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All the pictures on this page, except for one, were taken in the Banff and Lake Louise area of Alberta.
Lf.: Taken at the Cascades of Time Garden in Banff
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Poetical Journal © by Bob Casey
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Mission: To provide poetical and thoughtful comments on life
VOLUME IX – Issue 8: Sunday, September 26, 2010 (109th Issue)
Enjoy the pictures of Banff and Lake Louise areas of Alberta.
Click on the auxiliary links to see more.
CONTENT
- Welcome & Online Version
- Opening Comments from Bob
- Two Poems: Your Moment and Lake Minnewanka
- Support my efforts for this publication by donating or purchasing merchandise
- Vignette: Return to Banff and Jasper
- Recommendations
- Quotable Quotes
- A Bit of Humor
- Contest Winners from the Past
- PJ Forum
- Reminder: If you are filtering...
- PJ Demographics – All 50 states and 72 countries
- PJ Online
- PJ Policies
- Subscription information
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Welcome
I am pleased to have you as a reader. If you enjoy the PJ, please encourage others to subscribe. If your country is not listed in the demographic section at the end, please let me know so I can update the list.
The next issue of the Poetical Journal will be out on Sunday, October 31, 2010.
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For safety hikers are required to hike in groups of four – grizzly country
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Opening Comments from Bob
Traveling the highway to Banff and Lake Louise: A few of you followed me on the blog as I returned to what some travelers call "the World's most beautiful drive." Frankly, I would have difficulty arguing with them, though there are still many roads I have yet to travel. One of the poems, the vignette, and suggestions focus on a portion of this eight day journey. To understand more about what drew me to this magnificently beautiful location, read the vignette below.
Also, to go to the web version to see pictures taken while on this adventure. I believe that two of them, in particular, are arguably the best I have ever taken. This issue focuses on Banff and Lake Louise. The October one will focus on the Icefields Parkway to Jasper.
Journeys Publishing: Gratefully, a few of you have signed up on my Journeys Publishing site. Shortly, it will be available for you to publish and see your works as well as read others.
Two New Books Out: I am pleased to announce that my work appears in two recently released books, A Slice from the Apple With the Taste of Poetry and Schnormeier Gardens: Peace, Harmony and Serenity.
Premium Subscribers: This "pay it forward" membership called "premium subscribers" was implemented two years ago. The first year generated thirty-six members while last year only nine. However, those nine did a yeoman's job with a financial impact of $20,400 and 1020+ charitable hours. This year's group has already provided its share of human kindness. If you would like to be a premium subscriber, please click on this link to read more. This will probably be the final year for this category.
Next Month – The Icefields Parkway to Jasper, Alberta, in the Canadian Rockies:
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Two Poems this Issue
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Your Moment
What are you doing
.....standing so tall and proud
.....among these strangers?
You exhibit no fear
.....almost shouting
“Here I am! Look at me!”
Spread before you
.....are thousands,
.....their sameness blending
.....into a canvas of blandness.
Only you are stalwart enough
.....to stand ramrod straight
.....without apology or embarrassment.
Bred within your lineage
.....through eons of time,
.....the moment has arrived
.....to strike your pose
.....heads above the commonality
.....surrounding you.
Comments: One day on the bike trail I was riding by a bean field that the season before contained corn. As I looked across the expanse of beans, I spotted a tall stalk of corn standing well-above the bean plants. The inspiration for the poem came from that observation. Obviously, I also am speaking about bigger issues.
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Lake Minnewanka
Turquoise or blue, or perhaps emerald,
.....depending on the sun,
.....tricks the gaze across
.....the “Spirit of Waters”
.....as the Cree called
.....this mystical lake.
For over 10,000 years
.....humans fished from the shores
.....or took their canoes
.....onto the often angry water.
Sixty-feet below today’s calm surface
.....rests a village no more..
The villagers, rather than cede their town,
.....burnt it to the ground
.....before the dammed waters
.....blanketed it forever.
