Sunday, 15 September 2019
Chapter 169: Jasper: Words
Jasper
We go for a walk in a
national park and encounter many pet dogs on leads being taken for a walk. The
locals react to every dog they encounter by patting the dog and saying: How
cute.
I respond by saying nothing
and silently wishing the dogs were banned from national parks. People should be
in national parks to get close to the natural environment. Any animal that
isn’t indigenous can potentially alter any balance in the local environment.
The guide has been to
Australia. After I say I come from Tasmania he proves he has been to Australia
by asking to see my scar. So even in Canada our reputation exists.
He then tells us about elks,
bears and wolves. A lady from the USA then tells us how wolves kill cattle and
ranchers have the arduous task of going out and shooting them.
For the first Europeans the
beaver was very important. The early Europeans traded with the first nation
people and acquired pelts which were sent back to Europe to make hats.
Europeans settled in some areas primarily to get pelts. The beaver and its pelt
were a big part of Canada’s history.
Today the Canadians are very
proud of their beavers. They love the animal and love beaver pelts. Beaver
pelts are still very much prized. Outside a national park no permit is required
in order to trap and skin a beaver.
Chapter 166: Calgary/Banff: Words
Calgary/Banff
Calgary we have a welcome dinner and meet everybody.
I get to stand up and introduce myself.
I say: I come for the greatest city in the world. Ahh, um that would
be Hobart.
Banff
The Rockies contains mountain scenery which surrounds and over powers
us. Every view shows a peak bigger and better.
The staff in the hotel are all incredible young and fit looking. The
rumor is most are Aussies. One comes up and takes a photo of us together. She
is from Perth so maybe the rumor is true.
People come to the Rockies to be active. In winter it is skiing. In
summer walking and cycling. Nobody has the attitude that it should be preserved
as wilderness.
Mt Wellington is a pimple compared to these mountains. We went up the
gondola. At the top was an interpretive centre, gift shop, café and lookout. It
was making money and attracting people to the great outdoors.
Banff is a city of about 10,000 and in peak mid-winter can house
30,000 tourists. We saw the usual frustrating traffic issues common in big cities.
Breakfast. I ask the waitress: Is there sugar in these baked beans?
She is very pleased and proud to tell me that they have put maple
syrup in the baked beans. Must be an acquired taste.
A Rueben sandwich for lunch which overflows with meat garnished with
more meat. They are proud of their meat. The ranchers have a high status. They
say they produce the best beef in the world and are eager to prove it.
Are also proud of their buffalo and moose burgers.
The coffee tastes like stewed mud. It can’t be that difficult to make
decent coffee.
I ask a waitress for a drink at one shop.
Waitress: regular or large?
I choose regular. When it arrives it is large/enormous which makes me
ponder on the size of a large drink.
A guide assumes we want to see a bear, a bison, an elk or a deer.
Instead he shows us a snail. An endemic snail found only in 7 local hot
springs. The hot springs are bubbling, steaming and smell of sulphur. Little
lives in the pools apart from the snails. Swimming in the pools is now banned
in order to protect the snail.
The shooting of animals is a bit frightening. Recently the shooing of
bears was legal. Now?
An incredibly attractive, young, female park ranger says it cost you
$30,000 for the opportunity to shoot a horned sheep.
I am stunned by the type and number of animals shot. I know it was
recently legal to shoot bears and other big animals outside national parks.
The attitude of the rangers seems to be: Of course you can’t shoot
them in national parks.
Chapter 162: Edmonton: Words
Edmonton is the river city.
Situated on a flat prairie is a city united by a river. The
bridges (5/6) crossing the river are a major attraction.
One of the bridges has a functioning tram line. There are
trams from Melbourne, Japan and Germany.
We board the Melbourne tram replete with Melbourne ads from
50/60 years ago. Fantastic atmosphere.
The trams are run by volunteers and are very busy going back
and forth across the bridge.
We went across the river in a car, train and tram. We also
went across on one of the walk ways.
Locals would cross the river many times a day. It would have
to cheer them, be good for the sole to see the river and the river valley.
Crossing the river is a wonderful thing to do. Provides views up and down the
valley.
Edmonton is a city of two halves. Two personalities. A bit
bipolar.
The weather in winter changes the city. In winter there are
few outdoor activities. Not much cycling, running, walking the dog, playing
ball games in the park, boating, fishing or swimming on the river.
In summer the city changes. The river is now ready to be a
recreational area but doesn’t remember how to do it. The river remains a
sleeping monster. Not a place to celebrate.
Edmonton is also the place where in 1943 my father lived and
trained and learnt how to drop bombs on the Germans. He enjoyed his time here
in Edmonton and running in the marathon down Jasper Ave I was very much aware
of 1943. My father would have walked many times down Jasper Ave.
He enjoyed his time here in Edmonton. He hated what
followed. He hated his flights over Germany.
He thought he had no alternative. He thought he was doing
what was right and good would follow but he definitely hated his time on active
service.
In 1943 the river would have been a highlight of the city.
There would not have been many high rise buildings. Now there are many high
rise buildings for accommodation and business.
Edmonton is not a destination city. Tourists go there on the
way to other places. It is a place to refuel and recharge. Its major attraction are the bridges across
the river. The fringe festival happened to be on when we were there. What we
saw was good. Quality acts from around the world with tasty, nutritious, cheap
street food.
Edmonton managed to organise and run a major marathon very
professionally and sensitively. The volunteers were fantastic. The world
triathlon championships are sending another event back to Edmonton because they
know Edmonton can do the job properly. Edmonton is capable of getting the right
number of people volunteering and running a major event like that.
Edmonton’s ice hockey team has fallen on hard times. Years
ago they won major titles and had the best player in the world.
Nowadays their only aim is to beat Calgary.
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