Five snapshots from a day spent wandering the streets of downtown Toronto in July 2010.

Five snapshots from a day spent wandering the streets of downtown Calgary in August 2010.

These steel trees on Stephen Avenue were constructed to reduce wind speed between the buildings. Calgary’s biggest outdoor pedestrian mall is known for its fine restaurants, pubs, cafes, and bars. Stephen Avenue is also known for its beautiful historic buildings.

Travel Journal: On the road from Smithers, British Columbia to Jasper National Park, Alberta.

It was another early morning for the Kellenbergers. I was up at 7am to have a good-bye breakfast with the girls. It’s going to be a long time before I see any of them again and the whole morning felt bittersweet. Will it be another eight years before I see them all again?

For those of you who are coming late to my Canadian summer travel updates, let me give you a quick recap:

John, Caleb and I embarked on a summer road trip that took us from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to Smithers, British Columbia for a wedding. While we were in Smithers, I reunited with old girl friends, some of whom I haven’t seen since I left Canada in 2003 to move abroad. It was a weekend filled with lots of  joy. My friends were finally able to meet John and my stepson, Caleb, for the first time. I’ve been hearing about Daena’s fiance, Sam for many years and I’m really happy that I could be there for their wedding. John and I reunited with our Japan travel buddies, Beka and Christian. I saw Sarah for the first time in eight years and met her baby daughter and her new beau, and I got a chance to catch up with Amanda and her husband Judd.

Here we all the girls at our good-bye breakfast on our last day in Smithers. From left to right: Carrie, Julia and Sarah, Daena (the bride!!), Amanda and Beka. You ladies are phenomenal!

Pictures speak louder than words, so here are some people who are very near and dear to my heart. That picture below is of me with the bride and groom, Daena and Sam Cooper.

Carrie, Daena and Beka. I spend a lot of time on Skype with these two ladies.

Caleb had a special good-bye hug for Daena. He really enjoyed dancing with her at the wedding, but in all honesty, I think he figured out that D is as lovable as they come. She has a heart of pure gold.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to say good-bye to Beka and Christian since they decided to travel with us to Banff National Park. We got on the road within minutes of saying good-bye to Sam and Daena. From Smithers, we had a nine-hour drive ahead of us, but road trips are nothing without stopping to enjoy various locations. We made plenty  of stops that allowed us to stretch our legs and enjoy the stunning scenery, so enjoy the photo essay and my travel blather.

Our first stop of the day happened at a rest area about three hours outside of Smithers. John thinks that the US has Canada beat on rest stops, and I tend to agree with him, but I don’t think we were too bad off. After all, we didn’t have to eat on the ground, we were able to grill our lunch thanks to Christian and his portable grill, we were surrounded by beautiful forest scenery, and we enjoyed a great lunch of sausage, cheese, crackers, and fresh BC cherries. I think we did pretty well, and I didn’t hear any complaints from Mr. Kellenberger.

All along the highway, we saw towering blue mountains carpeted in lush forest, wide valleys, raging blue-green rivers and crystal clear lakes. We saw black bears, bighorn sheep, and lots of deer and elk. Caleb kept a sharp eye out for some moose, but we never spotted one. Nevertheless, the wildlife that we did see (as you’ll see below) was pretty awe-inspiring.

We entered the Mount Robson Visitor Center around 5:0pm and stopped to stretch our legs and nab a few photos. By that time, we were tired, hungry, cranky, and more than ready to get out of the vehicle. Just when it seemed like we couldn’t take any more driving, we received a special message from Jasper National Park. We found our very own personal tour guide!

Just a few kilometers outside of town, I spotted an elk on the side of the road. Of course, we did exactly what we weren’t supposed to do: We stopped to snap some photos. Yes, I know I’m not supposed to get that close, but I didn’t read the warning about staying away from elk in the park until we arrived at our hotel later that evening.

Apparently, elk can be really nasty customers. They appear docile, but have been known to get quite aggressive. Had I known that before we entered the park, I probably wouldn’t have snapped the photo below. We were less than three feet away from that elk! I admit, there was one moment when I thought he was going to rush the truck. That moment of fear, however, was totally worth it in my opinion. Caleb was thrilled, as were John and I.

And this I solemnly swear: To any park rangers who happen to be reading this journal, you guys do a great job maintaining the park and I swear I’ll never do anything like that again.

