Canmore - 51° 05' 21"N 115° 21' 06"W

Our brief stopover in Canmore has made us homesick, both for our friends and this remarkable part of the world in which we live.  It's a little odd being 'home' but not in our house.  Fortunately, our friends have the most wonderful guest rooms and have been very generous in offering them up.  We appreciate you all! 

To the groans of the locals, winter returned with a blast and a big dump of the fluffy white stuff.  We frolicked in the novelty of the winter wonderland before the sky was filled with the telltale arch of a chinook, the wind picked up and the snow melted away.  

As usual, our time was a whirlwind of life administration and catching up with friends - brunches, coffees, dinners, walks and bike rides.

Sean and Pat (yes, our favourite autohelm - Auto Pat)
out for a pre-snowfall bike ride

In keeping with the tradition of 'Story Night' we delivered the presentation we did to Mum's Probus group on our trip through the Northwest Passage.  Originally planned to be at the seniors home, we had a last minute reschedule to the Malcolm Hotel due to a lockdown caused by the norovirus.  

Not our photo, not our boat but very much our story!

For a long weekend, we were the primary caregivers to Nemo and Elwood while their parents were off backcountry skiing.  Not only did we get to enjoy two very cute and very fluffy kitties but we also had a house to stay in with a very comfy guest room!  Loving these pet sitting gigs!

Nemo giving Elwood a cuddle

... and packing our bags.  In addition to the clothes, toiletries and odd gift that fill the bags of normal people, our luggage is jammed full with all sorts of wonderful and weird items.  Things such as:

- tea towels woven by the talented Sasha

- full set of foul weather gear (thanks Marg)

- two life jackets (of the non-inflatable type, taking up no space at all!!)

- #13 and #15 sockets.  The most used on the boat so we now have spares!

- 3 10 micron water filters. These are about a quarter of the price of what we pay in Europe!

- 2 sets of bed linen

- 2 dozen perfectly sized spice jars and their perfectly sized tray - the product of a two-year search

- paraphernalia for our StarLink installation

- framed Flinders Yacht Club burgee from the 1983/84 season when Kate, racing Chinook, came third!

- microwave toasted cheese maker (thanks Susan) 

- 'Who Gives a Crap' garbage bags.  100% recycled!

- a wetsuit

- thread, batting and other crafty supplies

- 22 litre hiking day pack

 

A mountain of odd stuff and very few clothes!

So it's farewell to Canada once more and back to Europe we go.