August 28, 29
This morning we packed up at Jenn’s and had a late breakfast in Calgary at the Lido Café in the Kensington area. The trip to Edmonton was uneventful. We arrived early enough to begin visiting bookstores. We started with “New Beginnings” bookstore at Beulah Alliance Church. As usual, the manager wanted to read the books before deciding to take them. So we left a sample of each and moved on to the “Fig Tree” bookstore in the West Edmonton Mall. Wow! The mall is huge and noisy and full of excitement. We took pictures of the skating rink and the water park, as well as leaving samples at the bookstore.
We got to Tom’s son, Will’s, place in time to go out for a late supper with him. Will suggested that we walk to the restaurant. One of the best parts of where he lives is the community. It’s similar to Yorkville in the early 60’s. The university is a healthy walk, so the area caters to young adults. The street is lined with restaurants and coffee shops and places young people need. Will took us to a fancy restaurant with white table cloths, candles etc. We had a wonderful gourmet meal. Our visit with him had begun. We met his housemates and settled down for a good night’s sleep.
Saturday morning, we walked in a different direction to have breakfast. We followed this by a tour through Muttart gardens where flowers and plants of all varieties are growing in glass pyramid shaped greenhouses. Each of the four pyramids houses a different climate. The garden benches, tables and chairs that were scattered throughout the displays beckoned me to sit and meditate or write. Unique, beautiful and peaceful are the words I would use to describe this place.
Edmonton is divided by the lush green North Saskatchewan river valley. After the gardens we escaped the noise and heat of the city by walking the river valley. About fifteen minutes into our walk, we spied an old fashioned paddle wheeler tied up at a dock - tourist trap of course. Well, Tom and I are tourists, I thought, so why not. Tom went down to investigate sailing time and cost.
“She’s leaving in ten minutes. You have time to get tickets up there at the office,” the captain said as he pointed back up the hill.
Tom volunteered the climb. Will and I found a bench in the shade and waited. The cruise was lovely. The boat went just fast enough to make a light breeze. We sat idly in the sun, and watched the Edmonton sky line slip silently past. Eventually, I decided to walk a bit. I stood on the opposite railing and talked with a lady who lived north of Edmonton.
“That’s my husband, there in the chair. We’ve come to Edmonton to celebrate our first wedding anniversary,” she said. “It’s tomorrow.”
We watched the green water slip past the boat's hull and talked some more. When she asked about me, I told of our book tour.
“What kind of books do you write,” she asked?
Once again, I pulled the books out of my purse. She showed them to her husband. They bought them both. When I was signing them, Tom and Will joined us. We discovered that Dave was a part of “Alternative Solutions Canada Corp;, “Energy for Life”. He sold horizontal windmills, that don’t have to be as high as the vertical ones, and don’t take as much space. Our books enable us to meet the most interesting people.
When our ride was over, we were famished.
“Let’s go to the Cheese Factory Restaurant,” Tom said.
“Yes,” Will and I declared in unison. Within half an hour, we sat at a table laden with delicious Russian food.
Once fed, we realized we were tired. We returned to Will’s to complete our day with a game of Euchre with Will’s housemate Race. Sleep came easily.
August 27
Today we went to the Tyrrell Dinosaur Museum in Drumheller. That was superb. I thought the Dinosaurs at the ROM were amazing. These were just fabulous. We took heaps of pictures. We also went on the guided tour. The temperature was at least 30 degrees Celsius. We trudged up and down the hills of the Alberta badlands in the blazing sun for an hour and a half, while our guide pointed out the seven wonders of the badlands and told its history etc. I wondered if I might be extinct before the tour was over. We were glad to return to the cool dark museum and look at dinosaur bones.
We had supper at Gus’ restaurant in Drumheller. A young family sat at a table across from us. The two kids (age 8 and 5), entertained us. Eventually, a conversation started. In the end we sold them a copy of each book. The children were pleased to stand and watch me sign them. For a few moments I felt like an important author.
