Carrick to Calgary

After all of our running about and the seemingly incessant round of 'jobs' that needed to be done to move stuff from home, move stuff from Calgary, move into our new home, unpack everything, take up new positions (J), and an office move for me, we decided that a short break was in order. So on the 10th of August, off we trundled towards the mountains and Jasper. Its a straightforward drive - about 4 hours including a short pit stop and a quick grocery shop in Hinton. We had decided to go back to the Patricia Lake Bungalows, which are situated on the shores of Patricia Lake (funnily enough!), just about 5km north of Jasper townsite. We'd been there for a short break last July (when I seem to remember that it rained most of the time), but it is such a wonderful, peaceful, quiet and relaxing place that we really didn't consider going anywhere else. Last year, we had been in one of the more traditional cabins (think biggish garden shed with windows), but because we booked so late this year, we had a limited choice of accommodation. Luckily enough, we were limited to one of the new lodgings, which are definitely not like garden sheds.... this time, think small modern apartment with stunning views....



The Grove at Patricia Lake is the start (I think) of a gradual modernising process being undertaken by the family who own the place, and they have done a great job. The decor is lovely, and the whole place is fully equipped with just about everything you need for a self-catering operation.

Bedroom...




View from sofa to kitchen/dining area (or should that be dining 'nook' in Canadian parlance?)



Sitting nook(!)...



Better view of the kitchen - four full size gas burners and a combi microwave/oven...



This is the view of the outside - the chimney isn't quite clad yet, and you can see one of the more traditional cabins just to the left of the picture...



This is me - I went outside to read, and it was just so quiet, and just so peaceful, with a little bit of sun...I think I might have just been resting my eyes for a little bit...



This is J being slightly more active than me - minding the BBQ...



And what was in the BBQ - ribs and corn - its that corn time of year here...



So, that was about it... we read, played some new board games, went walking, sat on the dock on the lake, yelled at the mountain (great echoes...)...

In fact, here is the mountain as viewed from the sofa in our accommodation...



All too soon it was time to hit the road to come home again... we made a stop for an hour or two at the hot springs at Miette (about 22km of the main road between Jasper and E-town), where we encounted a flock of very tame rocky mountain sheep (or possibly goats - no, I think they were sheep...)



We were slightly tempted by this sign on the way home, but thought better of it as the electrician was booked to come the following day...



More later.....