I’ve had an extraordinary ten days in Alberta. In typical holiday fashion, the time passed in a flash. It was full of highs and more highs. So it goes when you’re spending time with a treasured friend.
Good times at Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
I met Boomdee via WordPress, a wonderful forum for finding your people. There are days when I still can’t believe it.
Boomdeeadda
Yet here we are, making the most of our time together, while making do with the time apart.
Boomdee lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She hosted me at her home in Edmonton. We also took a two-day excursion to the mountains, the world-famous Canadian Rockies, about a five-hour drive from Edmonton. Mr. B, as he’s affectionately known, drove the ten-hour round trip. The drive was breathtaking.
The mostly two-lane highway passes magnificent forests of Alpine Larch, Spruce, Fir to name just a few. Meandering rivers are a glorious milky blue this time of year as the snow and glaciers melt. We stopped at two or three waterfalls on our journey. It’s difficult to describe the power of the water slowly carving out the mountains as the icy waters rush downstream. This video will give you a general idea.
The high point of the day, if you’ll forgive the pun, was time spent above the Columbia Glaciers. You walk along a cliff-edge walkway before arriving on a glass-floored observation platform 918 feet (280 metres) over glacier-formed valleys and rushing waterfalls. If you follow this link, you’ll see the full magnificence of the viewing platform, unobstructed by tourists like me. Boomdee preferred the solid footing of the cliff. I ventured out with Mr. B, weak-kneed but excited to experience the incredible view.
That night, we stayed in her friend’s cabin just across the border in Valemount, British Columbia. It’s a small village of about 1,000 people. What a treat!
Valemount, BC
On our way home, we enjoyed lunch at the historic Jasper Park Lodge, known locally as JPL.
Back in Edmonton we packed in more fun. We visited Fort Edmonton with Ben and Sherry, and enjoyed coffee and banana bread with her Aunty Kathleen. We visited Urban Scrapbook, The Duchess Bakery and Greenland Garden Centre and nursery. Boomdee recently replanted her boulevard, but saved a space for a plant that we bought together. Isn’t that the sweetest? We sat on her deck or patio, enjoying tea, coffee and toast.
When you get back from a trip, you often here “What was your favorite part?” In a word: Boomdee.
Together we giggle like school girls and seemingly travel on the same emotional plane. We have similar loves and shared world views, which make our time together easy. She’s a gracious host, married to a lovely man and together they live with a pair of charming cats named Blossum and Petals.
I felt welcome and right at home. Do you have a friend like that?
We’re already planning our next trip, which makes the time apart seem more doable.
Come have a look at Boomdee’s post about our time together. Here’s an excerpt:
It’s still dark, but actually very warm outside this morning. When I say morning, it’s very early, only 4:25AM. The kitties followed me downstairs and did a drive-by snacking. Now, I’m thinking they’ve gone back to bed because the house is very still and quiet. It’s Alys’s last day here in Edmonton…[read more]
In case you missed it, here is my post documenting her creative process for Urban Scrapbook.
Ten Reasons to Visit Alberta (and BC)
Delicious Restaurants and Wonderful Service
Gardening Nirvana 