Nose Hill

So, the snow has started falling and I've been a bit nervous to drive out to Banff without our snow tires, which we really only got a week ago, so the past couple of weekends we've done our exploring closer to home, some of it in Nose Hill Park, which is within walking distance of our apartment.

Headed West (Road trip, day 4)

After the heat died down from our day in the Badlands, we took one last hike, on which was the following ladder (Chris was disappointed I didn't put these up).

 

After a big day, we went back to camp for refreshment (we were so hot, and so sweaty, I will remember this particular glass of pineapple juice for the rest of my life, probably):

Moose Mountain

I'm sorry, did I say we hiked up a mountain in the snow last weekend? I was joking. This weekend, we hiked up a mountain in the snow. For real. All the way up the mountain. In some real honest to god snow. Moose Mountain is also in Kananaskis Country - a closer drive from Calgary - and one of the trails that was not washed out by the recent floods (flood damage has limited our choice of trails a bit thus far).

Badlands

So, I'm going to do the roadtrip all backwards because I can't find the photos from the first two days. They weren't very exciting anyway - we slept outside of Chicago, bought cheese in Wisconsin, and camped in southern Minnesota where it was very pretty but kiiiiinda buggy, and then drove through South Dakota. I had insisted we stop at the Badlands because why not? When are you ever going to be in South Dakota again?

Hiking Kananaskis Country, Chester Lake

So, this is not our first hiking expedition in the Canadian Rockies, but Chris insisted that we get the pictures up ASAP, because 10 minutes up the mountain, what did we find, in early October? That is right. Snow. On October 5th. [Winter is coming!!] I can't tell you all how many times since we started dating that I've found myself hiking up a mountain in the snow. I should really just accept it at this point and stop being surprised when it happens.

Wedding Photos

I meant to get these posted ages ago!! We've been very busy immigrating. It turns out it is almost easier to bring a person to Canada than it is to bring a car.

Below is a slideshow of the wedding photos...the photos themselves can be found in our picasa photo album via this link. If you'd like larger copies of the photos for printing or just to save for yourself, please just send Chris or I or Ronna an email.

Photos from the great cross-country roadtrip will come soon.

Welcome to Canada!

Hey, all! I promised I would keep everyone updated on the great adventure, and this is my attempt. I've named the blog Cold Texas, due to a comment someone that I would be moving to a cold version of Texas. And I have to say, the comparison has been apt so far - I've been treated to searing sunlight, dry weather, excellent brisket at a BBQ festival (Alberta also has a relatively large beef industry), and small-town friendliness during the few days I've been here. I've yet to see any cowboy boots or any tolerable Mexican food, but there is a fair number of large pickup trucks and Skynrd fans. In fact, our temporary roommates are out for the day this Labor Day holiday doing nothing other than floating the river (a time-honored Austin tradition). Granted, that's a much colder river than I would ever deign to step foot in, but hey, it is all of 70 degrees out, right? It's important to have a good time before the snow hits.

I'll try to get the wedding pics up next!