Everyday we sell one, two, three, six….books. All we have to do is show them to people and they buy them. That feels good.
We drove home watching a beautiful sunset. This is truly a grand holiday.
What’s been happening since the 25th?
Heaps and Bunches. Last Wednesday we traveled south to Head Smashed In, Buffalo Jump near Fort Macleod and Lethbridge, Alberta. It sounds gruesome and I suppose in some ways it is. Still we had a great day.
We started early. By 8 a.m. we were flying down a smooth four lane highway. I even did some of the driving. Golden fields of grain waving in the wind, cheered us on, as we passed. We arrived in time for the native dancing performance. It was worth the whole trip. The expert dancers wore beautiful beaded and feathered costumes. The emcee was funny and played the crowd well. He asked for volunteers and nabbed Tom first. Then six others joined Tom, to become the flag bearers for the opening ceremony. Tom disappeared and when the show began, he carried the American flag. God does have a sense of humour. Once the parade was finished, a dancer came out and gave the seven flag bearers a lesson. We all enjoyed their efforts. Of course, the main purpose of these volunteers was to demonstrate how hard and intricate the steps actually are. The emcee thanked his volunteers and the real dancing began. The performance lasted about two hours. It was excellent.
We had buffalo burgers for lunch. They left a little to be desired, mainly because mine was not cooked through. They were having trouble with the barbecue. We walked the trail to the “Buffalo Jump” reading the information posted along the way. The ridge gave a wide few of the big sky and flat lands around us. The Interpretive Center is built into the hill and almost disappears on the landscape. Inside, the information and artifacts of the local native culture and experiences spread out before us on five levels. A replica of the treaty, this Indian nation had made with the British long ago, hung on the wall. I had never before had the opportunity to read a treaty agreement. The native people received very little for their land. It is embarrassing and painful to think it was our ancestors who set out the terms of the agreement.
We finished our tour by three, leaving us time to go to Dove Christian Books in Lethbridge. What a truly beautiful store! The owners are lovely people. They chose to take my books on consignment. Our work done,we walked down the street to the farmer’s market. We stopped to purchase some luscious British Columbia peaches. In the process we sold a copy of Can I Hold Him to the book store owners' niece(She would have bought Spectacular Stella as well, but she didn’t have enough cash with her. She said she'd go to Dove Books to get Stella.) and a copy of both books to her boss from B.C. We also left my card at the Ten Thousand Villages store and suggested to the clerk that she go to Dove Christian Books to buy my books. Hungry, yet again, we ate at an Italian restaurant. Filling our tank with cheap gas in Fort Macleod, we headed back to Calgary. Another day completed.
Heaps and Bunches. Last Wednesday we traveled south to Head Smashed In, Buffalo Jump near Fort Macleod and Lethbridge, Alberta. It sounds gruesome and I suppose in some ways it is. Still we had a great day.
We started early. By 8 a.m. we were flying down a smooth four lane highway. I even did some of the driving. Golden fields of grain waving in the wind, cheered us on, as we passed. We arrived in time for the native dancing performance. It was worth the whole trip. The expert dancers wore beautiful beaded and feathered costumes. The emcee was funny and played the crowd well. He asked for volunteers and nabbed Tom first. Then six others joined Tom, to become the flag bearers for the opening ceremony. Tom disappeared and when the show began, he carried the American flag. God does have a sense of humour. Once the parade was finished, a dancer came out and gave the seven flag bearers a lesson. We all enjoyed their efforts. Of course, the main purpose of these volunteers was to demonstrate how hard and intricate the steps actually are. The emcee thanked his volunteers and the real dancing began. The performance lasted about two hours. It was excellent.
We had buffalo burgers for lunch. They left a little to be desired, mainly because mine was not cooked through. They were having trouble with the barbecue. We walked the trail to the “Buffalo Jump” reading the information posted along the way. The ridge gave a wide few of the big sky and flat lands around us. The Interpretive Center is built into the hill and almost disappears on the landscape. Inside, the information and artifacts of the local native culture and experiences spread out before us on five levels. A replica of the treaty, this Indian nation had made with the British long ago, hung on the wall. I had never before had the opportunity to read a treaty agreement. The native people received very little for their land. It is embarrassing and painful to think it was our ancestors who set out the terms of the agreement.
