Welcome to our little home on the net. We are Steve & Rosemary and live in Buckinghamshire, UK. This is a blog of our life, sometimes interesting, but mainly boring. It is very picture orientated as Steve loves to take pictures, especially of wildlife. Sometimes he has his arm twisted by Rosemary and takes the odd snap of a weed.
Glastonbury 2025 – Saturday
28th June 2025
Saturday was another dry day at Glastonbury with blue sky to start with. As the day progressed some clouds came in.
Infinity Song
Infinity Song is a family-formed band. They hail from New York City. The group comprises siblings Abraham, Victory, Angel, and Israel Boyd. Raised in a household steeped in music – their father, a musician and minister, instilled in them a deep appreciation for diverse genres and the power of collaboration. From busking in Central Park to performing at prestigious venues, their blend of R&B, folk, pop, and gospel has garnered them a dedicated fanbase. I admit to being underwhelmed.
Here they played the opening Saturday set at the West Holts stage.
Nilüfer Yanya
The London-based artist signature style features a mix of restless, guitar-driven melodies, often with a ’90s alt-rock or grunge-indebted edge, paired with her remarkably expressive and smooth vocals. Her appearance was part of a day on the West Holts stage that also featured acts like Bob Vylan and Kneecap. As the performance came to an end, the artist used her platform to show solidarity with Palestine. A pro-Palestine banner was unfurled on stage during her closing message to the crowd, with a backdrop that read “Free Free Palestine.” This gesture was one of several political statements made by various artists across the festival weekend.
Climate Catastrophe Panel Moderated by Robin Ince
I next walked up to the Green Fields to listen to some discussions on climate change. In the Green Fields, there are a number of tents with forums and talks. One year, Sir David Attenborough came to give a talk. This year, as in most years, there are talks about climate change, and I engaged with the speakers.
Nova Twins
After the talks, I headed over to Woodsies Stage (formerly the John Peel Stage) to see the Nova Twins. My way was blocked, because the path past the West Holts Stage was packed with people. This was due to the crowds for the sets by Bob Vylan and Kneecap. I took a bypass around the back and managed to make it to see the start of the Nova Twins‘ performance—a band I have seen several times.
The atmosphere inside the Woodsies tent was electric well before their 16:30 slot. Stepping on to the stage, the pair immediately unleashed their signature “Nova Sound,” transforming the woodland area into a visceral rock and roll sanctuary. Their setlist, which featured fan favourites like “Antagonist,” “Piranha,” and “Glory,” alongside newer cuts from their recent album, Parasites & Butterflies, was a relentless assault of energy.
Pulp
I had to go and see the secret set by a band named “Patchwork”. I was way back in the crowds, so no view of the stage. This was the worst kept secret of a surprise secret set. The Britpop legends Pulp took to the Pyramid Stage for a surprise afternoon set, billed cryptically on the schedule as “Patchwork.”
Thirty years and four days after their legendary, last-minute stand-in headlining performance in 1995, Jarvis Cocker and co. returned to the iconic stage to a rapturous, jam-packed field. The show marked the band’s return to the festival’s main stage to commemorate the anniversary of their breakthrough performance, which became a cornerstone of Glastonbury folklore.
I had seen Pulp before at another secret set in 2011 at the Park Stage, a much smaller stage, and I had arrived very much earlier. I had a clear view, but could hear only the singing of three women next to me.
The band’s arrival was suitably theatrical, with a line of people in black and white ponchos briefly obscuring the stage before the iconic keyboard refrain of “Sorted for E’s & Wizz” began. A message flashed on the screen: “Are you ready for PULP SUMMER.”
Frontman Jarvis Cocker was in his usual form, witty and charismatic, dedicating “Mis-Shapes” to the massive crowd of outsiders and oddballs. He also noted the significance of the day, pointing out that “Sorted for E’s & Wizz” and “Disco 2000” were first played on that very stage exactly thirty years and four days ago.
The set blended classic hits with new material from their recent chart-topping album, More, including tracks like “Spike Island” and “Got to Have Love.” The performance culminated in an epic, unifying rendition of “Common People,” which was punctuated by a perfectly timed, and presumably coincidental, flyover from the Red Arrows, leading to a massive, delirious crowd sing-along that sealed the moment as a true Glastonbury highlight.
