For Mumtaz Summer travel began in mid July with a trip to Vancouver. She moved on to Edmonton in early August.

I flew CFVNB to Edmonton in mid August over an afternoon and a very early morning.

About a week before I arrive, Anver, Yasmin, Naeem, Rehana, Ayaan and Inaya converge on Edmonton. Mumtaz finally takes a few photos; she also takes a few of me after I arrive and on our departure. Thanks again to Nazim and Rozmin for hosting us, good to see Mumtaz’s mom, Nabil and Farah as well.

We fly on to Calgary; good photos from our departure from Edmonton and I’ve included photos that Cindy took after we arrived.

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We had a great time in Calgary, thanks again to Cindy for hosting us so nice to see Kate and new friend Josh.  We also had a great dinner with Naushad and Aliya.  We spent a day in Lake Louise, Banff and Canmore as well. Cindy photographs our departure preparations

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We fly on to Medicine Hat; what a mixed bag of weather conditions.

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We chose Medicine Hat because it is possible to commute to the Cypress Hills.  This is an interesting park which exists in both Saskatchewan and Alberta.   The park comprises the highest point in Canada between the Rocky Mountains and Labrador.  There are many activities, spectacular views,  hikes and drives.  The park is beautifully maintained and a great contrast to the Rocky Mountains which while more spectacular are quite crowded.  You will find Cypress Hills peaceful and uncrowded.

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We tour Medicine Hat.

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We fly on to Swift Current

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With a quick trip into Swift Current to organize our stay, we head directly to Eastend to visit the T Rex Discovery Center.  There are less than 10 T. Rex fossils excavated in the world and one of them was in the amusingly named Eastend, Saskatchewan (it is actually in the extreme west of Saskatchewan).  We felt that this stop was absolutely necessary with Sam’s wedding coming up in December.

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We spend a day in Moose Jaw.  With all my travel in Western Canada, I never managed to visit Swift Current or Moose Jaw.

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Here is our visit to Lake Diefenbaker.  Actually more of a widening of the South Saskatchewan River, it is a now a back country resort area and a place of some importance in Canadian history playing a role in the Riel rebellion and the western migration of European settlement.

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Our trip home starts in the afternoon, we decided to spend the morning and early afternoon at the Grasslands National Park.  The park’s objective is to protect grasslands in their natural state without being parceled or farmed; the rangers actually search for and eradicate non-native grasses.  The park is home to an active buffalo herd and is the best place in Canada to view prairie dogs. I cut short one photography stop when I heard more than one rattle snake in the area; I’m so pleased that we were warned of this by the rangers at the interpretive center.

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We fly to Winnipeg to spend the night.

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We fly to Sault Ste. Marie for a fuel stop

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We fly to Toronto’s City Centre airport to meet Sam.  One more quick flight to Grimsby in the early evening; our vacation trip is over.

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