We finished our tour by three, leaving us time to go to Dove Christian Books in Lethbridge. What a truly beautiful store! The owners are lovely people. They chose to take my books on consignment. Our work done,we walked down the street to the farmer’s market. We stopped to purchase some luscious British Columbia peaches. In the process we sold a copy of Can I Hold Him to the book store owners' niece(She would have bought Spectacular Stella as well, but she didn’t have enough cash with her. She said she'd go to Dove Books to get Stella.) and a copy of both books to her boss from B.C. We also left my card at the Ten Thousand Villages store and suggested to the clerk that she go to Dove Christian Books to buy my books. Hungry, yet again, we ate at an Italian restaurant. Filling our tank with cheap gas in Fort Macleod, we headed back to Calgary. Another day completed.
August 25
We slept in this morning. We definitely needed the extra rest. Leaving the house at eleven a.m., our first stop was a restaurant for brunch. Tummies full, we started an afternoon of visiting bookstores around the city of Calgary. By the end of the day, three bookstores were carrying our books and two more had samples to read. We will check back with them on Friday a.m. We rushed back to say goodbye to our friends who were going on a retreat. They had supper ready for us. We spent the evening relaxing and preparing a letter to a large book distributor. The day over we collapsed once again into bed.
We slept in this morning. We definitely needed the extra rest. Leaving the house at eleven a.m., our first stop was a restaurant for brunch. Tummies full, we started an afternoon of visiting bookstores around the city of Calgary. By the end of the day, three bookstores were carrying our books and two more had samples to read. We will check back with them on Friday a.m. We rushed back to say goodbye to our friends who were going on a retreat. They had supper ready for us. We spent the evening relaxing and preparing a letter to a large book distributor. The day over we collapsed once again into bed.
Monday, August 24.
This morning we're going to Banff. One moment we are in the plains around Calgary, and the next we're in the Rockies – mammoth outcrops of rocks. The craggy faces of these mountains encircle us. Evergreens march up the mountain side like an army. Suddenly the soldiers stop, giving way to barren rock. It looks as if some unseen hand has taken a razor and shaved the tops clean. The sharp points make a picket fence around us. This is Canmore and it is beautiful.
We take the cutoff into town, searching for the inevitable bookstore. The main street is lined with boutiques, their architecture resembling that of the Swiss Alps. The book store owner won’t be back til after three. We stop at an old school bus for ice cream – heavenly hash in this heavenly place.
Munching contentedly on my ice cream cone, we return to the highway. Banff, and the legendary hot springs are just twenty-five minutes away. Like Canmore, only larger Banff is an Alpine town. Every other store is a gift shop. We have a relaxing swim in the hot springs pool, as we gaze at the mountains. Of course, my bathing suit wasn’t in the bag as we had thought. So I rented one – only $1.90 – mighty cheap. It’s a 1920’s flapper style – not particularly flattering.
“We should have brought the camera in,” I say to Tom.
He just shakes his head, “I’ll go up on the balcony later and get a picture.”
We paddle about and sit on the side of the pool. As usual Tom begins a conversation with two women in similar bathing suits to my rented one. Their husbands take a picture of them. They offer to take one of us and email it to us. We talk some more. Eventually I tell them about my books and we sell one.
“I didn’t bring any money with me,” she says. So once again, I trade on trust and sign a copy of Stella. “I’ll mail the check,” she assures me.
We planned to take a cable car to the top of a mountain. When we check it out, we discover a ticket is $29.50. Ouch! I decide that I have already climbed a mountain a number of years ago. Tom has ridden in this cable car before, so we'll spend our money elsewhere.
