The Rockies Diary, Week 10 + 11: Banff Day Trip and Grassi Lakes

(Read about Week 8 + 9 here)

(Read about Week 12 + 13 here)

June 28, 2021 - July 4, 2021

Not much to document this week!

On June 28, Kate and I had the brilliant idea to spend the day at Quarry Lake (and a severe heat warning wasn't going to stop us!).  Later that night, I took myself out for dinner at Mii Sushi and BBQ and had a delicious bibimbap.

On June 29, the three of us headed out for a nice dinner at The Grizzly Paw - a very popular local restaurant.  Then we spontaneously continued our night at the Drake for drinks and desert.

July 5, 2021 - July 11, 2021

On July 5, all three of us had the day off so we headed off to Banff!  Nicole is infamously known for being Cow's number one fun (which is ironic considering we work at an ice cream shop). You'll find her decked out in the Cow's scrunchie, pyjama shorts, bucket hat, glasses, and I'm not sure if I'm missing anything else.  As such, Kate and I really wanted to visit them whilst in Banff and we also managed to score the bucket hat, too!  You can imagine how funny it would be to spot three girls in cow printed bucket hats walking down the busiest street in Banff.  One guy stuck his phone out of his car's sunroof to take a not-so-sneaky snapshot of us :)

On July 6, Nicole and I hiked Grassi Lakes!  It's one of the more easy hikes with great views.  I have never seen water so intensely turquoise and quick frankly, nothing compares.

(Read about Week 8 + 9 here)

(Read about Week 12 + 13 here)

The Rockies Diary, Week 8 + 9: Successfully Hiked Sulphur Mountain!

(Read about Week 7 here)

(Read about Week 10 + 11 here)

June 14, 2021 - June 20, 2021

Good days are those spent discovering new places to love.  And sometimes what makes a place special  is the company of good food and a good book.

(The Boardwalk pictured above)

June 21, 2021 - June 27, 2021

You might recall in Week 3 I attempted to hike Sulphur Mountain, but the snow and my lack of proper hiking equipment prevented me from reaching the top.  Now that the weather has warmed up and most of the snow on the mountains has melted and run down into the rivers below, it was the perfect time to take a second go!

The views at the top are incredible!  All 360 degrees are miles and miles of stunning mountains.  It was like nothing I had ever seen before.

(Read about Week 7 here)

(Read about Week 10 + 11 here)

The Rockies Diary, Week 7: I Found my Favourite Shop in Town!

(Read about Week 5+6 here)

(Read about Week 8 + 9 here)

June 7, 2021 - June 13, 2021

A few weeks ago my roommate Kate came home with a copy of Pride and Prejudice from Cafe Books, just down the street from our apartment.  I had every intention of visiting the store for myself and just browsing their book selection as I have always borrowed my books from the library.  But seeing Kate with her own personal copy of a book she loves ignited my repressed desire to own copies of books that I love, as well.  And so, by the end of the summer I bought a total of four books - books that I have already read and know I love and will reread.  Those include: Me Before you by JoJo Moyes, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, Normal People by Sally Rooney, and Atonement by Ian McEwan.

On June 8, I went on a spontaneous 10K run around the Bow River!  Once again, I was listening to an audiobook - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote - about serial killers as I was running all by myself through the woods.  My friend, Shania, likes to say I have main character energy.

That night Kate, Nicole, and I had dinner and cocktails at the Tavern.  I got a double stacked Mediterranean burger (7/10), a side of poutine (7/10), and a a terribly strong mango margarita (1/10)!  To end the night, we got some ice cream and watched The Blair Witch Project and Narnia in our living room.

On June 10, the three of us headed to the Farmer's Market - the first of many we would attend.  It had become a weekly ritual for us.  My favourite stand in the Crepes truck (10/10)!  I never went wrong with any crepe I chose.

(Read about Week 5+6 here)

(Read about Week 8 + 9 here)

The Rockies Diary, Week 5 + 6: Delicious food & Aperos under the Sun

(Read about Week 4 here)

(Read about Week 7 here)

May 24, 2021 - May 30, 2021

*yes, I really only took one worthwhile picture this entire week (pictured above)... oops

On May 24, I got a curry chicken wrap and beet salad from Harvest Café (8/10).  Later that evening, the three of us had a few drinks and just hung out in the apartment.  I definitely drank too much and got sick many times the following day.  Although, I can't rule out eating a bad wrap - it did seem more like food poisoning.

May 31, 2021 - June 6, 2021

On May 31, I was dead set on getting the Mexi-Street Fries (9/10) from the PD3 by Blake food truck.  Eat them for a late lunch, I did, and spent day laying out under the sun and reading.  This was a very common theme this week because the weather was so great I just had too, right?

On June 1, I bought a linen dress from Trends Fashion - a consignment shop.  Guess what it was perfect for?  An apero!  This time, I had bought camembert cheese, baguette, and chili jam to really channel my inner French self.

On June 2, I had another apero at Riverside park.  I could do this everyday.

On June 3, after work, the three of us had a late night, patio dinner at Roses and Crown.  I got their fish and chips with gravy (10/10) and a Purple Rain drink.  The view from the patio looked like a Bob Ross painting!  Absolutely breathtaking - and we spotted a few rabbits that night, too.

On June 5, I worked all day and treated myself to some Thai takeout from the Thai House Restaurant.  I ordered a Tom Yum Koong (11/10) and their Mango sticky rice (5/10).  I did not realize the mango desert would have coconut in it.  I also just made myself some summer rolls because why not.

(Read about Week 4 here)

(Read about Week 7 here)

The Rockies Diary, Week 4: Got My First Covid Vaccine Dose!

(Read about Week 3 here)

(Read about Week 5 + 6 here)

May 17, 2021 - May 23, 2021

The weather is so temperamental!  Some days are super hot and sunny while other days are cold and gloomy.  The weather app is mostly unreliable, which makes planning your days a tricky task.

On May 17, I had the day off.  My plans were to buy food and lay in the sun all day while reading my book The Secret History by Donna Tartt.  I got myself some Mediterranean Mac and Cheese (5/10) from Good Earth and tortilla chips, creamy spinach dip, and lemonade from Save-on-Foods.  I rode my bike to the Riverside Park - by the Bow River - and enjoyed my relaxing day with good weather.

On May 20, I got my first Covid vaccine dose!  After over a year of anticipation, it finally happened. (post vaccine selfie pictured below).  To celebrate, I bought a salami and capocollo on an Asiago ciabatta bun (10/10) sandwich from Save-On's ready-made meals section - something I've never done before.

I spent the rest of the day re-watching Criminal Minds and watching Youtube videos.  Architectural Digest uploaded a house tour of Bretman Rock's home in Hawai'i - ever since then I have a strong desire to visit.  I think that ever since I moved to Canmore, being surrounded by mountains just makes me want to experience all types of mountains (if that makes sense).  The mountains in Hawai'i look so lush and green!  I wonder if there are any jobs there that offer staff accommodation?

As for the rest of the week, nothing worth noting happened.  All I can say is that I watched some more episodes of SKAM France.  BUT - I am trying not to binge them all at once because I want to savour the show.  I also need anything French show to watch.

(Read about Week 3 here)

(Read about Week 5 + 6 here)