The Banff Meet-up Continues ...
The day continued into the early evening and all of us TB’ers were anticipating the great lookout at the top of Mount Sulphur. We hadn’t expected the winds to pick up as hard as they did but luckily that is all we experienced for all around us, in the distance, we could see the down pouring of rain. It’s was neat to be able to see this atmospheric interference but yes it was an interference in that the photos take from on top could not truly capture the beauty of the surrounding mountains and the cuts and crevasses that have given that spectacular look to the Rocky Mountains from years of erosion etc.
We all got off the Gondola, no problem, Ally thought once at the top that we’d be returning but the whole group quickly noticed that walk-way that still escalated to the top. I quickly ventured off with the other TB’ers following; I have always had the energy for the outdoors. Well as I went up I was curiously wondering where Mark (travelman727) was but was told ‘due to his leg he had to stay behind at wait for us to return’. He wouldn’t have to wait long for the last gondola would leave at 9:00pm and we had only arrived at 7:40pm and still had to purchase the tickets for the lift.
As we went up the dreary background was ever present and we quickly capture it on pictures as we enjoy the slow ascent to the top of Mount Sulphur. Mark and Keith got into the grove of this TB meet-up with energy for everyone; Ally, Robert, and Hayley walked with anticipation and Dan quickly went to buy a pass giving all TB’ers a discount for this venture as I followed.
So far there was Dan (Dancr), Keith (aloha_keith),Ally (AllyFlower) and Rodney Mark (travelman727), Robert (rvegas), Hayley (originalgirl), and I (row-zzzzz).
Mark (travelman727), Robert (rvegas), and Hayley (originalgirl)We were texted by Mark (marxy~ Marxy) and he let us know that he’d be meeting us at Bruno’s for beer and we also were text throughout the day from Wendy (travelngirl) telling us of her flights delays and thus missing one flight into Calgary, she had reason to be flustered and but still continued making her way to Banff from Calgary, renting a vehicle and texting us that she’d meet us the next day and get a good rest from her ‘adventures’ so far!
We all headed to Bruno’s staying there only as long as we had to, when we finished our drinks (1 only) we went fleeing out of Bruno’s and headed down the strip to another pub, for any other pub in Banff must have better a atmosphere and service. Walking the strip we all escaped into the safety of The Rose and Crown Pub & Restaurant where I could tell this would be a place for TB’ers like us to have fun and enjoy the rest of the evening!
The girls played against the guys and just because we accidentally put the dreaded 8 ball down a bit to early the guys won by default but they (Dan and Robert) know we (Hayley and I) were kicking their butts ... Hayley did them a favour otherwise they would have been embarrassed of their loss LOL ...
Dan and I finally took off back to Calgary to sleep the night but Hayley kindly offered that we stay in room that she’d booked ... unfortunately, we hadn’t told Dan’s mother and didn’t want to call at mid-night letting her know we weren’t coming home but the offer still held and in the morning Dan planned to let his Mom know that we’d just stay put for the next 2 nights in Banff instead of driving in and out, “Thanks a lot, Hayley and Robert. Dan and I appreciated your hospitality!!” Tomorrows another day with so much to do :)
Heading into Banff ... fun filled week-end with TB'ers from Canada, USA, Honalulu, UK, & Australian
Dan
(dancr~http://www.travbuddy.com/Dancr)
and I (row-zzzzz~ http://www.travbuddy.com/row-zzzzz)
left Calgary, Alberta around 11:00am to meet-up with Keith (aloha_keith~http://www.travbuddy.com/aloha_keith)
and Ally (allyflower~http://www.travbuddy.com/AllyFlower)
who were already in Banff. As we drove though to Banff, the sky was
overcast, the beautiful peaks of the approaching Rocky Mountains were a 'tad'
unclear in this dreary weather. When we arrived we were welcomed into
Keith's home-away-from-home Hotel where we introduced each other, relaxed, then
all got up to head to Johnston Canyon.
Mark (travelman727~http://www.travbuddy.com/travelman727),
Robert (rvegas~ http://www.travbuddy.com/rvegas),
and Hayley (originalgirl~ http://www.travbuddy.com/originalgirl)
were tired from there 1300km excursion (approximately) so while the 4 of us
headed to the Canyon they headed to their hotels to relax before meeting for
our first Pre-Meet-Up dinner at Tony Roma`s, on Banff Blvd, at 5:30pm.
Well we all got into Keith`s rental and headed off to the Canyon ... Keith
forewarned us that he wouldn`t walk the whole way, but to my surprise he did
the whole thing ... ``See Keith, you still have the energy of youth in
you!!`` Talk about getting excited, for when Keith saw his first 4 legged
creature, a chipmunk, in the forest of the Johnston Canyon ... he couldn`t help
taking pics of cute little chipmunks all along the way throughout the canyon
... Ally and I were interested in sighting bigger animals but the only animal
we could take a PIC of was `RODNEY` a little fox the patrons of the Fox Hotel
and Suites gave to Ally the day before ...
