Alberta Trip 2023 Day 7 Sunday June 11 Edmonton to Calgary

LAST UPDATED: January 2, 2026 

This is the 7^th of a series of posts dealing with my 2023 trip to Calgary, Edmonton, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of a year later or to add further clarification. These are indicated by “NOW”.

After doing laundry I turned in (dormmates thought I was in my 20s) at around 8 but then woke up at 2 and couldn't get back to sleep. No one's fault; body was just restless. Around 5 I walked along 82^nd Ave then 109 St, noticing it was getting smoky (it might well have been all along but was more noticeable). I grabbed breakfast from the usual McDonald's after the dining room (vs. take out) opened. After checking out from H-I Edmonton I took an 8 bus (Edmonton Transit) to downtown. I did a final visit to the (dry) City Hall fountain and then walked to the downtown Rider Express stop. I was originally supposed to get on at Southgate but yesterday I switched the location to ensure I got a window seat. I was first to arrive; the second person correctly guessed we needed to check in inside.

 [NOW: The above McDonald’s is on 109 St NW].

Rider Express took us to Tim Horton's, Red Deer where the layover was longer than expected. Noticeably a lot more smoky there. I was going to get some lunch but they still had the breakfast menu. I decided to get a breakfast biscuit for a later lunch, but the two people at the counter were arguing and I lost interest in trying to get their attention. The bus stopped in downtown Calgary further south than before. About as smoky as Red Deer. I arrived at a bus stop. A 3 bus (all remaining transit references today Calgary Transit) that would have taken only a little longer showed up, but with my luggage there wasn't time to dash to a different bus stop. After a half hour wait a 5 bus showed up. I got a transfer but only for half an hour. I took the bus to near the hostel. I got turned around a little but finally checked in, then had a 2:15ish lunch at the nearby A&W. I did a long walk most of the way to Brentwood Centre. It was getting close to CD Trader's closing time so I got on a couple stops before Brentwood intending to use that transfer but accidentally left it on the bus. After visiting CD Trader in the mall I bought another single fare at Brentwood Station rather than risk a fine. I took the 212/Red Line CTrain to downtown Calgary.

[NOW: That A&W is on McKnight Blvd.] 

I revisited Sanktjuri-Buks in Eau Claire Market, this time visiting their video section in a room on the opposite side (width) of a hall. I also returned to Prince's Island Park. I revisited the McDonald’s in the no-car area though they screwed up my order. Heading north I grabbed a Slurpee from a 7-11 before returning to the hostel.

[NOW: The above McDonald’s is on 8^th St SW].

Since this report's a little lean I'll add: most bus services I've used announce street bus is on first, cross street second. Edmonton Transit does the reverse. And Calgary address numbers correspond to before the cross street not after like most places. For example, 456 7th Street would be before 3rd and 4th Avenue, not before 4th and 5th.

 Overlooked: the day before yesterday a couple of probable Mormons tried to engage me in conversation but I accurately said I was too tired to chat.

Alberta Trip 2023 Day 6 Saturday June 10 Edmonton

 LAST UPDATED: January 2, 2026

This is the 6^th of a series of posts dealing with my 2023 trip to Calgary, Edmonton, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of a year later or to add further clarification. These are indicated by “NOW”.

 I woke up around 3:15 but then fell back asleep until around 5:15 when someone's alarm went off. Nature of hostel life. Finally got access to Facebook (before Facebook would hang during security bit). I had breakfast at the same McDonald's as Thur morning then crossed the North Saskatchewan River and visited the Legislature again. The part being renovated partly is over a highway. Saw a grey rabbit. I passed Rogers Place, and visited City Hall. The fountain was off so I wandered through the fountain area getting shots. A pigeon was perched on the shoulder of a statue of Winston Churchill. I headed south and got a nice river view from way above. I went down a ways and got more of a view from the Frederick G. Todd lookout. I crossed another bridge over the river and wandered to a riverboat. I couldn't find a pedestrian bridge. It might have been replaced with a new Mill Woods light rail line bridge. I crossed the same bridge and because a different path was closed, climbed up the same stairs I went down.