The full set list performed by Pulp on the Pyramid Stage on Saturday, June 28, 2025, was:
- Sorted for E’s & Wizz
- Disco 2000
- Spike Island
- O.U. (Gone, Gone)
- Acrylic Afternoons
- Something Changed (Acoustic)
- Do You Remember the First Time?
- Mis-Shapes (Dedicated to the audience)
- Got to Have Love
- Babies
- Common People (with Red Arrows flyover)
Father John Misty
Caught the last 20 minutes. Woodsies, Glastonbury was packed out for this. Sounded great bold music.. I don’t know any of it.
Tom Odell
I then went to watched Tom Odell at the same venue. Nice music, but a bit boring for me. Probably wish I hadnt seen him, because it made me late for Neil Young
Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts
I wasn’t initially planning on seeing the set, but ended up there. I was able to get in quite close to the front by entering the side of the field and edging forward over time as people left.
There were strongly divided views of his performance, which ignited one of the Glastonbury weekend’s contentions: what exactly constitutes a great rock and roll performance? Some long-time fans and purists hailed the 79-year-old rock veteran’s appearance with The Chrome Hearts as a masterclass in “proper R&R.“ They lauded the fierce, unadulterated musicality—the extended, ragged guitar solos, the heavy sound, and his refusal to pander to a modern festival audience. In an era of polished spectacle, his set was celebrated as a defiant reminder that substance outweighs showmanship.
Conversely, a more mixed crowd, particularly those unfamiliar with his live reputation, voiced criticism, suggesting he had limited stage presence and minimal interaction with the crowd. Comments circulated on social media about his subdued demeanour and extended, indulgent blues jams. My opinion is that the music itself was great, and ultimately, that is what counts. His sheer longevity and the depth of his catalogue, featuring classics alongside newer tracks, stood as a testament to his legendary status.
Set List
Neil Young’s set on the Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury on Saturday, June 28, 2025, included the following tracks:
- Rockin’ in the Free World
- Sugar Mountain (Solo Acoustic)
- Cinnamon Girl
- The Old Laughing Lady
- Cortez the Killer
- Be the Rain
- Ohio
- The Loner
- The Needle and the Damage Done
- Harvest Moon
- Comes a Time
- Heart of Gold
- Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)
After the set I left and tried to meet up with Ed and Mary, who were on shift in the Silver Hayes area. Big mistake—huge crowds. I managed to extract myself and had an early night back at Love Fields, where there were still live performances in the bar.
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Glastonbury 2025 – Friday
27 June 2025
Today marked another warm and dry day at Glastonbury, the first full day of the festival. As was our custom, we were all gathered for breakfast shortly after it was served. Afterwards, we all headed our separate ways. I set off for the West Holts Stage, usually my favourite haunt, though I felt the music selection this year was rather underwhelming. I had also made a personal discovery: Brothers cider was no longer for me, too sweet. Instead, my magnetic draw for drinks pulled me more and more toward the main Cider Bus. In any case, the first band I was scheduled to see was indeed at the West Holts Stage, so I had to make do with Brothers.
Corto.Alto
Corto.Alto, led by Liam Shortall, is a Glasgow-based nu-jazz collective known for genre-blending, mixing jazz with hip-hop, broken beat, dub, and electronica. Their Glastonbury performance opened the West Holts stage and was a blistering and energetic electronic jazz sound. Yes, they absolutely deserve the acclaim they receive for their act.
Beans on Toast at the Avalon Stage
After West Holts, I moved onto the Avalon Stage. I don’t know, but I think this field has gone downhill a little. It used to host the Avalon Stage and the Avalon Inn, and some tea tents and a café. The tea tents and café were given their marching orders a few years ago. Now it is just the stage and Inn. The Inn is built to represent a pub building. I came here to watch Beans on Toast, sitting outside the Inn with a view of the stage and Beans on Toast. I got chatting to another guy, and it appeared he had flown over from Vancouver to see Beans on Toast play. He had seen him at a local folk festival in Canada. Now that is dedication!
Beans on Toast (again) at the Bandstand
I met up with Selina and Phil at the Cider Bus, where I was enjoying the driest draft cider they offered. I managed to persuade Selina and Phil to join me to watch Beans on Toast. Selina’s mum had explicitly warned her not to see him—a warning that, naturally, Selina chose to ignore. And she was rewarded! Beans on Toast decided to abandon the bandstand, instead choosing to roam and perform directly among the crowd, creating a truly intimate and memorable experience.