Today, divers plunge downward
.....to play and frolic
.....over the sorrows of the past.
Along the peaceful appearing shore,
.....grizzlies still munch on buffalo berries,
.....and cougars feast on mountain sheep.
Hikers walk the trail
.....often oblivious to the strains of survival
.....occurring around them.
The spirits carved into the rock faces
.....peer down,
.....sometimes benevolent
.....and sometimes malevolent.
For the ones on the lake cruise,
.....only the beauty matters.
Comments: Minnewanka is a majestic body of water a few miles outside the village of Banff. Much of the poem's content comes from the narration while on a sixty-minute lake cruise. Yes, a village was covered by water when the third dam was built in the early 1950's. And yes, the citizens burned the village to the ground rather than allowing the government to take control. One major section of the hiking trail around the lake was closed due to a grizzly charge on a mountain biker who surprised her the week before. Grizzlies are feasting on the bountiful buffalo berries that have ripened along the shoreline.
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The corn plant standing above the beans – the inspiration for the poem ...:-)
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| Mr. Feng practicing his tai chi (Yang Form) – Cascade of Time Gardens |
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Narrator extrordinaire Lindsay
Lake Minnewanka Cruise |
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| End point on Lake Minnewanka |
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My Books and Products are now purchasable online.
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My Newest Book: I am pleased to announce that my work appears in recently released books, A Slice from the Apple with the Taste of Poetry.
It is an anthology of poems written by members of the Apple Valley Poets, a very talented group that I helped form almost ten years ago. This book, which contains a wide variety of poetical genres, will appeal to lovers of poetry. The cost is $10 plus shipping. To order, click here. When ordering, please indicate if you want the book signed.
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An Oasis in a Cluttered World, Wisdom from the Journey, and The Wanderer: A Poetical Journey can be purchased from me online. There are other products on the page that offer unique gifts for that special someone or for yourself. Also, my newest book, A Slice from the Apple with the Taste of Poetry, a combined writing effort by the Apple Valley Poets, is available for order there. Enjoy the convenience of shopping online.
If you wish to support the efforts of the Poetical Journal, there is also a donation option.
To view the product page, please click here.
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Gulls taking flight off of Two Jack Lake
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Dock area of Lake Minnewanka
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Looking toward downtown Banff----- to see more pictures of the Banff area.
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Osprey feeding her young (note the fish in the claws)
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Vignette: Return to Banff and Jasper
Some say that you can never return to the experience. If you try, you will be disappointed. In August I made that attempt and was not disappointed. In 1973, I organized a group of high school students for a two-week bike trip through this magnificent scenery. Our group traveled with an American Youth Hostel group from the Lima area. Rather than by a plane to Calgary and a rental car to Banff, we arrived following a long “rehabbed” school bus trip across country. Throughout that trip we stayed in youth hostels or camped under a tarp that pulled out from the bus. Flash forward, on this trip we stayed in upscale hotels. There was no dashing to the ice cold mountain streams to bathe, wash clothes, or gather water. No late night dashes to the privy, after first checking for bears. This trip was many years and a long way from shared bunkhouses. The lean cycling machine is now substantially wider with less hair, but not by much, on the hair that is. The young teenagers I took on the trip have also changed, all in their 50's.
The roads are better paved. The arduous eight-mile climb up Mt. Edith Cavelle is now on a nicely paved road rather than gravel. In '73 the descent, making hairpin turns on gravel, was more challenging than the climb. This time, I simply pushed the gas pedal a bit harder. I must admit though that at the top, my chest puffed out a bit thinking that I once cycled to the top to see the spectacular view that has not changed.
