Well, the only unsecured wireless network available from where I’m staying at the moment has become secured. This post is brought to you by much wailing and gnashing of teeth as I post from free internet accessed sitting on a park bench outside in a blizzard… or something like that… it’s certainly chilly. But behold! Some of the pretty lakes and creeks surrounding Banff. So scenic you could punch them in the teeth.
Two Jack Lake
Creek below Two Jack Lake
Johnston Canyon
Lake Minnewanka
bite. No, bites. All over my left side. And some on my back… and a couple on the right. The bed bugs got me, and I didn’t have a say in the matter.
The high rate of population turnover in Banff make it an ideal spot for bed bug infestations. A lot of people staying in hostels and B&Bs in the area have reported bed bugs. And a huge seasonal population mean that there’s a lot of turnover in rental houses, and a lot of chances for people to come in from other areas with infested clothes or bedding, and spread the pest. Ski bums with no money grab some furniture and a mattress of the street to furnish their new apartment, and bingo, instant bed bug infection.
Bed bugs used to be a lot more common, back when the above phrase was coined – but then man invented DDT, and went round smiting things with it. But in recent years, bed bugs have been making a comeback: they’re cool again! And they like to hide in your things, and in your house, and in your mattress, then come out at night and drink your blood (no really). Oh, and as they’re really good at hiding, and aren’t really tempted by insect traps, they’re also really hard to get rid of. I’m overjoyed.
I feel sorry for the man in the moon when in the Northern Hemisphere. He’s upside down. Here is a basic diagram illustrating things.
The moon as it is supposed to be (in Australia) with the man in the moon outlined:
The moon as viewed in North America.
I rest my case.
A lot of Northern Hemispherians don’t seem to even realise their moon is the wrong way up. I’m doing what I can to spread the word though.
By the highpoint of the Salmo-Creston pass
Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park
Smoky views near Golden
Following my grand victory in the Olympics, I thought I’d have a wander round some more of Canada. It was a repeat of my moose hunting quest of 2005…
At Elfin Lakes, on the way up Mount Garibaldi near Squamish, British Columbia, Canada.
This was on the road down through Kootenay National Park, I spotted a bear out the window of the car – my first Canadian bear sighting, but still no moose.
Here I am reclining at the Lussier Hot Springs in Whiteswan Provincial Park
Here I went to visit the Kokanee brewery, but was rudely abducted by bigfoot (who was also making off with a slab of beer, so who knows what he had in mind
So, all in all a successful venture – unfortunately still no moose though.