Stay tuned for our next update on the town of Jasper and our drive the rest of Jasper National Park. Thanks for reading!

Travel journal

John and Caleb scaling the heights at Twin Falls in Smithers, BC

Day 2 in Smithers, British Columbia dawned bright and early. After a quick bite to eat, we set out on a little sightseeing adventure with our friends Beka and Christian. We drove just outside of town to see a local attraction called Twin Falls, a double waterfall that plunges down the mountainside from a great height. The hike was more than manageable for five-year-old Caleb, who hustled up the mountain trail like it was nothing. I guess he takes after his father in athletic ability. And me? Well, I was busy capturing those father/son moments so they both have something to look back on when this summer draws to an end.

Christian demonstrates skills with a Hitachi at the Sunshine Inn.

After our morning adventures, we headed back to the Sunshine to grab some lunch. Christian and Beka had a Hitachi, so we grilled sausages on the third-floor balcony and enjoyed them with fresh potato salad and leafy greens. Beka, who is on a gluten-free diet, had a bit of surprise with her spicy chili burgers. Caleb likened them to poop burgers, and from the looks of them, we don’t think his assessment was too far off. Beka thought they tasted like ass too. She returned the poop burgers the next day and got a refund – no questions asked.

Beka’s poop burgers from Safeway.

Later that afternoon, we headed over to Daena and Sam’s place to help them get things sorted for the wedding. Daena’s mom and I got started on her bridal bouquet while Christian and John transported booze and decorations over to the lodge for the wedding reception.

Once the bride’s bouquet was finished, we all piled into Daena’s pick-up and headed out to Driftwood Lodge to put the decorations up.

Driftwood Lodge is a massive log cabin that perches on a small knoll overlooking wide grassy plains and mountains. The view was breathtaking from the veranda and I could easily understand why Daena and Sam had picked this particular area for their wedding reception.

Dinner-time saw us back on the third-floor balcony at Sunshine Inn, where we were joined by my friend Sarah who arrived with baby Julia and boyfriend Shawn. Reuniting with Sarah was like taking a step back in time. Nothing had changed between us and it felt like we picked up exactly where we had left off over eight years ago.

We spent the rest of the evening drinking beer in the cool mountain air and reminiscing about the good old days.

Girl time for Beka, Carrie, Sarah, and Ashleigh

Travel journal

Smithers, British Columbia, Day 1

The Kellenbergers arrived in the tiny mountain town of Smithers, British Columbia on August 5, 2010 to witness the marriage of Sam Cooper and Daena Bilodeau. Daena and Sam were married on August 7, 2010 at 3pm in the afternoon on the banks of a rushing mountain river.

Smithers is dwarfed by massive snow-capped peaks, and I can honestly say that Daena and Sam – in fact, everyone in Smithers – enjoys an unbelievable view. I don’t know of many people that can boast of having a ski mountain in their own backyard.

We arrived in Smithers late on Thursday afternoon after a 4-hour drive from Prince George. Sam and Daena had arranged for their guests to stay at the Sunshine Inn, a cozy little hotel in downtown Smithers with a wonderful view of Hudson Bay Mountain.

After we had checked in and dropped our luggage off, we busted over to Sam and Daena’s house, where we joined a massive gathering of families and friends for an outdoor dinner of burgers, sausages, salad, and ice-cold beer.

When we arrived, the party was already in full swing and there was a lot of hugging and tears of joy on my end. It had been two and a half years since Daena and I last saw each other, and it was my first time meeting her fiancé, Sam. (Sam, if you’re reading this, you’re awesome!)

Also present were our travel buddies from Asia, Christian and Beka. Some of you may remember me writing about our visit to see them in Japan in 2007. We stayed with them in Roppongi Hills in Tokyo for several days, before embarking on a two-week road trip that took us from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Nagano.

The night ended relatively early for us after our long day of driving, but with big plans for the weekend, we didn’t mind. We were all tired, and the fresh mountain air lulled us to sleep in no time. I fell asleep dreaming of the Canadian Rockies.

Travel journal

Day 2 Edmonton, Alberta to Prince George, British Columbia

Less than 8 hours after our midnight arrival in Edmonton, we were on the road again. Owing to my late arrival, we didn’t have any time to waste in Edmonton, but what we saw of the downtown core really impressed us. It’s a beautiful city and I’d love to come back and spend more time exploring the area.

