Hello! Bonjour!

It's been awhile...where was I? Oh, yes, I was having a meltdown due to lack of Internet and reading materials. It's all good, as my friend Jackie likes to say. Once we left Waterton, we found plenty of towns that sold the Calgary Herald and two Canadian national newspapers...all with puzzles within. I bought all three each day, so I'm set for plenty of future morning coffees while Bill sleeps in a bit.

Since Canada has two official languages, I am able to refresh some of the French I studied in high school and college. Every sign and exhibit is written in both English and French, and vendors/park employees must greet you with Hello! Bonjour! so he/she will know which language you prefer. At least I can get my newspapers in all English, thank goodness.

The highlight of the past week was a serendipitous occasion. Although we knew our good friend Judy Dettner and her husband would be vacationing in the Canadian Rockies around now, we figured the elusive Internet connections and lack of cellphone access in Canada would make it difficult, if not impossible, for us to meet up in this vast area. But...as Bill and I were sitting at a table in Lake Louise Village, Bill lifts his arm and points. "There's Judy," he states almost non-chalantly. OMG!! She and Jack were just walking by in search of a soda! I'm sure the bystanders, seeing our incredulous faces, laughter and hugs, thought we were long lost sisters!

Judy and Jack were going to be in the area for a few days, so we got to enjoy their company taking hikes and having dinners together. On Saturday, we took a walk to Lake Louise:

On Sunday, we took the Sunshine Meadows hike, a beautiful 6 mile walk with mountains, lakes, and wildflowers galore!

We parted ways so that we each could continue with our own travel goals, but hope to see them again in a few days in Jasper National Park. Here we are, over 2,400 miles from home, having the good fortune to build new memories with friends from Harford County! It's all good. Il est bien à tous!