We gather up our stuff, take some pictures, and return to Canmore. The owner of Cafe books on Main Street buys three copies of each book.
“When I sell them,” she says, “I’ll order more.”
I smile and fill out the invoice.
“My accountant will mail the check tomorrow,” she says.
“That’s fine,” I reply.
Tom asks, “Where’s a good place for supper.
“Right next door. You can sit on the patio and look at the mountains while you eat.”
We eat our fill, and head back to Calgary. Once again it has been a good day.
This morning we're going to Banff. One moment we are in the plains around Calgary, and the next we're in the Rockies – mammoth outcrops of rocks. The craggy faces of these mountains encircle us. Evergreens march up the mountain side like an army. Suddenly the soldiers stop, giving way to barren rock. It looks as if some unseen hand has taken a razor and shaved the tops clean. The sharp points make a picket fence around us. This is Canmore and it is beautiful.
We take the cutoff into town, searching for the inevitable bookstore. The main street is lined with boutiques, their architecture resembling that of the Swiss Alps. The book store owner won’t be back til after three. We stop at an old school bus for ice cream – heavenly hash in this heavenly place.
Munching contentedly on my ice cream cone, we return to the highway. Banff, and the legendary hot springs are just twenty-five minutes away. Like Canmore, only larger Banff is an Alpine town. Every other store is a gift shop. We have a relaxing swim in the hot springs pool, as we gaze at the mountains. Of course, my bathing suit wasn’t in the bag as we had thought. So I rented one – only $1.90 – mighty cheap. It’s a 1920’s flapper style – not particularly flattering.
“We should have brought the camera in,” I say to Tom.
He just shakes his head, “I’ll go up on the balcony later and get a picture.”
We paddle about and sit on the side of the pool. As usual Tom begins a conversation with two women in similar bathing suits to my rented one. Their husbands take a picture of them. They offer to take one of us and email it to us. We talk some more. Eventually I tell them about my books and we sell one.
“I didn’t bring any money with me,” she says. So once again, I trade on trust and sign a copy of Stella. “I’ll mail the check,” she assures me.
We planned to take a cable car to the top of a mountain. When we check it out, we discover a ticket is $29.50. Ouch! I decide that I have already climbed a mountain a number of years ago. Tom has ridden in this cable car before, so we'll spend our money elsewhere.
We gather up our stuff, take some pictures, and return to Canmore. The owner of Cafe books on Main Street buys three copies of each book.
“When I sell them,” she says, “I’ll order more.”
I smile and fill out the invoice.
“My accountant will mail the check tomorrow,” she says.
“That’s fine,” I reply.
Tom asks, “Where’s a good place for supper.
“Right next door. You can sit on the patio and look at the mountains while you eat.”
We eat our fill, and head back to Calgary. Once again it has been a good day.
Sunday morning,
We started with church. I can think of no better way to keep the Sabbath. After having lunch with our friends, we drove out to Elbow Falls, about 45 minutes South and West of Calgary. The rugged beauty of the Elbow River as it races over the rocks is breathtaking. Tinted green by the glacial melt, this river is the water source for the city of Calgary. The falls is tiny in comparison to most others I have seen, and yet this place has a magnetism, and a peace that draws local people and tourists. The pathways are paved, with steps cut into the rocks. Here and there, along the river, families enjoyed a picnic. Tom and I walked along the railing and soaked up the Spirit that the river offered us.
We returned to Calgary for a late supper with our friends and then a neat card game before bed. We’ve had a grand day.
Over the whole day, we sold twelve books. It seems that most everyone we show them to wants to buy them. We have brought three hundred with us and they are going quickly. We are truly blessed.
.
We started with church. I can think of no better way to keep the Sabbath. After having lunch with our friends, we drove out to Elbow Falls, about 45 minutes South and West of Calgary. The rugged beauty of the Elbow River as it races over the rocks is breathtaking. Tinted green by the glacial melt, this river is the water source for the city of Calgary. The falls is tiny in comparison to most others I have seen, and yet this place has a magnetism, and a peace that draws local people and tourists. The pathways are paved, with steps cut into the rocks. Here and there, along the river, families enjoyed a picnic. Tom and I walked along the railing and soaked up the Spirit that the river offered us.