We hit the West Edmonton Mall on our way out of the city in order to check out the largest shopping mall in North America. The mall held the record for being the largest mall in the world for over 22 years.

John and I have been to quite a few of the malls on the world’s list of largest malls. Just last month, we took Caleb to the Mall of America for a day at their indoor Nickolodeon theme park. We wanted to give Caleb a chance to see the indoor amusement park Galaxyland at the West Edmonton Mall.

The amusement park is cool, but it isn’t as nice as the theme park at the Mall of America. And, I’d like to add, he didn’t cry or fuss when he found out that we didn’t have time to take him on any of the rides. What a trooper. He’s just like his dad.

And me? Well, I’m a sucker for ice skating, so the concept of combining shopping with skating is no less than brilliant in my opinion.

After the mall, we settled in for a long day of driving. Eight hours to be exact. Our destination for the evening was Prince George, British Columbia. We passed through Alberta’s rolling terrain and got a glimpse of what was to come on the Trans-Canada highway, but the real treat arrived when we entered Jasper National Park shortly after 2pm.

Now I know why everyone speaks in such awe of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. We went from gently rolling hills and fields of canola and wild flowers to dense forests of evergreens, towering snow-capped mountains, and stunning vistas of northern lakes, wildlife, grassy plains, and winding rivers.

Within minutes of entering the park, we saw a herd of elk fording a raging river, and as we drove up into the mountains, the forest got thicker and the scenery become even more beautiful with every mile we traversed. There were so many places that we wanted to stop at along the way, but we had to keep telling ourselves that we would get to do it all next week on our way back from the wedding.

We did stop in the mountain village of Jasper, however. John felt that Jasper looks a bit like Aspen with its picturesque bakeries, eateries and souvenir shops. I can’t comment as I’ve never been to Aspen. It is a charming city though. We wandered over to the railway station to admire an old steam engine that was built in 1923.

From Jasper to the edge of the park, we admired the views, and at one point, we stopped at a racing river to snap a few photos. Within minutes of leaving that area, we spotted some deer grazing in the field and later, a black bear crossing the road in front of us. Our journey through Jasper National Park was over far too soon for all of us, but at least we know that our time there isn’t over just yet. We will continue to add to our travel journal as we make our way through God’s country.

Next stop, Prince George, British Columbia!

Poutine: Thick-cut french fries deep-fried to a crispy golden brown color and a handful of fresh cheese curds that has been smothered in rich brown gravy is a snack that is often looked down upon by most people, until they try it of course.

Even my husband scoffed when I mentioned this French Canadian side dish which comes loaded with flavor (and calories). He ate his words after his first bite and gained five pounds from having poutine every day on our first trip home to Canada together.

In my hometown of Carleton Place, poutine can be found on any restaurant menu, and if the urge for poutine should hit while you’re driving, you’ll also find plenty of chip trucks and chip shops in the vicinity to meet your snack attack.

Poutine is one of the things I look forward to eating when I come home, and this year, I had the added pleasure of introducing two British friends to the wonderful world of poutine.

My favorite chip shop is Woody’s on Highway 7 on the way to Perth. People come from miles around for the poutine, and when I told the owner that they’re most recent guests had recently come from England and Taiwan, they were suitably impressed.

My wanderfood adventures have taken me to the other side of the world in the Great White North this summer. If you’re interested in reading more global foodie tales, stop by Wanderfood Wednesday over at Wanderlust and Lipstick.

My mom, sister and I at our family cottage in North Bay.

The vastness of blue Canadian skies still astounds me after all these years. I still can’t get over the shock of seeing a skyline that doesn’t have mountains in it.

Every time I come home, I develop a whole new appreciation for Canada. The old adage that you don’t really know what you’ve got until it’s gone is especially true in this case. I am always blown away by the sheer natural beauty of Canada, no matter the season. I miss Canada more with each year that goes by.

My days have been filled with long walks and bike rides in the fresh air, and every night I’ve climbed into bed and fallen asleep before my head even hits the pillow. It’s good to be home…

I’ve just spent the last week at our family cottage in North Bay with some of my most favorite people in the world: my mom and dad, my brother, my sister and her boyfriend; one of my dearest friends, Andrew Morgan, and two very special guests from the Jersey Channel Islands, (my traveling buddy and best girl friend) Claire Breen and her roommate, Hayley.

