Banff National Park

This statue represents a Ukranian immigrant in Canada during WWI.  We did not realize that they had concentration camps here at that time.

Members of other countries came to Canada to work in forestry, agriculture and mining.

These men were put out of work during the depression of 1913.

8,569 of these men were put in internment camps because they had no food, were subject to

racial prejudice and the wartime hysteria.

3.4 km hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House

This just doesn't do justice to Lake Louise.
Because of the glacier flour, it is a beautiful aquamarine color.
Many red canoes floated on the lake.
From here we start our ascent to Lake Agnes.

How can you describe the Canadian Rockies?  You just can't.  I
would urge you to rent a trailer or tent trailer and come!  The food and
lodging is expensive so camping is the very best way.  There are
provincial and national park campgrounds to choose from.

This is on the path to ordering the tea biscuits.

we 

We could have hiked further; the law in Banff National Park
is that you must have a group of four to go on.  This is a new
policy implemented by the park.  It has saved on bear attacks tremendously!

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Finally!

Lake Agnes!

We are having a spot of tea
before the descent.

Chris and Shahela's first rafting trip!

Chris and Shahela have never rafted before so thought they'd give it a whirl!!!
Just class III river so that was a good start and we do get drenched!!

Heading down 8 miles of the Yellowstone River with our friends Sue and George from Klamath Falls.

Ready to take off!

Shahela is beside Chris, holding on to his arm!  This will change very shortly!

Now the girl is getting into it!!!!

The next day Chris, Shahela and I traveled down 18 miles of the river.  We stole hostages from each boat, swam over
to get their water guns and had many water fights with the other raft.
For this trip, Shahela sat on the front of the raft, holding onto the rope.
She and Chris dived out several times to just swim in the river.
These are the gifts we grandmas and grandpas can give our grandchildren-a love of the Earth!

Black Hills No. 2

An eye of a needle on the Needles Highway.

Some people take their lawn chairs to a soccer game; these men took them to the top of a needle!!!

There are tunnels through the rock!  One lane of traffic!  Blow your horn before you go!

Even a tour bus can get through the tunnel - barely!

Custer State Park has many buffalo - families just walk down the road!

We crossed off another Monument.
Very narrow, 753 step hike through
one part of the cave.

We are now heading to Yellowstone National Park
with Chris and Shahela in their motor home!

Black Hills 2010

We arrived at Heartland Campground and within an hour, this arrived at our front door!

Behind our campground, there was a small haying operation.  Yes, we are in the heartland of America!

Lori had been to the dermatologist, Shahela had a terrible allergy so the need for sunglasses!!!

A tradition for Shahela and Chris:  head to the Hermosa Fairgrounds just before dark and set off ALL the fireworks in the box!!!

How many men does it take to light a firecracker???

McKayla and Britney invited Shahela to go to the Water Slides!!

This is Shahela's neighbor, McKayla and below is her sister, Britney.

We drove the Needles Highway through Custer State Park to Hill City. 

It was the first time we'd ever been on this magnificent road.

More on the Needles Highway and Custer State Park in the next blog.

Rafting down the Yellowstone River eight miles!

Two days later, Shahela, Chris and I went down 18 miles of the river, through Yankee Jim canyon, where hostages were stolen from each boat, the water gun was also stolen several times, and water fights abounded!!!

Pipestone National Monument, Minnesota

Pipestone quarries have been an important and sacred place to many American Indian people.  Pipes made from the soft red pipestone are used in ceremonial and spiritual practices of the American Indian.  Families own portions of the quarry; some are quarriers, some are pipemakers, some are both.  They work years to get down to the soft pipestone layer.

Axes and picks are just left for the family's next digging expedition!  There were pickers there but out of respect to them and this sacred place, no photos were taken.

Thank you for sharing your pipestone quarries with us.  It was a beautiful and amazing day for us!