Banff, Hot Springs, and Wild Things

Today we spent time in downtown Banff before heading to the Hot Springs that made Banff famous. Then we went searching for wildlife.

Downtown Banff

That's not just a pool. It is 104 degrees, straight out of the ground heated mineral springs. Just like the waterfall behind us above. We spent about two hours swimming in the springs.

The Historic Fairmont Banff Springs (at $650/night this is as close as we got)

Now to find some wildlife.

Three Elk(?) at a church on the edge of town.

No wildlife at Vermillion Lakes but the view was awesome

On the way back to our hotel we decided to drive up to Norquay Mountain. Sunset on the way up was great. That's Banff down on the right.

Then after one more turn we came upon this.

That's a herd of bighorn sheep grazing about 6,000ft up. Here are two closer pictures. We were still about 250ft away.

Sailing and Summerland Sweets

Today we took out the sail boat (29ft) and then headed ashore to Summerland Sweets, a fruit jam and syrup manufacture with an excellent ice cream stand and winery (pretty much they do everything). Here are some shots from our day with Heather and her brother.

Then we went to Summerland Sweets. We all got ice cream cones and took a walk to the historic railroad trestle. Then this happened.

But it was ok. The view from the trestle made it all better.

See

Happy Liz

Summerland, British Columbia

Just a few shots from our day in the Okanagan where we've been staying with our friend Heather's family. The region around Okanagan Lake is famous for its fruit trees and wineries. It is a desert (YES, Canada has a desert!!) but it rained off and on all day. Anyway, here are some shots from our time up here. It is beautiful and Heather's family are quite lovely hosts. Tomorrow, weather permitting we're going sailing on the lake!!

Follow us from BC to Sweet Tea

Our checklists are checked. Our bucket lists are...bucked? Our things are in boxes and bags or piles to be boxed and bagged. If it doesn't fit in the car on Sunday, it isn't going. We are heading home!!

Well, home is a bit of a misnomer. We have been here so long that Vancouver really does feel like home. And we will miss it and the folks we have known tremendously. But we are heading back to family, and that is a gift for which we have been longing for a long time. 

So many things have changed since we have been gone. For good, for bad and forever. Some are known and some are waiting to be discovered. 

Coming out to Vancouver so much was unknown. Driving across the continent watching the landscape change felt like such an adventure. Endless fields of sunflowers in Nebraska, huge mountains along the Beartooth Highway in Montana, the Pacific beaches which face the wrong way. All that gave way to a city where things were subtly different and unfamiliar and a school that was challenging in all the right ways and gratifying because it was worth it. There were major struggles along the way and points when I truly thought we were not going to make it. But we did.

In the Lord of the Rings, the beginning of the adventure is scary with every new bend in the road containing unknown danger. But the road home is sweet, almost too easy (it turns out not to be easy once they arrive back, but the danger is quickly overcome! And that is a different story). The road home is an adventurer's reward. What was heretofore dangerous becomes no threat at all. It is one of my favorite parts of the story because it is so profoundly true. I think this was a theme Tolkien enjoyed. There and back again. Every there has a back again. And this is about to be our story. Back Again. I'm really looking forward to it.



You can follow our road trip back by keeping an eye on this blog. We'll do our best to update every day during the trip.

Seismic Improvements

In Vancouver, many of the historic buildings are being retrofitted for seismic improvements. This is so that they will be able to withstand "The Big One", the earthquake that everyone assumes will hit someday. There are basically two steps. A construction company goes to foundation to create a more secure footing. Then they add in structural reinforcement from this footing all the way up through the rest of the building. Now that there is a strong foundation, step two is properly attaching all of the other elements (roof, floor, etc) to that foundation. When done well, seismic improvements make a building stronger without changing the building's appearance.  

**Structural engineers don't shoot me. I'm a pastor with limited understanding of this stuff.

This is what I feel like my Regent education did for me. I might not look different, but I feel confident in what I have always believed in an unshaking way. I am leaving Regent not a different man, but a more well-formed version of who I was when I came. I have found my education to be informing the good things I  already believed but in a way that was setting a firm foundation several layers deeper than I previously knew.

Vancouver Bucket List: Chinatown

Today's Check:  Exploring Chinatown!

Chinatown is located on the east side of Vancouver's downtown core.  Since our church is located downtown, we decided to take a stroll there after the service on Sunday. (with a quick stop at Japadog for Rob)  Here are a few pictures to enjoy!

First Baptist Church Vancouver

Our Connection Group with a few extras!
Our friend Farai's mom was in town from Zimbabwe for his graduation!

Japadog with the bro!

Everything is going to be alright building

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park

Vancouver Bucket List: Deep Cove

Since we're leaving Vancouver in less than two weeks, we're trying to do everything we can to enjoy our last bit of time we have in this beautiful area!  With no jobs, no school, and no commitments other than packing up and hosting last minute visitors, we can finally check a few things off our "Vancouver Bucket List"

Today's check:  Kayaking in Deep Cove, North Vancouver

 Honey's Doughnuts!  Best way to end a day of kayaking!!