Fernie, Ribs & Steak

On the way back home we stopped through Fernie. Fernie is a cool little resort town that apparently gets a heap of snow. Due to the fact it’s about 35 degrees, we decide after driving 8 hours that we deserve to sip on a few cold beers. A little place on the river called Rip and Richards was our home for the next couple of hours. The outdoor patio allowed us to unwind with some cold beers and without doubt the best North American meal we have encountered. I ordered a rack of ribs and Patricia ordered a great big steak. The steak was amazing, cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth. The ribs…………….insane. The ribs were so good that I could pull the bones straight off the meat with my fingers, just amazing. So if anybody ends up passing through Fernie, stop off for a few local lagers and ribs and steak!!!

Pearl Jam

If there is another venue, artist or time that can beat the experience we had seeing Pearl Jam in the Gorge, then I want it right now. Easily the greatest venue for a concert in the world, with notable apologies to the Brixton Academy, London, and the Forum in Melbourne, the Gorge Amphitheatre itself is similar to the Music Bowl in Melbourne. If you can imagine the bowl, with 20 thousand in it, with a stage backdrop that looks like an opening to the Grand Canyon. A venue so amazing that you find yourself divided between watching the band or watching the view of the gorge and the sunset falling. Once we drove down from Spokane, set up the tent, and walked down to the concert site, we could hear Eddie doing his sound check, Patricia was stoked. Once inside the gates Patricia went to the merchandise store while Nicko proceeded to get two 24-ounce beers for us both. I love drinking 2 beers in one go!!! We grabbed a great spot to the left of stage about 50 metres away. When Pearl Jam came on, I personally looked at these great grunge survivors and felt very nostalgic. They continued to rock so hard and played a heap of old tracks including my personal favourite “State of Love and Trust”. At 40 years of age they played with so much energy, forcing us to rock hard with them, and proving that this Seattle band could be doing this until we are 40!! One can only hope……

Spokane

We headed out of our little town of Banff in our rental car. The Chevy Malibu we hired just happened to only have 600 kms on the clock. So we cruised through into BC and witnessed a dead bear getting put onto the back of the ranger’s truck. Very sad sight indeed, our search for a bear is still continuing though. It’s not like they just come in for breakfast of a morning if you know what I mean. Anyhow, about 5 hours later we arrive at the border, and proceeded to get asked 30 questions about firearms, narcotics, and explosives. Unfortunately not having any of the above, we proceeded into the US of A. The drive from the border down to Spokane is majestic. Lakes and valleys surrounded by mountains make way for flatlands and farms as we head into the second biggest city (behind Seattle) in Washington. We promptly headed for the local shopping mall, and then discovered that the city’s patrons are a mix of bogans, ferals and white homeboys in socks, sandals and cornrows. I managed to pick up some bargain priced New Jersey Nets gear, on sale due to the fact that nobody outside of the garden state apart from me, seems to support them!! Patricia celebrated her birthday in Aussie time and North American time which was cool!! We headed back to the hotel to get a good night sleep before the big gig…………..

Oh Canada

Oh Canada, and so the national anthem continues, I am yet to learn it, but it’s really good. Anyway, life in Banff is going really well. On July the 1st Canadians celebrate their special day. With a huge parade and festivities in Banff, we decided to celebrate also. We ventured to our favourite little bar called Bruno’s, and proceeded to the bar. Considering the fact it was actually Canada Day, I thought what better way to start than to order a Canadian Club whiskey and dry. When the response was “we don’t have Canadian Club”, I stumbled. But regained some form to accompany Patricia in downing 6 pints. But the reason for the post on the blog is simple: On Canada Day…………….In Canada…………In a Canadian bar…………and I can’t get a drink of the country’s finest……….Canadian Club. Nothing against Bruno’s though, but come in, there can’t have been a better time!!!!