Life in the KCC

Gotta love when your weekend starts off with a potluck with co-workers, and ends with a couch fort in your living room and red candle wax all over the walls (btw, it looks like someone got stabbed in my living room). This weekend started off chill, until someone (not me...) said, “Hey, lets go to the Zone!”. A little bit of mud and one exploded beer later, we were well and truly stuck. No cell service, no tow rope, no second vehicle. And cowboy boots are not the best, traction wise, for pushing a Jeep that’s got one tire in the air and one drowned in a puddle of water. Surprising, I know. But with numerous trial and error and a good sized pile of bricks, not to mention a welt the size of a baseball on my shin, we finally managed to get unstuck and carry on our way.  Let’s just say, getting stuck in the McLean Creek Forest Land Use Zone is a pretty great way to solidify new friendships.

Unfortunately, we discovered upon our return home that our oven was left on during our off-roading excursion, resulting in somewhat overcooked fish. Still tasted pretty good though, thanks to the wonderful basting skills of my roommate Kodi. Gotta say, our potluck feast tasted all the better after all the excitement. And ensue the drinking/get to know you games with Dylan and Ty. In usual K-country style, the party only remained partially inside, climbing on the roof, and staring at the stars from the meadow that is our backyard were all a part of the evening, ending with a communal nap (also known as a full nights sleep) on the worlds comfiest couch.

We had originally planned to go hiking to Ing’s Mine ice caves the next day, but with the rain we decided to change tacks and head out to Banff for some shenanigans and Hot Springs. Woke up early (9:30am – early for a day off, late considering Ty had planned to go back to Calgary by 8) and did some running around to get ready, grabbed Nicole from house 2 and took off for Banff. Stopped for breakfast/lunch at the Humpty’s on the Trans Canada and continued on our way. It rained most of the way there, but we were still game for a bit of a hike so we continued on to Johnston’s Canyon where Kodi and Dylan had never been. Crazy busy considering it’s a Wednesday, tons of tourists. Took the trail up towards the upper falls, where the crowds thinned out a little bit. Kodi, in her true fashion took a minor detour off the beaten path and stumbled upon a family who had been lost for hours. Just below the upper falls we climbed down to a spot where you can actually stand behind the falls. Crazy cool. Of course by this time, with the sun out, it was the perfect time to strip down for a quick dip in the river. And I mean quick because it’s freaking freezing.

Proceed back to Banff on the hunt for a liquor store. Note to self; don’t buy bottles that require a bottle opener when you don’t actually have a bottle opener with which to open them. Thank god for the combined skills of the team to open my one alcoholic drink. Find an undisclosed secluded area in which to drink contraband alcohol prior to hitting up hot springs. The hot springs were relaxing as always, although a little busier than could be hoped. Ended up at the Rose and Crown for dinner, drinks, and pool. Guess my regular visits to the Crown have paid off, because I have now attained local status and also local drink pricing. Can’t beat that!

 

The drive home from Banff was definitely the rowdiest I’ve had in a long time. Let’s just say you haven’t lived until you’ve had the upper part of your body out the sunroof of a car while speeding down the Trans Canada.

Although it seems like a no-brainer now, apparently lighting candles was a necessary part of the after-party when we got home. Unfortunately, somewhere in the middle of everyone piling into a fort made of couches, pillows and blankets, these candles hurtled through the air and sprayed their wax all over the walls. If anyone has hints as to how to clean candle wax off of walls, I would love to hear it.

I hear most normal people use their weekends to relax and get ready for the next week. I don’t know why. That’s just not nearly as much fun.