Family trip to Banff

Saturday morning we woke to snow and a forecast of more to come. We packed while waiting for Aimee to get home from work

 

and set off, crammed in the car, by about 4pm.

 

Heading south to Calgary we were often driving at about 60km on snow covered highway and sometimes in "whiteout" conditions. The blizzard did not stop until we were about 3 hours into the trip and a drive that should have taken just over 4 hours took over 5. We got to the hotel in the dark and ordered in pizza for dinner before heading for bed.

Sunday morning it was still lightly, snowing making for poor mountain photography.

Aimee, Mike and the kids went to the pool and the outdoor hot tub. I hadn't packed a bathing suit so could not partake.

So I took Iggy for a walk, surrounded by ghostly mountain shapes.

We walked a bit in downtown Banff and then stopped at a Vietnamese restaurant for lunch. I took this photo from our table.

Masks were mandatory in the whole downtown area. Even at the park beside the river

where the kids played,

(she is such a poser) while Aimee flew her drone. Mike gave it to her for her birthday in September and she has been anxious to fly it in nice scenery.

Mule deer on the other side of the river from the park.

This was Aimee's first attempt at editing and adding music to her drone footage.

We crossed this bridge, heading for a hike

and this was the first of many attempts to get a family photo.

Every time there was a bit of sun I would take mountain pictures.

Another family photo attempt.

We walked for about 1.5km beside the Bow River

Down below the Bow River Falls

the kids threw stones in the water,

I took dull, grey mountain pictures

and Aimee, again, flew the drone.

Just caught it at the edge of this photo.

This time, for some reason, the video didn't work.

Banff Springs hotel was up the hill behind us.

With tired kids the walk back took longer.

Family photo? Avery really wasn't

cooperating.

Had to settle for one of just him, when he didn't suspect I was taking a picture.

We were all ready for the hike reward of salted caramel popcorn (Maya)

Strawberry cheesecake Beaver Tail for Avery.

Back to the hotel, tired

We lit the wood burning fireplace and had some hilarious games of Sequence (Mike says both the kids have to work on their "poker faces") before bed.