Jasper Park Lodge

I have made it back. I did have a couple of people try to contact "the Governator" to shut down the California border when i was on my way back in. Unfortunately the non partisan state government was too busy talking about an endangered gnat to make a decision on me coming back into the state...sorry to some of you. My trip was fun and very educational. Jasper Park was beautiful. A great place to bring a family and mountain bike or canoe the lake. There were hiking trails everywhere and all sorts of wildlife. In the midst of the city there was a giant elk. I couldn't believe it, but people were within 10 feet of this once wild animal that has become quite domesticated. We played 45 holes at Jasper Park, they have a fantastic 18 hole course. We arrived Wednesday after the Columbian Icefield and decided to tee off at about 9:00 at night. We walked off the 9 holes at 10:30 and i went straight to bed. I never had played golf past my bedtime. We did go into town on Thursday night and i think i found my next career field. I did turn in an application and am waiting for their reply. If i put you down as a reference, i would appreciate the embellishment of my abilities. The photo of me is on the 15th tee looking across the lake to the fairway of the par 4. The golf course and Jasper Park Lodge surround this lake and it is the clearest lake i think i have ever seen. The beauty of these 2 National Forests in Alberta Canada were amazing. If you ever want to get away i highly recommend both destinations. I hope you have enjoyed my trip to the great north as much as i have writing about them. Be blessed.

The Columbian Icefields

We travelled from Banff to Jasper yesterday through the Columbian Icefields. Along the way we tried to stump our driver Frederick to no avail. The guy was much smarter than a 5th grader. I found out so much information that if i don't write some of it down my brain might combust. I guess that when you see valleys between mountains if they are shaped like a "V" then water caused the erosion. If they are shaped like a "U" then it was a glacier and this on this trip we were on a glacier hunt. The good news is glaciers don't move fast and they stand out against the mountains so they weren't too hard for us to find...plus we had Freddy. The top left photo is the beginning of the ice fields. I guess glaciers are like rivers and the icefields are like the lakes. The icefield pushes the glacier because of the weight of snow and ice accumulated. It just pushes the bottom and that forms the glacier which we get to see the tow of. Top right is a picture of me looking down into Lake Hector. I guess the English hired this Hector guy to discover Canada, kind of like Lewis and Clark. Just never heard of a guy named Hector in Canada...let alone being one of the countries great adventurer. I guess Canada was much bigger than he thought so he only got half way done. The bottom two photos are the Columbia IceFields. We were fortunate enough to walk on the icefield. We took a ride up in these massive monster trucks. I finally have walked on water. All of you that didn't think i could do it :-p

The Canadian Rockies

Ok folks,

I am writing to you from the Fairmont Banff Springs, God's Country. I can't believe the views. If you are interested in breathing you will love this place. I flew into Calgary, 3 hours from LAX, and then about an hour drive up the mountain. I am apart of the PGA Ambassador's program. They are introducing us to the types of trips that are available to the Membership of Clubs like Valencia. I think we need to figure out a trip up here. If not with me take a loved one and enjoy this. The golf is world class, actually played 9 holes with hickory equipment yesterday...what a treat. The three photo's you see, one is from my room, not a bad view eh. If you notice i have already picked up the language, i will rent Strange Brew when i get back to America. The other is me actually hitting a fairway in front of the Castle they call our hotel. The Hotel was designed after the castle Wallace wanted but i guess never got. You know him as Braveheart, every time before i go to bed i open my window and yell "FREEDOM." I know i am an obnoxious American, i don't really do that. The other last shot is me posing on our 9th hole with a hickory club in my hand, yes and i did tuck my pants into my socks, it only seemed appropriate to wear knickers during this experience. We are headed up to the Glacier fields today and then to the Fairmont Jasper. Stay tuned for more of "Roughing It," by me :(. I am too blessed to be able to do this.