Lewis Capaldi
My main intention for the day was to secure a spot right on the front rail for Biffy Clyro, so I strategically started by heading over to catch the set by Lewis Capaldi. This wasn’t just any gig; it was his highly anticipated comeback performance after an extended hiatus of several years. Following a challenging period where he stepped away from the relentless public spotlight to focus on his mental and physical health—particularly as he learned to manage his Tourette’s syndrome diagnosis—he had returned to living quietly back with his mother. This performance was an incredibly poignant and emotional moment, marking his brave return to the stage. Since this comeback performance, he had been touring and will appear at the Isle of Wight festival in 2026
Alanis Morissette
The next show was Alanis Morissette, and I managed to move further forward, ending up just one row back from the barrier. Truthfully, her music isn’t strictly my usual taste, but I was amazed by how many songs I recognized and knew the words to. Her performance was a raw, nostalgic powerhouse, delivered with the intense, uncompromising energy of a true rock icon. An added bonus? My neighbour spotted me on TV! I was only on screen for a fleeting two seconds, but I’ll take it.
Biffy Clyro
As a few people left after the Alanis Morissette performance, I pushed to the rail, but there was a disappointed woman, she really wanted to be on the front, but for The 1975. I wasn’t interested in the 1975, so I agreed to make sure she was on the rail for their performance. This worked fine, and when Biffy Clyro’s set was finished, I made sure she got to the front. Biffy Clyro were excellent, delivering a blistering, energetic set that cemented their reputation as a premier live act. Their performance, full of intense guitar riffs and soaring anthems, was a definite festival highlight. The cameras did spot me, though they were looking for more glamorous subjects.
Cirque Du Vulgar
The Cirque Du Vulgar is rather raunchy with a lot of nudity, yes I saw dangly bits, so no pictures. Cirque Du Vulgar is basically a circus show, but it’s one of those grown-up versions. They take your standard big top setup and swap out the clowns and elephants for a more adult kind of performance.
The act itself is a mix of legitimate circus skills—think aerialists doing their thing up high, and some genuinely impressive acrobatic stunts—but all of it comes with a strong layer of raunchy comedy and burlesque elements. There’s plenty of audience interaction, often with an adult theme, and the humour is generally pretty filthy and not for the easily offended. It’s a night of daredevilry and risqué routines, all designed to be a bit chaotic and over-the-top, but it’s fundamentally a talented circus troupe doing tricks in fewer clothes with a lot of swearing.
As for Glastonbury, they’re regular fixtures in the Theatre and Circus Big Top, often headlining that field’s late-night programming. At the festival, it’s just another piece of the late-night fun—a chance for the crowd to take a break from the bands and see some acrobats and comedians pushing the boundaries. It fits right into the whole Glastonbury vibe, offering something different in the small hours when people are looking for a bit of cheeky escapism. You hear people talk about it, but it’s just one of the many weird and wonderful things you might stumble across after dark.
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Glastonbury 2025 – Thursday
26th June 2025
It rained a little during the night, (after I had got back to the yurt at 3.00), enough to keep the dust down. Our first breakfast, and we were one of the early ones for it. Coffee from a coffee bag, plenty of yoghurt, cereal and pastries and a full English breakfast. We took our time over this meal. Lovefields know how to put on a good breakfast.
We all headed into Glastonbury; our first mission was the Joe Wicks exercise class. I had a few minutes to spare, so visited one of the Glastonbury post card stalls, Here I bought a couple of postcards, wrote them, placed a stamp on them, and franked the cards with the Glastonbury Festival stamp and posted them. R’s postcard was there next day. Since heard that Ann’s card also arrived.
Joe Wicks
Headed back to the Gateway Stage and we waited for Joe Wicks to start. He was being interviewed while his stage was being prepared, He started the work out, his brother DJed the music, and we exercised. This was quite fun and lasted a good 30 minutues. Huge queue at the end to get a selfie with Joe. We decided not to queue. Instead, walking down towards the acrobatics and circus area where we watched a competition to build the highest stack of crates where the builder had to remain on top of the stack. Very funny – old and young competed. The highest was 14 crates, the strong wind causing issues the higher the stack became. We walked onto the West Holts Stage where some processions were taking place, music and dancing.