Drew, Hayley, Carrie, and Claire

This was our first full family get-together in a long time. I can’t remember the last time we were all up at the cottage together. It must have been before 2002, since that was the last time I was home for the summer.

Claire and Hayley fell in love with the Great White North’s style of summer vacationing by the lake. We lazed around, plowed through books, went for walks, sunbathed and ate an enormous amount of junk food (dill pickle chips mmm…) the entire week. It was bliss.

On Saturday, we threw a big party for my mom, who turned 61 this summer. You’d never know it to look at her! We cooked steaks on the barbecue, drank loads of good Canadian beer, dragged the karaoke machine out on the front porch, and serenaded the lake well into the evening. It was a perfect week.

This morning, we’re on our way to Toronto to visit some friends and do some sightseeing. I’m just as excited as the girls.  I haven’t been to Toronto for well over ten years and I”ll be seeing everything with fresh eyes.

I hope you’re all enjoying your summer, dear readers. I apologize for the lack of posting this summer, but life gets in the way every once in a while, and I’m busy enjoying every second of it.

At my brother’s house in North Bay, Ontario.

Today marks my first week back on North American soil. The entire week leading up to our departure was go, go, go, but I’m here now, freshly arrived in Canada after spending four days in the States.

I celebrated my first 4th of July celebration with my husband, stepson, and mother-in-law in Richfield, Minnesota. We caught a 100-float parade shortly past 1 pm, John and I got a nice sunburn, and we really enjoyed the patriotism on display in its many shapes and sizes.

The Mall of America and I are now on extremely friendly terms. Some people might even go so far as to say that the Mall and I are more than just acquaintances. Lucky for me, I had plenty of spare room in my suitcase.

John and I are more aware than ever of the Supersize Me syndrome in the good ole US of A. Is it possible to find healthy food in restaurants in Minneapolis? I have yet to find out. What I do know is that if I see anything smothered in butter or deep-fried ever again, I might very well toss my cookies at the sight of it.

Dear readers, if you have any suggestions, please let me know as I will be returning to Minneapolis for a few days at the end of August.

I arrived in Canada a few days ago and I’ve stayed pretty close to home. I’ve been on long, rambling walks through fields of long green grass, corn, and Queen Anne’s Lace. I’ve power-walked down the empty back roads of Ramsay Township with my mother and I’ve spent hours admiring the vast expanse of sky and its exact shade of blue.

After consuming bowls of fresh raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries (Have I ever mentioned how expensive berries are in Taiwan?) and having enjoyed several pints of cold Canadian brews, I’m looking forward to the first batch of sweet corn which will be harvested next week.

My best friend Claire flies in from England on Wednesday and then the madness begins…

Free Spirit Tree Spheres

Free Spirit Tree Spheres

Suspended amongst the west coast rain forest of Vancouver Island, Canada are a collection of unusual accommodations designed to bring out the inner flower child in us all.

Welcome to the world of eco-friendly Free Spirit Spheres, a place where you can relax, meditate, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of forest life.

Come and enjoy the beauty that Mother Nature has to offer from the comfort of your very own gently swaying tree house. The mysteries of a coastal rain forest wait right outside your front door.

Two of these spheres, Eve and Eryn, can be rented overnight. Components to build your very own sphere can also be purchased.

The five acres of land where the spheres can be found are approximately 30km north of Parksville on Vancouver Island along the Inland Island Hwy (#19), near Qualicum Bay. The acreage is on private property close to Horne Lake Caves, Georgia Strait,and Mount Washington.

Visitors here can enjoy the peace and quiet of a coastal rain forest. A large pond in the center of the acreage attracts all sorts of wildlife. These unusual accommodations are a great retreat from the hustle-bustle of the modern world.

Rates for Eve
Eve rents at $125.00/night or $199.00/2 nights.

Rates for Eryn
Eryn rents @ $175.00/night or $299.00/2 nights. Eryn’s rate is based on 2 people.
There is a $35.00/night additional charge for a 3 person.

Book Your Stay
Bookings can be made via e-mail rosey@freespiritspheres.com or phone 250-757-9445 / 250-951-9420.
We require a visa or master card to secure your reservation.