy hour in a little pub and then drove back to Lake Louise for the night.

Our 4 day pass for Jasper/Lake Louise National Park expired at 4pm yesterday so we had to get out of town quickly this morning. We joked that we were “playing on our face” – if you play 31 you know what that means!

We stopped at the duty free store and bought Kahlua and Carolina with our left over Canadian money. We got hooked on Duck Farts in Homer and are now making our own!

3:00pm – back in the USA!!!!!


Thanks for the memories Canada and Alaska!!

Lake Louise

We followed the Icefields Parkway into Lake Louise and stopped at Peyto Lake on the way. Judy’s back was bothering her and Roger stopped half way up the trail – key word being “up!” So, being the explorer that I am (ha,ha) I continued and took pictures for them. Just another beautiful aqua lake with mountains and waterfalls!! We then passed the Weeping Wall and Bridal Veil Falls.

Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake Falls

Lake Louise is actually a small lake wedged between mountains behind the famous Fairmount Chateau hotel. We drove up to see it on a sunny afternoon and could not believe the crowds and traffic jam!! Should have read the description in our AAA book before – “…one bus after another disgorges throngs of tourists. It’s an amazingly beautiful place, but during the high season, not a very peaceful one.” We saw it first from the ski tram.

Lake Louise and the Fairmount Chateau

Judy's first tram ride!

Judy had a great idea – we went back early the next morning for breakfast, parked up front and enjoyed a quiet time touring the grounds. By the time we were done the parking lot was packed and the hordes had arrived!!

Moraine Lake is in the same general area so we stopped there on our way back into Lake Louise. By the time we were driving out the park rangers had the road closed and were only letting cars in as others left! We would certainly recommend touring this area in May or September to avoid the crowds. You wouldn’t believe the number of rented class C campers; tour buses and foreign travelers!

Lake Moraine is only about half the size of Lake Louise but it is called the “jewel of the Rockies” because it is in the Valley of the Ten Peaks and surrounded by saw-toothed ridges. It is damned up by a huge rock slide that many were climbing to get a panoramic view.

Athabasca Falls and Glacier Tour

The Icefields Parkway took us past Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls and Tangle Falls. We couldn’t park with the motorhome at Sunwapta Falls but Athabasca Falls was magnificent! (I’m running out of adjectives!)

Can you see the rainbow?

The Athabasca Glacier is part of a series of glaciers in the Columbia Icefields. We stayed overnight in the parking lot at Athabasca Glacier (what a view!) and took the tour to walk on the ice. They take you to the base of the glacier in a bus and then you transfer to these special vehicles with wide tires that can drive up and down a 37% grade (yikes!) and out on the ice! We used our hiking poles! This has been a trip of many “firsts!”

Judy and Roger walked out on the Glacier Skywalk - an observation platform 918 feet above Sumwapta Valley. I passed on that experience!

Looks like frosting on this mountain!