In Edmonton we dropped Karolin off at work and borrowed her car to visit the Telus world of science. (Joey would like to mention that there were computers there. :) ) Navigating the streets of Edmonton is like driving in Mississauga. 2-3 lanes everywhere, divided medians, 70 + speed limits, and not a bike lane to be found.
The science centre, however, was fantastic! A mechanical ball run, similar to the one at the Toronto science centre, amused the two boys for extended periods. A crime solving exhibit was amazing. I've never seen an 'exhibit' like this. The kids 'collected clues' at the crime scene, 'analysed' them in the crime lab, and submitted the evidence in the police station to the prosecutor. The science centre must have co-opted CTV, who provided some very real looking news footage throughout this exhibit. I hope that 'Tornado', the dog-napped weather wonder dog is eventually recovered!
Aug 13 - Sue's birthday!
I was overwhelmed that my friend Karolin, who put us up in her fabulous town house in Edmonton, insisted on baking me a gluten and dairy free birthday cake. She had even done her research, calling around town to find the right store. What she ended up putting together was fantastic - two fluffy layers, glaze pouring bountifully off the top and dripping down the sides, with vanilla-toasted almonds on top. What a treat! She also bought me my favourite ice cream (soy-based) and cut me fresh flowers!
On the next day, we said good-bye to Karolin's beautiful house (Eric and Joe said good-bye to her fun cats too), rented a car, and drove to Drumheller. This is a town known for its dinosaur bones and cheesy dinosaur sculptures on every other street corner, but it has a special meaning for Sue and Bob.
Way back in 1997, Sue had a job interview in Drumheller. It probably would have been a good job, but she'd met this guy in Waterloo a few months before, and she wasn't sure whether she wanted the job or the guy. Clever guy, he tracked down her number in the Best Western Drumheller "just to say hi, and wish her good luck in her interview". Yeah right, the last thing he wanted, actually. But that did the trick, and of course she took the guy, not the job.
Eric and Joe saw a completely different side of Drumheller; the usual side of dinosaur bones and tacky sculptures. Here they are standing in front of the World's Largest Dinosaur, or rather the World's largest dinosaur-shaped tourist trap that you can climb up for $3/person and look out through its cement jaws.
The Royal Tyrrell Museum is a much better deal, and worth every minute that we spent there. It had a recent multi-million dollar renovation, and its displays of hundreds of dinosaur skeletons are even more amazing than ever. Eric was able to name many of them, and delighted in photographing every ... single ... skeleton.
And on to Saskatoon we drove, for an overnight stay. Stop in Rosetown if you do this drive. It's a long trip, and Rosetown is clever to put a fun little mini-golf course at the visitor info center.
No comments:
Post a Comment