Jaw Dropper

How can I put this without sounding completely lame. The Rocky Mountains are, well... Rocky !! (Ok so I failed at the lame test).

Since arriving in Calgary my cup has well and truly runneth over. In record time I found a home that is a mere 15 min walk from downtown, a temporary job and a new contract with a major firm to start on my birthday (next Monday). I have a good girlfriend, friendly neighbours who I've spent time with, a LA style salsa class and last night I found a great church to be part of;

http://www.cschurch.ca/

So basically I've been busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger but have a lot to show for it. God has been very kind to me and cut me a big break since I got here. Thanks for all of you who have been praying for my well-being.

This weekend was terrific, Laura and I jumped in her car and went to Banff for a half day on Saturday. The snow on ground level has mostly melted, leaving the grass looking brown, the land flat on the way and but for the pine trees, strangely Australian. Until we got closer to the Mountains and in the space of minutes were surrounded. The Rockies look like they do in the pictures and postcards but to be there was almost overwhelming. They are truly awesome and majestic by day, humbling and imposing by twilight and intimidating and frightening by night. They were snow capped, which is just how I wanted to see them and the town of Banff is tucked into a valley, a one-main street town.

We had lunch at the Grizzly (restaurant) and I tried my first buffalo (hamburger) (tastes like beef) and then it was off to Rogers chocolate shop for some Maple cream truffles to take back to Calgary with us for eating and gifts.

I had been under instructions to bring my swimmers so Laura and I went off to the Hot Springs (tapped naturally from somewhere). So at 4pm on a Saturday afternoon I found myself in my swimmers, sitting in a 39 degree hot swimming pool with about 50 other people including 6 Scottish people randomly associated with Laura and related to each other. It was outdoor and open air and as the steam rose off the pool, we could still see the mountains all around us and as we were sitting there we were snowed on. It was one of the most bizaire experiences an Aussie can have when a pool is for cooling off, not heating up.

It seems unbelievable to me that I now live less than 1 1/2 hrs drive from one of the most amazingly beautiful places I've ever seen. I've made an amazing discovery. Hiking is not rocket science or an Olympic sport. You don't have to wear full body spandex. It is just tough walking with serious boots on. Which means that I've been doing it for weeks. This summer it might be time to up the ante. I've been invited to join a hiking club to do some walks in the mountains.

I say, "When in Rome..."