One of the factors that I appreciate about the Canadian National Park Service is that growth has been restricted. True, Banff and Jasper are flashier and some hotels have been added along the 150 mile route between the two villages, but I really saw little change in the abundance of unobstructed views and vistas that were in every directions. One reason this drive is classified by many as one of the most beautiful in the world is that the road meanders through valleys, except for the one mountain pass. As you drive, motorcycle, or bike, looking out in all directions are spectacular visages. Yes, many still bike the road as I did in '73. Incidentally, during the five days in the park, we passed over 100 cyclists on these biker friendly roads.
So which trip did I enjoy the most? Frankly, each was perfect for that particular time in my life.
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____________________________
If you have a guest vignette you would like to submit, please do so. Not only will I enjoy reading it, but if agreeable with you and space permitting, I will print it in a future issue. The vignette should be written in paragraph form and relate a personal story or event. Equally important, it should fit the overall tenor of this newsletter. Ideally, it should not exceed twenty lines. Please send to bob@poeticaljourneys.com. ____________________________
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| Cascade of Time Gardens in downtown Banff ----- Click here to see more pictures of these magnificent garden. |
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| Another view of Lake Minnewanka |
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Recommendations
Visit Banff and Jasper: If you have the opportunity, I encourage a visit Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta. Some world travelers claim the drive through them to be the most beautiful in the world. The park fee is approximately $20 U.S. per car per day. If you are traveling from the U.S. expect to pay more for hotels and food as the Canadian dollar currently is almost 1/1 with the U.S. one. The suggestions below are for the Banff and Lake Louise areas.
Places to Stay: Though we stayed at three different hotels in the Banff/Lake Louise area, I can only suggest one that met my recommendation standards, The Rimrock Resort Hotel. This 4+ star hotel, though a bit pricey as are most of the area ones, provides very nice rooms with excellent and efficient service. The views are worth the price. It is up a long hill, a couple miles from town center. The hotel provides shuttle service though we chose to drive in–within Banff parking is free whether in a garage or on the streets. The hotel parking garage has an attribute that I appreciated, sheltered parking and entrance into the hotel from almost every level. I was able to obtain a very reasonable rate for this fine hotel through Hotwire.
Some Must Sees: So many choices but here are mine – stroll through the magnificent Cascades of Time Gardens in downtown Banff (no charge); take the cruise and then drive around Lake Minnewanka; hike to Johnston Canyon Lower Falls (.6 km hike); drive to Bow Falls just outside of Banff; enjoy the views from the Banff chairlift ($24 per person); drive some of the back roads to Lake Louise (chance to see the wildlife); ride the Lake Louise chairlift ($24) to the viewing station, expect to see grizzlies; drive to Moraine Lake and hike up to the overlook (prepare to huff and puff); and visit the Chateau and savor the beauty of Lake Louise.
Restaurants: We had a number of outstanding meals while in Banff. The Rimrock has several restaurants ranging from casual to gourmet, including the price. We ate two meals there, one in the lobby lounge with a superb view and the Primrose Dining Room. The service was always friendly and efficient, especially in the Primrose. The food was creatively fixed, gourmet. Service: 9-10/10 Food: 9-9.5/10. We enjoyed two lunches at the Balkan Restaurant. If you enjoy Greek/Mediterranean food, then the Balkan is a perfect choice. For the two meals the food rated 8.5-9/10. Service was mixed with less than exemplar on one day but excellent on another. If you are into healthy eating and organic, then Wild Flour Bakery is a superb choice. Plan to be mesmerized as you try to make your selections. You go to the counter to order and then try to find a seat, especially at peak meal times. We enjoyed breakfast and a lunch there and one take out. Food: 8.5+. You can't go wrong with Melissa's. The breakfasts are scrumptious, wonderful options, and the dinners very well-prepared. Expect a line at peak times. The fresh B.C. salmon with bearnaise sauce was heavenly. Food: 9-10/10 Service: 9.5+. At Lake Louise I suggest you enjoy a touch of class and eat at one of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise restaurants. We enjoyed a light lunch with superb service and magnificent views without breaking the bank at the Poppy Brasserie. A special hint: Finding parking around the Chateau can be nearly impossible. Instead, park in the hotel garage, take your ticket with you, eat at one of the restaurants, have the ticket stamped at the desk after showing your receipt, and the parking is free. Parking there saves you a long uphill walk as well. An excellent dinner meal while staying at Lake Louise can be had at the Lake Louise Railway Station and Restaurant. Service: 8 Food: 8.5.
