Yellowstone trip 2009

Family Break

We have been looking forward to this mini trip for a while...for a new adventure for Heather and Finlay with the excitement of staying somewhere new and doing different things. For James it was to stop him working and for me it was nice to just get out of Canmore!!!! I love Canmore and enjoy everything that it has to offer, however the last time I went anywhere further than Banff was to James' xmas party in Calgary!!!!! How life changes.
We had told Heather about the trip a few days before and told her that she was going to meet one of mummy's and daddy's friends and that there would be a cat and a dog to see too. As we set off on our journey she announced from her car seat that..."I love holidays!!!!!" and she did come out with the classic saying of "Are we there yet?" Boy are we in trouble ...as our next trip is to Yellowstone National Park and that is a 12 hour drive!!
Finlay slept soundly through the whole journey despite the shouts from Heather of ..."Big guy....wake up, wake up big guy, big guy....big guy!!!"

The "Spilli Chilli "Fest

While we were in Golden we went to visit the wolf education centre and we were able to see and learn about the effects on the eco system of the North American culling of wolves ( a top predator) in the early 1900's. Now they are trying to preserve and increase what remains of that population in order to protect other species. The effects have been closley studied in Yellowstone National park,so we may learn even more next week.

"Chili please!!"

There is a cluster of houses, a small community just outside of Golden called Spillmacheen and every year they have a chili festival . They call it the "Spilli chili". Much like a beer festival...you pay for a little cup and go round the chili stalls tasting the chili and then vote on taste, decor and merchandise
We arrived at Spillmacheen and could not see any sign of much happening at all. I asked at the petrol station/grocery store and they said to carry on for 1 km until we see the cars on the road. We parked up and followed a small dirt track through the trees until we came to a clearing. There we found lots of stalls with lots of chili pots, a stage with live bands and singers and in the middle was a fire pit.

Just chilling at the "spilli chili"

Blue Ice Cream

Oh there was also a small ice cream stand with some very interesting colours of ice cream..orange, blue and rainbow. Heather went up to the sign and pointed to the blue ice cream and that was the one she wanted, she stood on the little bench looked at the big tubs and still pointed to the blue ice cream. She was very thrilled.

However the body armor had to come out as our little Heather is still learning how to eat an ice cream cone. She stuck her tongue out and licked the ice cream, but needed some coaching at putting her tongue back in her mouth...so most of it dribbled down her chin and over her armor .........

.....and over her face....

and over Finlay's face.

but she did help clean up!!!!

The following day I had to take a second look at her poop and was not very surprised to see what colour it was.....and no I didn't take a photo!!!!!

Driving Miss Heather

"Anyone want a ride?"

"All aboard !!!"

"Faster faster...I'm late for a date !!!!"