Temple Uprising
I headed over to Temple Uprising to hear a couple of talks and songs relating to freedom.
- Songs of Survival: West Papua’s Story Through Music and Memory with Koteka Lali Kuragan Wenda
- Sound of Freedom: Palestinian Rhythm of Resistance with Palestine Pulse – Grandchildren of the Nakba
Needless to say, there were many Palestine flags being waved at the Palestine talk and music.
Circus
Afterwards I was back at the circus area and watched some acrobatics and highwire acts. Much more impressive close up, than watching at the pyramid stage.
The Evening
I arranged to meet with ex-Walker colleagues Ed and Mary, and found they were at the Sensations Stage. I quickly found them along with Jon. We started off watching Showhawk Duo, then the next band was Elvana Elvis Fronted Nirvana. These were very popular, and unfortunately, we ended up in the nearby bar. Ed & Mary had to leave, because they were on duty that night. I ended up wandering around the site, where I even visited the Ribbon Tower. The queues were not that long, finally, I left the park area at around 3.am, getting back to the yurt at around 3.30.
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Glastonbury 2025 – Wednesday
25th June 2025
Time for the pilgrimage to Glastonbury, my 15th. These are the years I have previously visited. 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 1999, 1998, ie every Glastonbury since 2009. On 2019 I took uni friends Simon and Ravi to Lovefields. In 2024 I took Phil and Selina. I started using The Lovefields in 2014, mainly because I had ticket issues. They have a variety of accommodation, from pitch-your-own tents/campervans, to various pre-erected constructions at varying levels of sophistication. The Mongolian yurts at the top of the range with insulated walls, and bell tents lower down the scale. Depending on the structure you rent, you also have access to breakfast, or not. Breakfasts are very good, good range of pastries, cereals, juices and of course a cooked offering. Veggies are catered for. Full breakfasts are from the Thursday to Sunday, with a packed breakfast on the Monday to keep you sustained for your journey home.
When I first went to Lovefields, lunches were included. Now they cost extra and are offered on only a few days of the event. I think Thursday and Sunday. I don’t take part in the lunches. The facilities at the glamping site have improved, with the construction of the barn, more music venues, bars and popup food stalls. You could almost stay here, and forget the festival. I wonder if anyone does?
Leaving for Glastonbury
Selina and Phil arrived at our home on Wednesday with Dr Grebo (their cat), which was deposited on Rosemary, to be fed and pampered while we were at Glastonbury. We left home at 10.45, using are usual route, stopping at Starbucks at at Beckington Services for a coffee and cake before continuing on to Glastonbury. I remembered to put into Google the intermediate ‘way points’ to get us where we wanted to go. This was to stop Google sending us down narrow lanes, and residents only roads to bypass any traffic jams. So, yes, we did join a short traffic jam but were soon at Lovefields.
The Lovefields
We checked in at Lovefields VIP reception and were soon processed. Our wrists were tagged with EPO bands by the lovely Sue, then we were shown to our yurt, where we duly unpacked. This year we were supplied with a padlock and two keys, so were able to lock the yurt up, and we could get back inside without having to find the key from the others. Lovefields was much the same, the yurts, bell tents. airstreams all in similar positions. We had electricity, useful for charging. This time it was easier for us to get to the showers and loos, and yes a new shower block without having to walk down the hill. Car parking was more civilised this time. Last year there were too many cars parked in odd places. Maybe they cut back on the numbers this year, or they found more space to park?
What changes at Lovefields this year? There appeared to be a life-size unicorn on the barn veranda. Why? The bar and stage area had been improved, there were now some rooms (shipping containers) away from the stage, fitted out with loungers where you could chill and have a conversation while the bands were playing. In front of the stage there were more benches all made from recycled scaffold boards.
The area below the VIP area, had been reorganised slightly, food stalls were on the North side, and there was a gift shop on the South side. Stage, canopy and fire pits were in much the same area as last year.
Glastonbury Festival
After unpacking, we did our usual wandering around the festival site, having a cider from the Brothers Bar. That was the only cider I drank from there this festival. I seemed to use the cider bus far more often, drinking their real draft cider which had absolutely no sweetness to it. I was even warned by the person pouring the cider, who recommended the medium rather than the dry. I stuck to the dry, and lovely it was.