Luckily, along the way back to Banff, we spotted 4 Big Horn Sheep walking along
the highway, though it was so rushed and at the last minute the none of us
could get a clear & professional shot of the 4 of them (four legged creatures)
we spotted along the highway. Other cars were approaching us from the
back and either we ‘hold up traffic’ or continue onto Banff. Well we left
the Big Horn Sheep and headed to Tony Roma`s for the pre-meet-up and a much
needed supper by all after the walk in Johnston Canyon!!
As I walked into Tony Roma’s, there in the distance I could see Mark, Robert,
and Hayley and so the gathering of TB`ers began ... we all introduced
ourselves, looked forever at the menus, Keith was making me salivate over the
Apple Crisp he wanted to order but after the meal as much as it interested me I
held back, resisted the temptation and watched him get `sticky fingers` while
lustfully enjoying his desert :)
I was
texted by Wendy (travelngirl~http://www.travbuddy.com/travelngirl)
who let me know that her plane didn’t leave on time and when she arrived in San
Francisco she and 3 others looked at the United Airline that she was suppose to
be on but the airline didn’t let the 4 of them on and they had to find other
airlines to proceed to their destinations ... so as a result we knew Wendy
wouldn’t be meeting us till day 2 ... disappointed she excited made other
arrangements and landed around 5:00pm in Calgary, picked up a car rental, and
headed to Banff ... I passed on her news to the other TB’ers, no the only other
TB’er we were expecting tonight was Mark#2 (Marxy~http://www.travbuddy.com/Marxy.
He texted me letting me know he’d be a little late that’s when I told him to
meet us at Bruno’s where we’d go after the gondola lift ... I was happy to see
another TB’er joining us; “the more the merrier”
All 7 of us were full and now it was heading onto 7:15pm so we headed off to
Sulphur Mountain to ride the Gondola ... Some Tb`ers thought we were just going
for the ride up then proceeding right back down, but at the top there was a
trek to the `summit` ... get out the equipment LOL only equipment needed was a
good hoody or as Hayley calls it a Romper ...
We all walked up but when I turn I was wonder, where is Mark (travelman727) ...
I thought to myself, perhaps he`s not fond of heights, but later I found out,
this was not the case ... that`s another blog on its own LOL
Keith, Dan, were going extra slow walking as every 2 seconds the Nikon and
Canon cameras were capturing the storm clouds, lightening, majestic beauty of
the mountains, the city of Banff that resides below, and of course pics of us
energetic TB`ers: Ally, Hayley, Robert, and I who took off up and besides we
had to climb it and return back before the gondola closed at 9pm, at the same
time beat the storm that was literally surrounding us ... the cold winds, due
to the storm, Keith mentioned mittens and how he hadn`t been in this weather
for a long time and thankfully he said he didn`t just wear flip-flops but
bought himself a new pair of runners ...
Rodney the fox (of Ally) rode up the gondola but along the way he lost his nose
... poor thing ... her little stuffed animal lost its nose ... I offered to
glue-gun it back together but while sitting at Bruno`s after the Gondola,
Hayley `broke out a pen` and coloured it in and did a great job from Ally`s and
my perspective so the nose will be tossed LOL ...
We all returned to the gondola and before some bought some souvenirs then we
all headed down where we took some silly pictures and this is where Mark told
us he would return to his hotel to fix his leg ...
Me being the fine hostess and very concerned for Mark`s leg offered to put A535
on his leg to make him feel better ... he looked at me then I said “A535 is
like Absorbing Junior ... it should make your leg feel better” ... then he
suddenly asks Dan, “can you bring a wrench back into Banff tomorrow” ... I
looked at Dan and Mark with wonder but then as Mark walked away I was taken
aback as Mark’s foot wasn`t pointed in the direction a/any foot usually points
... Bemused, the TB gang explained to me about his prosthetic limb, as
they smiled at me in that as I was mothering him and his sore foot when all
along I never knew he had a prosthetic limb :)
Well we went to Bruno`s (except travelman727) to have a couple of drinks and
meet with Marxy. We left no tip there for the service `sucked`, so we headed
down to another pub. As we walked on, we all got to know each other more,
played pool, drank the night away enjoying each other’s company, while learning
of each TB’ers travel/life experiences at this meet-up; where we all got to
`taste` the life of others . These great people I would have never
met had it not been for Travbuddy!!!
More to come!
Ruuufffff Draft ... spelling etc will be fixed when meet-up is over!
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You'll feel on top of the world and the sight of the clouds with the mountains piercing through, or the sun setting, or if you're able to experience the sight of rain and storm clouds all around the summit, or the pink clouds flowing in a way that looks unexplainable ... I've only gone up 4 times and every time I go there it's always a different view HIGH IN THE SKIES
I took the TB'ers here where some kissed the ground, others lost their legs, some sketched in their names, others walked anxiously, some stopped every second to take photos, while the others just walked up to enjoy the breath-taking view ... it is something for all to enjoy and hopefully while you're up there you'll get to see Big Horn Sheep, roaming around, unfortunately I didn't this time but they are there perhaps next time I'll be lucky ... I did see birds and squirrels, if that counts LOL ... so do go, you'll enjoy yourself just as the TB'ers did during this one activity during the Banff TB meet-up :)
"The mountain was named in 1916 for the hot springs on its lower slopes.[1] The springs have been developed into swimming and hot pools..." --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulphur_Mountain
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