[NOW: That McDonald's is at 109 St NW.] 

I got a couple more comic trades at downtown Wee Book Inn and then walked to Edmonton City Centre, then City Hall, where the jets were on. I changed into my swimsuit and cooled off. Heading back to a bridge, a harmless looking woman wanted me to take a photo of her. Don't know why but she seemed harmless so I did. I made my way back to H-I Edmonton because I needed a fresh copy of my address list. I wanted to visit Corellian Comics but the antique market I think it was in said no large backpacks. After A&W lunch I visited Alhambra Books and revisited the 82 Ave Wee Book Inn; didn't see the cat this time. I worked my way towards the river, getting photos of indigenous art. I crossed over the river, getting another Gatorade from Dollarama. I revised City Hall, where I changed back into my swimtrunks and got refreshed in the fountain again. I rested a bit and then revised the outside of Rogers. I passed a fair by Grant McEwan University, where I found a drinking fountain. I wanted more photos of Rogers but my body said no.

I worked my way back to 82nd Ave. At the Lobby, an alternative video store, there were no discards though you could pay for the regular stock. I didn't feel like second guessing prices so left and went to the same Tim Horton's as Thursday. At the hostel there's only one washer, so getting clothes clean has been a bit of a slow process (one person ahead of me). I got a lemonade Slushee from the Circle K I got the water from yesterday. Not liking next week's weather forecast.

[NOW: There was rain the following week but not for as long as I feared, tough I did have some camera issues. Smoke was an issue however. See later reports.]

Alberta Trip 2023 Day 5 Friday June 9 Edmonton, Sherwood Park

LAST UPDATED: January 2, 2026 

This is the 5^th of a series of posts dealing with my 2023 trip to Calgary, Edmonton, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of a year later or to add further clarification. These are indicated by “NOW”.

Around 8 pm last night a white and black man were having a fairly loud conversation in French, though later some of it was in English (about how different languages bring out different feelings). At first they both seemed to be enjoying the talk but by 9:45 the white man was clearly playing teacher and monopolizing the conservation and the black man understandably seemed more annoyed by him. I think I might have nodded off briefly during this chat and definitely did so after they finally stopped talking and I could then drift off.

I got up in the morning with about 6 or 7 hours sleep; much better. I got a Pepsi from the H-I Edmonton and then headed north. I walked through a park trail and on the other side saw a jogging group, I crossed Walterdale Bridge over the North Saskatchewan River. I visited the Legislature, which was a construction area due to major renovations. I bought a day buspass at Corona Station. Near Rogers Place (base of the Edmonton Oilers) I took a 401 bus (Strathcona Transit, erroneously called Sherwood Transit in last report) to Ordze Transit Center, Sherwood Park. The impetus for returning was to get back that bus schedule I lost but it was also an excuse to ride the front of a double decker bus again. I had breakfast at the McDonald's there (I respected the no drink refills signs) and returned to Edmonton via 404 Strathcona Transit bus.

I got off at University Station and took a Capital train (all remaining transportation today Edmonton Transit) to Grandin/Government Centre Station. I walked west, cutting through Railway Park en route, Even though it was supposed to be, Daisy Chain Book Co hadn't yet opened. Heading north, I didn't go in Ascendant Books when I realized it was New Age (and thus stinky with soap smells even from the outside). Listen Records hadn't yet opened. Heading east, EROC Records was in a market and not open today. I took a 3 bus a ways east and got a root beer Slurpee at a 7-11. I worked my way southeast to Freecloud Records; you had to be buzzed in and out. I returned to the fountain at City Hall. Water jets weren't on but I walked through the chlorinated water and snapped some shots that would have destroyed my camera had the jets been on.