We returned to Calgary for a late supper with our friends and then a neat card game before bed. We’ve had a grand day.
Over the whole day, we sold twelve books. It seems that most everyone we show them to wants to buy them. We have brought three hundred with us and they are going quickly. We are truly blessed.
.
Saturday morning,
We’re on the road again. Driving through the Rockies is amazing. We’ve seen a multitude of mountains on this journey, but these are unique. They’re more than just a lot higher. These mountains reach into the sky. The road at times is literally hanging off the edge of the mountain. I keep saying to Tom, “Look…” , followed immediately with “No, don’t look, keep your eyes on the road.” Around every corner is a glacial river, a mountain stream, a tiny waterfall sprouting out of the rock face. At one point, this morning, we went over a bridge from one mountain top to another. I feel as if our little Honda Fit is truly an airplane as we, literally, weave in and out of the clouds. This is like traveling through a Salvador Dali painting with clouds and trees and roads melting off the edge of mountains. Tom says the mountains are “savage” here. For me they are much too beautiful, overwhelming and holy, to be “savage”. They don’t hover or tower or menace. Their craggy rock faces and crowns point upward to God They stand straight and tall declaring their strength to the world.
Much of this trip from Golden to Banff is under construction. Now, that is savage. Dangling off the side of a mountain building a road requires tremendous fortitude. No amount of money would induce me to do it.
We stopped for coffee at Tim Horton’s. I stood at the back of a long line, Tom’s “Canadian Food Grains Bank” coffee cup in hand. A woman came up and touched my shoulder.
“You’re going to think this is crazy,” she said, “but I like your cup. My husband and I are supporters of the Food Grains Bank. We’ve grown grain for them.”
And so started a wonderful conversation. They are both pastors with the Mennonite church. He had been to Ethiopia and seen the grain delivered. In the end we exchanged business cards, sold two books and made a wonderful connection.
My books are a fabulous way to connect with strangers on a spiritual level.
It’s ten a.m. and we’ve reached the foothills. Calgary here we come.
We’re on the road again. Driving through the Rockies is amazing. We’ve seen a multitude of mountains on this journey, but these are unique. They’re more than just a lot higher. These mountains reach into the sky. The road at times is literally hanging off the edge of the mountain. I keep saying to Tom, “Look…” , followed immediately with “No, don’t look, keep your eyes on the road.” Around every corner is a glacial river, a mountain stream, a tiny waterfall sprouting out of the rock face. At one point, this morning, we went over a bridge from one mountain top to another. I feel as if our little Honda Fit is truly an airplane as we, literally, weave in and out of the clouds. This is like traveling through a Salvador Dali painting with clouds and trees and roads melting off the edge of mountains. Tom says the mountains are “savage” here. For me they are much too beautiful, overwhelming and holy, to be “savage”. They don’t hover or tower or menace. Their craggy rock faces and crowns point upward to God They stand straight and tall declaring their strength to the world.
Much of this trip from Golden to Banff is under construction. Now, that is savage. Dangling off the side of a mountain building a road requires tremendous fortitude. No amount of money would induce me to do it.
We stopped for coffee at Tim Horton’s. I stood at the back of a long line, Tom’s “Canadian Food Grains Bank” coffee cup in hand. A woman came up and touched my shoulder.
“You’re going to think this is crazy,” she said, “but I like your cup. My husband and I are supporters of the Food Grains Bank. We’ve grown grain for them.”
And so started a wonderful conversation. They are both pastors with the Mennonite church. He had been to Ethiopia and seen the grain delivered. In the end we exchanged business cards, sold two books and made a wonderful connection.
My books are a fabulous way to connect with strangers on a spiritual level.
It’s ten a.m. and we’ve reached the foothills. Calgary here we come.
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