Yesterday, morning....(FRI)....we had a laid back morning here in the condo suite....remember: we have two separate small apt/condos joined together at the entrance....this way we each have our own facilities....i.e....living room, kitchen,,bath, bedroom,patio, etc.. A really, really nice arrangement as we can be together, but can have our own private times also.
Anyway....we had coffee, conversation,....and then Diane packed us sandwiches from her kitchen, we gathered some jackets/sweaters,sweatshirts, and then drove back up to Invermere and then turned west, driving up and up into the mts.........arriving at Panorama Village. This beautiful place nestled in the mts and valley below is full of condos, homes, a gorgeous golf course, tennis courts, hiking trails, biking trails, shops, and....most of all....tons and tons of great ski runs!!!!!!
We got things together, and off we went up the "Valley Trail" to see what we could see!! It was a wonderful, easy trail....wide and paved with asphalt....sooo, it was nothing challenging, but a great trail due to the fact that things are sooooo muddy with all of the rains that have occurred since we arrived here on Monday. It took us by some ski lifts/runs, the golf course, through some wooded areas, but always....ALWAYS with a view, either of the valley below with the incredible homes, or of the mts. above.....snow covered and cloud covered from time to time.
We stopped for coffee at one of the ski lifts and enjoyed having the rest....but then we pushed on and returned to our parking area, following the trail along the Toby's River. We then grabbed our day pack and found some tables and chairs in a sitting area at the main ski lift.....and enjoyed a delightful little lunch in the sunshine.....YES, the sun had arrived!!!
Ambling along, we then found the van....and soon were headed back down the steep, curvy road to Invermere.....and a bit later, we took another gravel road along the east side of the Columbia River....which is very lazy in this sectin for miles and miles.....as this has been declared the largest wet area.....the land around the snaking Columbia River.....the largest wet area in North America!!!!! There is a primitive park alongside the Columbia for a few miles and so we followed the gravel road until it dead ended at an owner's farm property.
Returning to the condo.....we kicked back for 2-3 hours....and then got ready to go out for dinner......our choice??? Strand's.......a local restuarant in Invermere which has been there for years. Situated in an old home......a lovely location with a new sun room, where we were seated, overlooking a great yard with many trees and the beginnings of this summer's garden. We each ordered different entrees.......and we were all satisfied, but not raving about the meals. Perhaps, as we discussed....the chef has changed over the years....as the menu, while varied and interesting, was certainly not exciting, since we all had difficulties making a decision as to what we wanted to eat! I finally settled on a steak..."Fillet Madeira" which was good, the sauce was VERY good, but it was overcooked more than I had requested. Salad was ok......rolls were herbed and the butter was infused with something to sweeten it......not that good with the herbed rolls. The 1st Lady had a veal shnitszel(sp?)....which she liked, but she wasn't raving about it. Our cost for our two dinners and a glass of wine, plus one piece of pie, was $82 and change, plus tip.......not bad for here in Canada where things are a bit pricier than in the states.
Returning to the condo/suite we played a shortened form of Canasta and then we retired to our own suite as it was getting late!!
As always......and, especially since my tooth is giving me no grief.......
LIFE IS REALLY GREAT!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
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