Take a look at the new online book and gift page.
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Canoeing on Lake Louise ----- Click here to see more pictures of the Lake Louise area.
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Moraine Lake
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In case you missed them above, here are additional links:
. Click here to see more pictures of Cascade Gardens.
Click here to see more pictures of the Banff area.
......................................Click here to see more pictures of the Lake Louise area.
Quotable Quotes
"Whoever controls the media–the images–control the culture." – Allen Ginsberg
"Simple kindness to one's self and all that lives is the most powerful transformational force of all." – Dr. David Hawkins: Psychiatrist, physician, spiritual teacher, and lecturer.
"Possession of material riches, without inner peace, is like dying of thirst while bathing in a lake." – Paramahansa Yogananda: Indian yogi and teacher
"I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing." — Agatha Christie
"For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning." – T.S. Eliot
A Bit of Humor
A bit of laughter is healthy for the soul.
Police Story
A guy was driving when a policeman pulled him over. He rolled down his window and said to the officer, "Is there a problem, Officer?"
"No problem at all. I just observed your safe driving and am pleased to award you a $5,000 Safe Driver Award. Congratulations! What do you think you're going to do with the money?"
The driver thought for a minute and said, "Well, I guess I'll go get that drivers' license."
The lady sitting in the passenger seat said to the policeman, "Oh, don't pay attention to him--he's a jokester when he's drunk and stoned."
The guy from the back seat said, "I TOLD you guys we wouldn't get far in a stolen car!"
At that moment, there was a knock from the trunk and a muffled voice said, "Are we over the border yet?"
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Read in the newsletter, JokeADay.
Contest Winners from the Past
By clicking on this link you can see winners from earlier contests. Anyone who has won a poet print in the past and would like to be pictured on the Grand Winners Page, please send via email a jpg of you holding the print.
Pay It Forward for New 2010
Welcome to our premium subscriber section. There were no new subscribers this month. Here is the link to the 2010 Page.
* Total Charitable Donations: $9,750
* Total Charitable Volunteer Hours: 50+
* Number of Premium Subscribers: 4
PJ Forum
If you have comments, recommendations, or suggestions for the PJ, please email them to bob@poeticaljourneys.com. While I often cannot print all of the comments, I respond to everyone's.
Enjoy Larry Zimmerman's guest poem entitled The Table.
There is an interesting story behind it.
"Just received the Poetical Journal, which I always enjoy. The nature pictures are so beautiful and also, the lighthouse. . ." – Betty from Ohio (Ed. Thanks and glad you enjoyed the newsletter. Betty also shared with me information about the health difficulties her pastor is experiencing. Our prayers are with him.)
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"Hello, thank you for the newsletter. As usual, I read it with great interest. I thoroughly enjoyed the Canadian Rockies section. I travel through Banff each time I return home to visit in British Columbia, and I NEVER tire of looking at the beauty of the Pass. Lake Louise is my favorite. I was thrilled to see that you journeyed there (with exception of the smoke from BC fires). . . As a result of reading all your material I developed extreme curiosity about the Tai Chi. . . Last but not least, glad to hear your mother is doing great. . ." – Vi from Alberta (Ed. Thank you. Vi also is commenting on my blog which covered my trip to the Canadian Rockies, right in her backyard. I also sent her information on Tai Chi.)
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"I just finished reading your most recent PJ and enjoyed it immensely. I'm so happy to hear your mother got to go home. She must be overjoyed. . . And I loved reading about the places you visited. . ." – Nancy from Ohio (Ed. Nancy shared other comments. I appreciated them all.)
