We rolled out of a cold and sunny Edmonton late this morning heading toward Calgary – my first trip south of the airport. Our ultimate destination was Banff.

The countryside was flat and white as far as the eye could see. Leduc, Red Deer, Olds – on we went. The sky was so clear that we could see the mountains on our right just south of Red Deer. They must have been 100 km away!

But the best part of the drive came when we left Calgary heading west into the foothills. The winter storms of the past few days had left a shimmering white layer of icy snow on every tree and bush. It was surreal.

When we finally arrived in Banff, the sun was setting behind the hulking mountains and the town twinkled. Abby was dropped at a doggy spa and we climbed Mountain Drive to the Rimrock.

A quick swim and room service and we were in bed ready to crash. We are all nursing symptoms of the same virus so an early night is in order.