The Stampede City...Onward!

Calgary is a special leg of the Venzaliner50 Journey as my mom (June,a/k/a grandma) joined me and for that I am thankful! I am also thankful for Murf, a Centennial friend, who lined us up with Michael the land man who became our personal guide for the weekend. We couldn’t have asked for a better one and we certainly enjoyed our time with Michael, also known as, “the Wayne Gretsky of street smarts” and “the best storyteller in Calgary”, eh? The weekend was full of kibitzing, gallivanting, and sightseeing.

Welcome to Calgary Kickoff & Toast!

Since it was the last weekend of the Calgary Stampede, campsites were full but Michael came through for us and we enjoyed a site at Calgary West Campgrounds overlooking the west side of Calgary and neighboring the Calgary Olympic Park. 

Coincidentally, our campsite neighbors were Aliner owners from Ontario; wonderful, pleasant people. And, once again, enjoyed conversation and new-found friends!

After our Calgary Kickoff & Toast, we ventured downtown Calgary and enjoyed a delicious dinner with Michael and his friend, Kofi at Earl's. Good wine, good food, good friends, awesome time!

Let's eat!

G'ma and her long lost son, Kofi!

After dinner, we discovered a bonus to our campsite was at 11 pm, we could lay in my bed and enjoy the view of Calgary’s nightly fireworks display filled with beautiful colors, sparkles, crackles, and cheers of oohs and ahhs.  And surprisingly, one evening (ok wee hours of the morning), we were blessed with northern lights; amazing, couldn’t believe we were able to see them…how beautiful!

Real life is better than pictures!

Saturday, we enjoyed a taste of the Canadian Rockies beginning with a...

Drive from Calgary to Banff

Stroll in the Cascades of Time Gardens at Banff Park Administration Building. 

Tour and lunch at The Fairmont at Banff Springs….superdelicious chorizo mac-n-cheese for an appetizer and only uphill from there!

Ending with homemade pie and coffee at Johnson Canyon.

Onward...back to the Stampede City!