The gathering offcially started today and I signed up for the first field trip. This was in the bus we came up in (with seats reinstalled) and 6 of us including driver and gyuide, Bec headed further west.
Our first stop was the spiral tunnels. These are big loops that go through 2 adjacent mountains and reduced the gradient of the track from 4.5% to 2.2%. We were fortunate that there was a train passing through when we arrived and you could see 3 parts of it heading in 3 different directions.
We next visited the Takkakaw falls, stooping along the river for a long range shot an later walking close to the base of the falls.
Our next stop was the natural stone bridge, where the water from the same river rushhes through a crack in the rocks. Our final stop was Emerald Lake another one of those spctacularly coloured lakes with a Chalet lodge built next to it. Of course between these stops we drove through spectacular mountains so the scenarey was never ending. WE have been fortunate to have brilliant weather with sunny skies and tempes in the 20's.
By then it was 1pm and we headed back to the hotel. I checked in and went to the room. It still hadn't been made up so I didn't move my gear from Vicki's room. I too have 2 queen beds but my view is over the entrance and car park. I left my water bottle and choclates in the fridge with instructions not to throw them out. They weren't there when I finally move in later that day.
The afternoon field trip was to Moraine Lake, a much shoter trip. Again there were 6 of us although the mix was different. After the obligatory pictures, some of the group went for a hike while 3 of us headed for the cafe instead. The hikers returned later and we were engraoosed in an interesting conversation with Robert, the sexologist, which had some nearby diners straining to overhear.
The ice breaker event was a cocktail party with hours d'ouvres and a cash bar set up near the lake. Not a dress up gathering, except for those who had bought their Sound of music costumes. We had some guys in Tyrol gear, girls in peasant dresses and even a nun.
Later we had a talk by their psych on IQ tests. Next we broke into groups where we made puppets from a bag containing material, tooth picks, chopsticks, foam balls etc. Each group then did a small show using their creations. Our group had the advantage of an "actual =child" as she referred to her self when begging scissors etc from other groups.
This session was followed by some star gazing with an astro physicists back by the lake. The final speaker at about 11 was Robert doing a free form Q&A on anything to do with sex, relationships and so forth.
I had a final visit to the hospitality suiote, tried few puzzles, then got to bed about 2am.
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