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" I want you to know that I continue to enjoy your blog and all the beautiful pictures of where you have been. It can be a real pick me up when you are down. I am sending a short little poem about a table that my wife and I had made. It probably weighs 400 lbs. and was built by an Amish cabinet builder. Part of the way he antiqued it was to drag it up and down the driveway behind his horse. It has been the center of many a party and family get together. . ." – Larry from Ohio (Ed. Thank you, Larry. I loved the poem. A link to The Table is posted above. I am pleased that you followed the blog. I sometimes wonder if anybody reads it ...:-)
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"So glad your Mother is home now. . . Fall will not be on Maui for a couple of months. Ohio State football season, when I go nuts according to ____ begins this coming Thursday with a contest with Marshall. All best ALOHA! . . . " – Maui Phil (Ed. Mahalo, Phil. He also shared some other thoughts including a big celebration in his life. Congratulations!)
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". . . Would love to visit Lake Erie - maybe someday. . .Can't wait to get it Bob! Thanks! And I'm so glad that your mom is at home. You know - some of us 'old women' are super strong and determined, and having faith helps too! I wish her continued strengthening." – Bobbie from Texas (Ed. As always, thank you for your comments and good wishes. In the email, Bobbie is referencing the book she won in the contest.)
Reader Demographics
Geographically, subscribers reside in all U.S. states. Subscribers also live in Albania, Argentina, Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, & Western Australia), Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, & Quebec), Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, England, Estonia, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica - W.I., Japan, Kenya, Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad - W.I., Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
If your state, province, or country is not mentioned, please let me know.
PJ Online
To read or copy back issues of the PJ, go to.
The next issue will be out on Sunday, October 31, 2010.
Until next time - joy and peace,
Bob
PJ Policies
Guest Poetry: Often readers send me a poem stating they would like it included in the PJ. Many of the poems are well written. Although I enjoy reading them, at this time I do not include guest poetry as part of this newsletter. Instead, I suggest that they submit them for inclusion in the Guest Poet section of my web site. A number have chosen to do so. However, time limitations and quality govern the number that will be accepted. I currently am not accepting poetry from minors.
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Guest Vignettes: On occasion, I publish guest vignettes submitted by one of my readers. If a guest vignette is submitted and selected, the author understands that there is no remuneration provided; the vignette will be included in the e-mailed and web site versions; and will remain posted until I choose to remove it from the site. In all cases, the guest vignette remains the property of the guest author who has given permission for its usage as described in sentences one and two.
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Privacy: I take it very seriously. Your name will never be sold to a third party nor will we disclose at any time your subscription information.
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Unsolicited Mailing: The PJ is never sent unless requested. If you believe you received the PJ unsolicited, please notify me. I will unsubscribe you.
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Reproduction and Forwarding: While the material is copyrighted, you have permission to forward all or part of this newsletter. You may also quote from it. Out of common courtesy (We will forget all the legal jargon and requirements.), I would appreciate at least a mention or a footnote. -- Much appreciated!
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Recommendations: All recommendations are personal ones offered for your information. I receive no remuneration of any kind from the sources or individuals being recommended – other than when I recommend purchasing my books. Actually, many are never aware of their listing. One may ask, "Why do you provide recommendations for specific establishments or locations, especially since many of your readers are worldwide and may never be able to use the information?" The key word is "may." When I travel, I plan much of the itinerary myself. This planning includes reading and listening to recommendations from professional and personal sources. My wish is that any suggestions provided will assist some readers as they make their plans. (Incidentally, I have already received feedback that readers use them.)
Subscription: To unsubscribe click on your individualized unsubscribe e-mail at the end of this newsletter. (Not appropriate for this web page.) Or send a BLANK e-mail (Be sure not to write anything in the subject or body) to
leave-poetjournal@pro.netatlantic.com
Bob Casey
Poetical Journeys
P.O. Box 319
Fredericktown, OH 43019
bob@poeticaljourneys.com
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