Weekend Fishing in Fairmont, BC

Jeff and Rob from work asked Kirsten and I to join them in Fairmont for a weekend fishing. Friday afternoon we packed up Rangi and headed into the Rockies for our 4 hour drive to Jeff's timeshare. As we were driving through Kootenay National Park, we came across a Black Bear hanging out on the roadside, this was a perfect photo opportunity and we were stoked.

Jeff's timeshare happened to be a gorgeous condo that opens out to a very flash golf course, talk about hitting the jackpot!

Saturday we got up a little sluggish from a big night on the jungle juice and headed into the mountains for a day river fishing. It ended up being quite an adventure just getting to a good fishing spot. Between, shooting gophers, dodging deer, crossing slipped out tracks, and Kirsten spotting mountain goats we finally got to our destination and began casting our lines. Some small trout were caught and lots of bug repellent was applied. we got home late and enjoyed a dip in the Fairmont Hot Springs and and another round of the jungle juice.

Sunday was another late start, but the day was stunning and very, very warm. After a decent drive back into the mountains we came across a small lake called: Moose Lake, which had schools of rainbow trout hanging out around the fringes, We tried in vain to catch some, but they were not interested as they were spawning.

Next it was off to our destination, Whiteswan Lake, where we spent the next few hours fishing, eating, drinking and catching plenty of vitamin D. 

Before we knew it we had to pack up and head out to get home, the weekend was full of laughs and good times, something we will definitely be doing again, cheers boys.

Black Bear:

Columbia River:

Mountain River:

We had to fill in some serious holes along this bank to get the truck past, the clay was not very stable at all:

Rob Fishing:

Jeff Fishing:

Moose Lake:

Whiteswan Lake:

Kirsten fishing/enjoying the sunshine:

Fishing in Kananaskis

A few weeks ago Kirsten and I decided to get ourselves some fishing kit, and try our luck on some of the lakes and rivers in the Rockies.

On one of our days off a friend from Bass Pro, Doug, Kirsten and myself headed into Kananaskis County to catch up with Jax & Joel and go for a fish. Unfortunately Joel couldn't join us due to work but Kirsten and Jax had a great day hiking the tracks around the Resort; they even heard a Grizzly Bear Roar!!!

Doug and I carried onto the Kananaskis Lakes and faired the changing weather, avalanches and bears and fished all day. We were unlucky with the fish but had a fantastic day.

Upper Kananaskis Lake:

Doug rocking it:

Me loving it:

Swamp Donkey (cow moose):

Joel and Graham at the same place fishing but the week after

Joel fly fishing:

Graham and his Bull Trout:

Trip to Golden (Yoho National Park)

Kirsten, Jax & myself took a mid week trip through Yoho National Park to Golden. This was the furtherest West we have been with Rangi and we were excited about spotting our first bear. Within the first two hours we were lucky to spot a big Grizzly Bear on the railway lines next to the road chilling in the sun.
Shortly after we hit Yoho National Park and Kicking Horse Pass, the location of the Spiral Tunnels, the spot where the Rocky Mountaineer Train completely circles over itself by a huge looped tunnel running inside the side of a mountain.
Next stop was Emerald Lake, where we had our lunch sitting on a jetty overlooking the picturesque lake encircled by majestic mountains. We could have happily stayed here for the whole trip as it was breathtakingly beautiful.
After that we checked out the Natural Bridge Waterfall before reaching Golden. We decided to check into our accomodation for the night, which we soon discovered was in the middle of the boondocks and rather dodgy looking. After a Corona and Guiness we made the decision to stay in town, where its a little safer.
Wednesday saw us heading to Radium along the Columbia River Valley, Kirsten was excited to find a small place that sold natural honey, so after a quick stop to buy some we found ourselves in Invermere for Lunch. The afternoon was spent driving back home through Kootenay Natioanl Park, spotting deer and looking again at the massive destruction left by the forest fires only a decade earlier.

Old Train Component at Kicking Horse Pass

Girls in the Doghouse

The Crew

Emerald Lake

Natural Bridge

Bears can climb trees:

Day Trip to Trochu

On our mid-week day off Kirsten and I took Blanche to Trochu to catch up with some Couborough relatives. The day was very warm and the sun was out in force. The first stop of the day was at Brenda & Don's for lunch. Don showed us through his workshop where he is working on a 1927 Chevrolet, and let us drive his 1930 Ford.
The next stop was at Bill and Cathleen's whose 2000 acre ranch backed onto the Badlands Valley. This valley is the final resting place for a lot of Dinosaurs, Buffalo herds & Native Indian relics.
We had a fantastic day and felt very welcomed by our extended relatives.

Model 8, 1930 Ford

Alberta Badlands

Kirsten & Bill overlooking the Badlands

Mothers Day at the Zoo

For Mothers Day we got up early and headed for brunch at the Calgary Zoo. The food was great and they even had a chocolate fountain, much to Kirsten's delight.

After brunch we headed out to explore the Zoo. We went into the African Encounter and watched hippos swim, giraffes play and a zoo worker feed the snakes. While watching the snakes having lunch, the zoo worker asked us if we would like to help, after a quick chat about these guys being poisonous, he picked it up and to my surprise gave it to me to hold. 

After that we enjoyed the rest of the Zoo including the Dinosaur Park.

Hippo:

Meerkat:

Me taking photo of Snake

Snake: Madagascar Hog-Nosed Snake having lunch

Me holding snake

A few other characters from the zoo:

Funny looking South American goat/tahr dude chewing

Black Bear, sunbathing

Eagle

Rocky Mountain Goat