Today, Dave, Roberto and I all got a break from being on the road. We enjoyed a lovely, slower-paced day at the beautiful home of Anne and Russell. Their house backs onto the Lethbridge coulees. Coulees are the steep, v-shaped valleys that, in this case, are found along the river in Lethbridge - and they are a sight to behold! They are home to all sorts of wildlife and plants - we spotted a garter snake (yes, I jumped!) and lots of cacti. Deer are also a common sight. I don't think my photographs of these striking landforms will do them any justice! Coulees are so cool - that was Dave's "dad joke" for the day! Do you guys see what I have to put up with?
It was a day of being spoiled - comfy bed, beautiful shower, culinary delights, and laundry PLUS lots of sister time! Dave doesn't get to see Anne very often, so his time with her is absolutely precious! Plus, I think he is still trying to repent for all those years when he (lovingly?) tormented her when they were kids!
Over lunch, the four of us had a good talk about the directions Roberto should take in the next few days. There is so much to experience in Alberta! Plus, we still have a number of must-see places in British Columbia! Russell and Dave poured over maps to also figure out what would be the best way to get to Utah. Fingers crossed, we will head south from Vancouver, through Seattle, and meander our way through to the Beehive State to see Anne and Russell's family.
This afternoon, we decided to go for a walk in the coulees (maybe I should use the singular "coulee" instead? I should have asked Anne before I published this blog). Just as we were on our way, Anne introduced us to a couple walking their dog. Sandy and Don could not have been nicer. We quickly started talking about hiking as it is one of their passions, and they were eager to give us advice about good trails to check out. It also came up that Don is a craft beer enthusiast - actually, expert would probably be a better description. He knew about Beau's Lug Tread Ale from Vankleek Hill, which we thought was pretty neat! Next thing we know, they have invited the four of us to their place this evening for dessert - are all Lethbridgians so friendly? They are certainly wonderful ambassadors for their city!
For supper, Anne and Russell prepared a beautiful meal and while we dined on their outdoor patio, she and I sipped on a martini (shaken, not stirred). We shared lots of laughs and even got in a Skype visit with Lauren, Anne and Russell's daughter who lives in Australia. When we talked to her, it was tomorrow there. Mind-blowing!
We walked over to Sandy and Don's after supper and they graciously welcomed us into their lovely home. Their back patio also overlooks the coulees. They served apple crisp that was simply happiness in a bowl! Our discussions were numerous - hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, travelling, knitting, among others. Don brought out a few different beers for us to sample, each with its own distinct flavour. I liked them all, but I can't tell you exactly why - they just tasted good, especially the ones on the "hoppier" side! I guess hops make me "hoppier" - ok, I can't blame Dave for that bad joke as this one's on me!
After a lovely evening with Sandy and Don, we walked a few houses back to Anne and Russell's where we talked some more about what was new with the family, and then we said good night. What a relaxing and restorative day! We are now pumped to get back on the road - after all, we don't want Roberto to get too comfortable being parked!
That's all for now, folks! Over and out!