We walked up to the Park and visited Glastonbury on Sea. Selina had not been there before. I had visited the previous year. Yes, it was very busy, and the show was similar to last year. There are some fascinating automatons playing musical instruments. We spent quite some time there.
As evening arrived, we went to the Pyramid Stage. This was the opening ceremony and featured acrobats. I am sure it was spectacular for those near the front, but way back in the crowd it was difficult to see, and the rule/decision on not having any amplified sound on the Wednesday, meant you could not hear anything going on. I liked the drone display last year, probably because we could sit in the bar at Lovefields and see it. But I heard others on the Pyramid Field had thought it was a disaster. We want some noise.
I headed over to Silver Hayes and met up with my Walker/Elevon colleagues from years back. They were stewarding the area, so I could not stay there too long talking with them.
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Forever Now 2025 – Kraftwerk
22nd June 2025
I haven’t visited Milton Keynes Bowl for a music event for many years. It went through a period where it was not being used for music events, I think it may have become a training ground for football. Anyway, in recent years it is back as an outdoor music site, and I had bought a ticket to see Kraftwerk. Kraftwerk was on my must-see list. Even more years ago I had bought a ticket to see Kraftwerk in London, but they had cancelled. For some reason they have never appeared at Glastonbury. I would have thought they would have been a great match.
For this mini festival they had three stages, the main stage called the Forever Now Stage, was in the Bowl. The Other Stage and the Echo Chamber were outside the Bowl. Now looking at the running schedule, there were some bands I should have gone to see outside the Bowl, but I was totally focused on seeing Kraftwerk.
Parking was easy, though expensive at over £30. (Getting away at the end of the gig was slow but I was away in the car after 30 minutes.) The walk from the carpark to the Bowl is not very far. On entry to the Bowl, I was given a wristband, this was to gain access to a standing area in front of the stage, some nearer loos and a bar. To be fair, you could have stood near the front of the stage without the band. I expect the guys who ran the event expected a lot more people to be there. The whole reason for coming was to see Kraftwerk, and any other bands were a bonus. So it was good to see Billy Idol, seen him here years ago. With each of the other bands, there was always at least one memorable hit single which jogged the brain cells.
- UK Decay (Not seen)
- Berlin
- The Chameleons
- The Psychedelic Furs
- Johnny Marr
- Billy Idol
- The The
- Kraftwerk
Berlin, of course played their hit single, Take My Breath Away, from Top Gun
On the Other Stage there were some good bands, some of whom I regret not seeing.
- Theatre of Hate
- John McKay
- The Models
- She Wants Revenge
- Public Image Ltd
- Happy Mondays
- The Damned
- The Jesus and Mary Chain
- Death Cult
The Echo Chamber Stage had a few bands as well, though none I recognised, so not missed anything there.
- Richard Jobson
- Kirk Brandon and Stan Stammers
- Terri Nunn
- Jim Reid
- Vox (Mark Burgess)
- Marth Davis
There was food and seating outside the arena, and I ate an Indian dish. Beer was a tad expensive, but some nice, canned craft IPAs. Back in the arena I suddenly realised I was standing next to Mark and Emma. This is happening far too often, they spot me on TV, we bump into each other at Glastonbury, and here I was, standing right next to them yet again! They must be stalking me!!!!
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Gonville and Caius May Week Party
21st June 2025
On a very hot, dry Saturday, we drove to Cambridge for the Gonville and Caius May Week lunch. We parked on the sports field, which was a very brown colour, not the normal verdant green grass. We walked to Caius, arriving a little early for the lunch time garden party. On entry, and suitably labelled we grabbed a glass of fizz. My year (1972) was very badly represented, only one other was on the list. We grabbed a table in the shade and chatted with people from other years. Always interesting to hear the gossip and life history of fellow Caians.
The food was good, though not quite up to the standard of the previous chef from around 10 years ago. During this day’s conversations, we heard that the previous chef used to drive to Cromer to purchase a large supply of Cromer crabs for the garden party. Yes, I do remember there used to be piles of crab meat at these dos. This chef provided a lighter style of lunch, rather than the heavier style of the previous chef.
After lunch, there were the usual speeches, The bursar thanking us for our donations, and explaining where the money we gave was spent, and how it was vital for the education of the students. It seemed the money students paid to attend university for the year covered a little over one term. The rest coming from donations, and the commercial rental of student accommodation during the vacations.
