Summer arrives - the giraffe enjoys some sun!

The gang goes to the Kootneys, attend a wedding in Banff, forage for food, Brian rides his bike, the van gets a diesel upgrade in Montana, Eva goes to the Yukon and we go to the Rodeo.

View from campsite above Kicking Horse river

Springs ends with Eva and Brian getting back to climbing on the west end of Mt Rundle. Brian wonders where to go...

while Eva enjoys the views

Brian nears the top

and Eva goes down...

As spring turns to summer the gang heads to the West Kootneys for a little vacation.

First we make a geology stop at Frank Slide - a landslide from the turn of century that buried the mining town of Frank - Eva overlooking the slide, rocks in the foreground came from the peak behind.,,

Next stop is climbing above Emerald lake...

Someone needs to let the weather know summer is here...

Eva searches for the way down before the rain arrives... sometimes getting down is more of a challenge than going up!

Back down, looking back at where we have been

Chasing the sun we move on to Castlegar

Eva finds a crack to climb

Next up is a wall behind a power station - its even got a not so subtle sign to mark the start!

Eva climbing

Brian follows...

and heads off towards the top

Happy to be at the top

Besides climbing we were happy to spend some time on the bikes... Eva crosses a stream

only to get lost in some ferns

together again

The Kootneys aren't as rugged as the Rockies but still hold plenty of beauty and charm -

campsite above Naksup...

Waiting for the ferry across Arrow lake

The van loaded for the voyage across the lake

Good food is never to far to be found... sometimes in the local cafe

or just made in the van

Brian discovers the local butcher

After dinner its time to relax - maybe with a good book

or playing the yuke

Heading home we make a final stop at Wapta falls along the Kicking Horse river in Yoho national park

Meanwhile Teddy and the Giraffe are eager to get going, while Brian takes a break from driving....

While the Kootneys were the main trip of June - Brian spent some time biking and camping in the Ghost

We also took a class on how to forage for food - choke berries can be eaten when ripe, super sour so add sugar!

We went to the wedding of one of Eva's grad students in Banff - all dressed up!

and having fun!

All while nighttime set over Banff

As temps went up we did some boating

and ate some of Evas famous rhubarb cake

As June turned to July, Eva headed to the Yukon for work while Brian went down to Montana to get some work done on Van and visit his cousin, Erica, in Missoula.

Brian also took opportunity of a late snow pack to ride his bike car free on the Going to the Sun road in Glacier national park

At the pass

Finally we became true Calgarians by attending our first Stampede - specifically going to the world famous Rodeo - Eva dressed in appropriate attire

can the cowboy hang on???

And that's how we spent our first part of summer - Teddy and Giraffe signing off!

Ohh and lets not forget - with much love from Eva the garden continues to provide