Sharing some of the experiences encountered moving to and living in London … and then moving to Amsterdam! And then, moving to Austin, Texas where Adventure Cow has taken over this blog!
Cow goes to Canada
Even a longhorn from Texas knows that Austin is setting records this summer for how many days it can string together that are over 100 degrees – time to hit the road again!
Cow is ready to learn about Western Canada. He wants to see trees, rocks, and water. He wants some fresh air that is not blooming hot.
(Click picture to access a Wiki page on Western Canada)
On the first day driving from Calgary to Banff, we stopped in Canmore. A beautiful village with trees, rocks, water and cute shops, restaurants and breweries. A river runs through it. (Click picture for website link with more information about Canmore)
During a tour of Banff and the surrounding area, Andy and Cow watch the Bow river go by. (Click picture for weblink to more information about Banff)
Cow wants closer to the Bow river waterfall – he climbs the rocks.
Later, the tour went to the Banff Gondola. From there you can climb to Sanson’s Peak, where the old weather station remains on Sulphur Mountain. (Click picture for Banff Gondola website)
Cow plays in the flowers of Banff’s Cascade of Time Garden (Click the picture to learn more about Banff’s gardens)
Later, Cow joins a boat ride of Minnewanka Lake (Click the picture to learn more about the lake)
In Banff’s town center, Cow is excited to find a whole store dedicated to cows – and ice cream! (Click picture for weblink to Cow Ice Cream, Banff)
Cow officially picks up a first name while hiking to see Stanley Glacier. He is now “Adventure Cow”. (Click the picture to learn more about this hike)
The next day, Adventure Cow was ready to hunt for waterfalls. This is lower Johnston Falls. (Click this picture for more information about hikes in Banff, including Johnston Falls)
As Adventure Cow kept hiking, he found Upper Johnston Falls.
Another day, another waterfall hunt, the next hike was Lake Louise. (Click the picture for weblink to more information about Lake Louise)
To get closer to the waterfalls, Adventure Cow jumps in for his first canoe ride at Moraine Lake (Click this picture to learn more about Moraine Lake)
After the canoe ride, AC (Adventure Cow’s nickname now) climbed the rock pile next to Moraine Lake. He loves the views of trees, rocks, and water.
AC waits to enter the cabin rented in Field, Canada. (Click this picture to learn more about Field and Yoho National Park)
Up the road from the cabin, is Takakkaw Falls. The second highest waterfall in Canada. (Click the picture for more information about Yoho National Park)
Going up river from Takakkaw Falls are the Laughing Falls. AC is happy to climb the rocks at the base of the falls. We are laughing.
Today a new adventure awaits: driving up the Icefield Parkway of Canada. Every exit is another hike, lake, or waterfall. This is Peyto Lake. Yes, it is the most beautiful color of blue, or is it green? (Click the link to go to a Wiki page dedicated to Peyto)
One stop on the parkway, is Athabasca Glacier. It is a steep climb to the base (or toe) of the glacier, but worth the effort. (Click the picture to find more information about Athabasca Glacier)
AC has found another waterfall off the parkway, it is Sunwapta Falls. (Click this picture to learn more about the falls)
Another Falls awaits – The Athabasca Falls. AC is amazed at the amount of rushing water generated by the melting glacier and the remaining snow. (Click this picture for a link to a Wiki page on Athabasca Falls)
The next day Adventure Cow learns that he gets to go rafting on the Athabasca River. He is assured that the ride will not take him over the Falls.
Oh boy! This is more fun than the boat ride on Minnewanka. Yes, this water is gray. It is saturated with glacial ‘flour’ or minute particles of rocks and minerals. (Click the picture for a link to Jasper Raft Tours)
Time for a breather – a visit to the JAG helps AC recover from his busy days. (Click the picture to visit the JAG website)
From Jasper we take the Canadian train to Vancouver. Adventure Cow is surprised to find a friend on the train. “Mousey” was traveling from Toronto to Vancouver and she too was surprised to find another animal whose adventures are documented and shared. (Mousey does not have a blog, just a list of close friends) (Click the picture to go to the Canada Rail website)
AC waits in the sleeper room of the train, he is ready to be outside again.
Cow finds himself on Granville Island, within the city of Vancouver. Most of the island is shops and restaurants, but he has found a nice spot for a break from shopping. (Click the picture to go to the Island’s webpage)
Adventure Cow is happy to see that Vancouver has breweries. This one is right in Stanley Park, a large park at the tip of the Vancouver peninsula. (Click the picture to learn more about Stanley Park Brewing)
We are talking adventure now. Cow takes his first seaplane ride from Vancouver to Victoria. This is fun! (Click the picture to learn more about Harbour Air)
AC can’t believe how much fun he gets to have. The next day he goes whale watching. He does not see any whales, but others do, so that’s ok. The boat goes very fast until it finds the whales – then it stops. (Click this picture to learn more about the whale watching company, Eagle Wing Tours)
Victoria is home to Butchart Gardens. AC takes in his first view of the sunken garden. (Note it is sunken because the garden was started to disguise a limestone mine) (Click picture for link to Butchart Gardens website)
Butchart Gardens has more than just flowers – The Dragon Fountain is a gift from China in recognition of a sister-city relationship between Victoria and the City of Suzhou.
AC had his first afternoon tea at Butchart Gardens – he ate all the savories.
Cow finds flowers in the city of Victoria too. (Click this picture for access to a Wiki on Victoria, BC, Canada)
The time has come to leave Victoria, AC looks out the window while on his first ferry ride; Victoria to Seattle. (Click this picture to learn more about ferry service from Victoria)
Back in the USA! Adventure Cow takes in the Olympic Sculpture Park with a view of the Space Needle too. (Click the picture to link with Seattle Art Museum and learn more about the Sculpture Park)
Oh Boy! More rocks for AC to climb.
Adventure Cow is fearless! That’s what another visitor to the Space Needle said, anyway. AC is happy to push his nose to the glass so he can see all of Seattle below him. (Click the picture to go to the Space Needle’s website)
Below the Space Needle is the Chihuly Garden and Glass. AC want’s a better view of the art glass, but the workers at Chihuly will not let him play, not even in the plants or flowers. (Click the picture to link with Chihuly Garden and Glass website)
One more stop on this adventure – Tacoma. There are five main places to view Chihuly glass in Tacoma, his home town; The Glass Museum, the Tacoma Art Museum, The Glass Bridge, Union Station, and the Murano Hotel. (Click picture for weblink) Only the Glass Museum allowed AC a chance to join the artwork.
That is it for this adventure. AC (the fearless Adventure Cow) is back on his shelf right now, but that is not going to last for too long; Adventure Cow is always on the lookout for trees, rocks and water; planes, trains and automobiles too.
