Today was all about 'enjoying' the outdoors. Kyle was out with his friends till the wee hours so he slept in. I had the pleasure of breakfast with Brett in the Hotel Dining room. After breakfast he decided that he wanted to stay put so I headed out to explore. I walked to the edge of town, picked up the train tracks (love hearing the train whistles every couple of hours as trains run through the town) and followed them to the other edge of town where I picked up a hiking trail that lead me down the Bow River to the Bow River Falls located below the Banff Lodge.
I got back to the room around 2 quite bagged but happy to have had the exercise after a week in the van.
Kyle was just getting up and he was pumped to hike up "Tunnel Mtn". Oh Shit. I was reluctant to to go as I figured I had just did 5 to 8 k and I figured I wouldn't make it and would slow them down.
On the other hand, yesterday, standing on the patio looking at the mountains, I decided to add climbing one of the Rocky mountains to my "Bucket List" so I throw my hat in with the a mild disclaimer that I wasn't likely to make it to the top.
We meet up with Kyle's friend Morgan who was a pseudo guide and we headed off.
15 minutes in I was starting to huff and puff and a third of the way up I was considering parking it
and enjoying the view from there. I decided to push on purely on the observation that Kyle and Brett seemed to struggling as well, and I was hoping to save my self from the "old man couldn't make it" ribbing that I was certain would come. The higher we went, the harder the boys found it. It never got easier for me but I decided I was going to the top if it killed me. (almost but not quite) We reached the top (twice) and the view made it all worthwhile. Absolutely breathtaking.
The trip down was slightly easier. Morgan came back to the room for a beer. I spent an hour in the hot tub and I think it helped because I can move my legs this morning without grimacing in pain. After the hot tub, a snooze was in order. I didn't
wake up until 9pm. Kyle had gone out with some friends and Brett was a little perturbed that he hadn't been feed. Imagine, the nerve of me. He asked me to go to McDonalds and get something. I agreed to go with him. He was not happy when I said I didn't want to take it back to the hotel room. He even chewed on me when I suggested eating outside on a bench as the McD's was very hot. I chewed back on more than just the burger. We ended the night on a grimace and a smile as we walked back to the hotel listening to the sounds of a resort town at night.
I got back to the room around 2 quite bagged but happy to have had the exercise after a week in the van.
Kyle was just getting up and he was pumped to hike up "Tunnel Mtn". Oh Shit. I was reluctant to to go as I figured I had just did 5 to 8 k and I figured I wouldn't make it and would slow them down.
On the other hand, yesterday, standing on the patio looking at the mountains, I decided to add climbing one of the Rocky mountains to my "Bucket List" so I throw my hat in with the a mild disclaimer that I wasn't likely to make it to the top.
We meet up with Kyle's friend Morgan who was a pseudo guide and we headed off.
15 minutes in I was starting to huff and puff and a third of the way up I was considering parking it
and enjoying the view from there. I decided to push on purely on the observation that Kyle and Brett seemed to struggling as well, and I was hoping to save my self from the "old man couldn't make it" ribbing that I was certain would come. The higher we went, the harder the boys found it. It never got easier for me but I decided I was going to the top if it killed me. (almost but not quite) We reached the top (twice) and the view made it all worthwhile. Absolutely breathtaking.The trip down was slightly easier. Morgan came back to the room for a beer. I spent an hour in the hot tub and I think it helped because I can move my legs this morning without grimacing in pain. After the hot tub, a snooze was in order. I didn't
wake up until 9pm. Kyle had gone out with some friends and Brett was a little perturbed that he hadn't been feed. Imagine, the nerve of me. He asked me to go to McDonalds and get something. I agreed to go with him. He was not happy when I said I didn't want to take it back to the hotel room. He even chewed on me when I suggested eating outside on a bench as the McD's was very hot. I chewed back on more than just the burger. We ended the night on a grimace and a smile as we walked back to the hotel listening to the sounds of a resort town at night.