We were also introduced to the new Master, Professor Richard Gilbertson, who will be replacing Pippa Rogerson, the first female Master of Caius, Richard comes from John’s and is head of the department on Oncology. He was very trendily dress with dark glasses and slacks.
After the speeches and desert, we went to listen to a Cello (Butterfly Paterson (2022)) and Violin (Hannah Brookes-Hughs (2022) recital. A quick visit to the library where they always have an exhibition. This was very much geared towards exploration of the south pole and so featured many images and artefacts of our own Caius Explorer, Edward Adrian Wilson, who was part of the ill-fated Scott of the Antarctic exploration. We have written about this last year, after we had visited the library and met the Caius Archivist.
After this, R and I visited the crime book shop, Bodies in the Bookshop. They had collected several crime novels based in Cambridge, for Rosemary and a few others that she’d requested, plus a suggestion of theirs. Departing somewhat heavier with the books, and lighter in the pocket, we made our way back to the car, and then on to home.
Calgary and Flying Home
4th-5th June 2025
Today was our last day in Calgary and Canada. We were flying home in the evening. First, we had breakfast in the hotel, checked out, luckily being able to leaving our bags at the hotel. We were going to try the level 15 route through the city. Not sure why it is called level 15, because it is only 1 or two storeys up. Many of the tower blocks are connected by bridges across the streets and avenues by this level 15 route. At this level in the tower block are restaurants and shops. You can walk between these areas, across the covered bridges into other areas without venturing outside. It is a bonus in winter when it can be -20. Entry for us was in the elevator in our hotel. We soon got lost and had to leave. The system breaks down where the bridges take you to tower blocks under renovation. I think all the routes out of our area were blocked.
Instead we took the train which is free in the central part of the city. We took it as far as we could, the city hall. We visited the public library where we had a coffee. Then we did a slow walk back to the hotel, stopping at the Local Public Eatery again. for lunch and a beer.
Picked up our luggage and caught a taxi to the airport. We arrived rather early and had to wait for the check-ins to open. Then it was on through security (where R had her waist swabbed for explosives), customs, onto the flight and back to Heathrow where Phil was waiting to take us home.
It was now 5th June, so all a bit confusing. That night, I wandered along the landing to the loo. “Why are there stairs here?” I queried, half-thinking I was in yet another hotel. I will not repeat R’s reply, but she did mutter asking me to draw a clock……
Calgary and Cruise Canada
3rd June 2025
Today we left the campsite fairly early, because we needed to be back at Cruise Canada, Calgary, by 11.00 am, with the van filled with propane and petrol. We had discovered there were no propane gas filling stations in Banff (due to National Park regulations, it was suggested) but someone had recommended Canmore. After a tour of filling station in Canmore, we still had not found one. Next we stopped at a filling station on the main road, on First Nation land, out of the mountain region. It had diesel, petrol, Tesla chargers and a casino, but no propane gas. We at least had a coffee and snack at a Timmys (Tim Hortons).
I decided there might be one near Cruise Canada, and yes there was. Even without asking a man came out and directed us to the propane tap and filled us up. Must be a popular site for topping up the propane before returning the van less than a mile away. We also topped up the petrol to 3/8.
Took the van the next mile to Cruise Canada and phoned ex-Walker colleague Chris D, who kindly set out to pick us up.
Van left, deposits returned, checks on the van were minimal, propane level and fuel level. R asked for an email address so she could update them with various snags we’d found with the van.
Chris turned up and graciously took us into the centre of Calgary for our hotel, the Sandman Signature on 8th Street. We waved him off. Discovered we could not check in until 3:00. So, we went for a walk around the city, and had some lunch in a nearby bar/restaurant, called the Local Public Eatery. Nice beers and reasonable food all served by smiling staff. We then went to the Calgary Tower. When it was built it was the tallest building in Calgary. Since then, tower blocks have all shot up all around it. Still, it was a good place to visit. Good views of the city and a scary glass floor bit where you can see the street below you. We thought it better than the Vancouver Tower.
