Nearing the 75% completion part of my trip, and I'm taking another day off today in Airdrie, since it's going to likely be my last period of respite before the "five days of hell" in which I need to drive, in order, 747km, 624km, 736km, 874 km, and 544km. Over five days I am going to drive a total of just under 3600 km, with at least one thing to do each evening, except in Sault St. Marie.

Yesterday was Edmonton, and the only things anyone was able to tell me to make sure and do were to A) See the Gretzky statue in front of Rexall Place/Northlands Colliseum and B) Go to the West Edmonton Mall. So I did them both.

The day started fairly early, all things considered, and I really enjoyed being able to stop for a bit and have a coffee in the first second cup I've seen in three weeks. I tried to find one in BC, but apparently BC has NO Second Cups. I don't know why. Anyway, I had two cups of Continental Dark, and an everything Bagel with cream cheese, and spent an hour doing very little so I could wake up.

I made a quick drive over to Rexall place, and snapped a couple shots of the Gretzky statue. It's a little less impressive than many of the statutary I've seen on my trip, but it means more, since Gretzky was my favourite player as a kid, before the Sens came into the league, and before I was somehow brainwashed into liking Doug Gilmour by repeated watchings of Rock'em Sock'em Hockey 5, where Don Cherry claims that Douggie is HIS favourite player. Anyway, there was practically noone there, since it was a Sunday, and there was ample parking and a security guard more than willing to let me park in what was technically pay parking, since there were no events on that day.

I went to the West Edmonton Mall at around 10:15, thinking that the shops opened at 10:30, and that I'd have a little time to walk around before the official opening of the mall. I did indeed have a little time, but it was until 11, and I found myself a little obscurely disappointed that this was just a mall. There was a skating rink, a small amusement park, several arcades, four food courts, a water park, a mini golf course, zero submarines, sadly, and innumerable stores. I think there might have been more clothing stores in this one mall than in all of Ottawa.

In any case, when the stores DID open up, the mall got a bit more lively, and I was significantly more impressed with the various attractions when their existence was coupled with people enjoying them, and not just standing around lifelessly. The number of people in the mall was pretty astounding, and I ended up spending more money than I had intended to throughout the day, on small gifts, a couple of things for myself, a movie, and a couple of books, since I had run out of things to read.

I saw Elysum, and walked away disappointed. It could have been a far better movie than it was, but really suffered for its' lack of proper pacing, and a likeable main character, as well as a bad premise for the finale. I didn't hate it, but I kind of laughed at the parts that were supposed to be emotionally engaging. The environmental and immigration messages were pretty blunt, but I agreed with them, for the most part.

After Elysium, I headed to Airdrie, to stay with my aunt and cousin, Trish and James. Today is a day off, but tomorrow, I'm headed to Drumheller to check out the scenery and the museum.

Cheers!