Back at the hotel, we showered and prepared for dinner. Chris D & his wife Sue were coming at 4:30 to pick us up to take us out for an early dinner of Alberta Beef. We were early, and so was Chris. He drove to CF Market Mall, which is North of the river and to the West.. The venue was ‘The Keg Steakhouse + Bar’. We all ate medium rare Sirloin, including R. She and I deemed it delicious, tender with enough bite so you knew you were eating beef. At Sue’s suggestion, I tried the local invention of a Caesar cocktail, which turned out to be rather like a Bloody Mary. The staff were exemplory, advising us where we needed help. Afterwards we were dropped back at the hotel. Great to see Chris & meet Sue and astonishing how quickly we were chatting away as though we’d seen each other recently, rather than years ago.
Banff a Spare Day
2nd June 2025
Today, a quite day, indeed it was a spare day because we had done two activites on the day before. We decided to stay in Banff. We caught the bus into town, and looked at the shops. I bought some batteries for the mouse.
We walked over to the Brewsters, aka Pursuit, offices where Rs great nephew son works, and asked to see him. Taken to his office, he was totally unsure who we were!! Anyway, all sorted after a chat. Poor lad what must he be thinking about these two old doddery people surprising him.
Then we wandered around looking for a place to drink. Noon seemed the magic time. We found a brew bar, had an amazing 5/5 on Google (not many reviews as new to the town). Not yet 12:00 as we walked up the road to find it.
At noon we went in and chose a couple of beers. I demolished mine quickly. R enjoyed hers at a slower pace. Other people came in, some leaving when they realized it did not serve food. The Brewery was based in Canmore. I then did a 6 beer tasting menu. Some really surprising beers in there.
Back to the campsite, and some snoozing, packing and cleaning. Oh, and a Coyote was spotted on the campsite near to the road and path to the site. Managed to get some reasonable shots the Coyote before it disappeared into the wood.
Banff Gondola and Lake Minnewanka
1st June 2025
Rained during the night, so we were not expecting a good day. The weather forecast seemed fine, but they had got the night wrong, so we weren’t sure. We caught the free bus to Banff centre, but we wanted further buses. We used the ticket machines and bought a day season, but strange thing is they do not say how much they are taking from your card until the transaction completes. We ended up buying the wrong ticket, spending $15, instead of $5 for the day. The difference being, the $5 one is for local travel, while the $15 one allows fotr travel to Canmore.
Banff Gondola
We caught a bus up to the mountain lift. We had issues with our pre-bought excursion tickets. We were at the lift instead of the lake,and the tickets looked out of date. They kindly sorted it so we could ride the Gondola that day, but told us we’d have to contact our travelagent to sort out the Lake trip. Didn’t sound very likely. We rode up in the Gondola, walked to the cosmic ray detector, and photographed the resident goats. The walk was on a wooden platform and steps, these were swept to remove snow and ice. R saw a tiny stripey ground squirrel and fell in love with it. From the sounds of all the cooing females, she wasn’t alone.
The Gondola lift had not been built for ski-ing; instead it was so people could go to the top for a good view. There is a restaurant at the top, where we could have had a meal.
Lake Minnewanka
We caught the bus back down to Banff. R had a brainwave. She decided we could sort out the tickets for the Minnewanka Lake trip at the Elk & Avenue hotel, where there was a Pursuit Adventure Centre. Pursuit owns and runs many of the tourist attractions. The staff there sorted out everything very quickly so our trip was scheduled for this afternoon.
Oh – the name, you may laugh at it. The locals say “Wonka” as in Chocolate Factory
Bus to the lake (on the expensive day ticket). The bus stopped at a few other locations enroute. We arrived an hour before the trip, so spent the time walking around the beach. R booked us in, and we boarded the boat a few minutes before it was due to depart. The trip takes you about halfway along the lake. The lake is artificial. It is a reservoir for electricity generation. It has been expanded twice, the last time as WWII finished.
Apparently, the lake is good for diving, because you can see old homes and a 1930s sedan at the bottom, which all date back to when the area was flooded for the reservoir.
Unfortunately, some young kids on the boat were noisy, although they did actually keep quiet for 30 seconds during a requested silent period. Not sure why people take really young children on some holidays. They won’t remember it.
We arrived back after an hour, and then walked up the road to catch the return bus to Banff.
Campsite
Back at Banff centre where we found a much better supermarket, and of course a beer and wine liquor store. I do love the way there is a refrigerated section for all the canned beer. When I say refrigerated section, the whole area, the size of a small shop, is refrigerated. At the campsite, we had sausages, for supper along with some WCIPA.
A female elk and some ground squirrels, or were they marmots?, presented themselves for their portraits.