I checked a map at Churchill Station and then took a 4 bus to West Edmonton Mall Station. I had lunch at the McDonald's across from the mall, figuring that food in the mall would likely cost more. I then reentered the mall for the first time since around 1987.

Snapping shots proved to be not all that risky; just focus mainly on the obvious tourist attractions and minimize shots of kid dominated areas.There was an ice arena, kid's amusement park, a waterpark etc., but my favourite shooting location was a ship/live theatre. No performances on but it was a great photo op and because there was no event, easy to keep the kiddies out of the photos. I got some DVDs at Edmonton Coins and Collectables (likely the former Edmonton Comics) before going to Guest Services, guessing correctly that I could get a souvenir map there. I also visited Comex Hobby and got a pop at Dollarama. Beyond the lack of drinking fountain even for a mall this size (the Wicked Witch of the West could live quite safely in Alberta) a great place to spend some time. I did see security talking to youth but they didn't bother me. Nothing jogged memories in me emotionally. I remembered seeing an amusement park, a McDonald's in the mall, and a movie theatre so I have no reason to believe the ones I saw weren't the same ones (in fact they probably all are; I saw The Secret of My Success there as part of a band tour), but I can't swear to it. Edmonton Coin & Collectables could very well have been the comic shop I went to before as well.

[NOW: The ice arena is Ice Palace, the amusement park is Galaxyland Amusement Park, the waterpark is World Waterpark, and the shop area is Deep Sea Adventure. That branch of Comex Hobby is now closed. The theatre is currently Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton (Cineplex) but likely had a different name in the 1980s.]

Returning to the transit centre across the street, after consulting a security guy, I caught a 4 bus and took it to Bonnie Doon Centre. I visited Revolver. I just missed a 4 bus going the other way (west) but caught it at the next stop across the street. The Bookseller wasn't where a sign suggested it could be. Continuing along 82 Ave, I went to a Circle K but the fountain drinks weren't working aside from Slushees and I was near other stores. I visited Warp 1 Comics. At the 82 Ave branch of Wee Book Inn there was a sign saying not to pet the cat, but I got permission to photograph the young Siamese Cat and bought a trade of James Bond comic strips. It was around this time and later on that people remarked on my photos negatively, though one woman asked what my favourite photo today was. I went with the ship display at West Edmonton Mall. I called it a shipwreck but that was probably the wrong term; I think she knew what I meant.

I visited Blackbyrd Myoozik but at that point couldn't find Gritty Grotto Books. Leaving 82 Ave, Corellian Comics was in a market that had closed for the evening. It's close to the hostel so I might get to it tomorrow. I grabbed dinner at the same McDonald's at Wed eve. I briefly returned to 82 Ave where a mock Christian themed pride celebration was happening. Heading south again (because of barriered area, I had to go north and east to head south), I visited the Glass Bookshop. We Have Issues had closed for the day. Returning north, the same pride celebration was happening and I saw another heading west, but unsure if the theme was the same. Around this time I returned to the Circle K above and this time the fountain was working so I got a vanilla Coke. I found Gritty Grotto Books inside another store. The Lobby had closed for the day but it's close to the hostel and son is guaranteed for tomorrow. At a different Circle K I got a much needed bottled water and then returned to the hostel.

[NOW: I wasn’t able to get to Corellian Comics for reasons in the next report. Glass Bookshop is now closed.]

Alberta Trip 2023 Day 4 Thursday June 8 Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park

LAST UPDATED: January 2, 2026

This is the 4^th of a series of posts dealing with my 2023 trip to Calgary, Edmonton, and vicinity. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of a year later or to add further clarification. These are indicated by “NOW”.

Keep in mind that due to my touch sensitivity I don't wear earbuds:The person above me had a very unnatural kind of snoring, one that I can't even laugh about, kind of like the dead in The Walking Dead. He'd be completely quiet, then abruptly make a sound, sometimes very high pitched. Sometimes I can tune out snoring by focussing on the rhythm of it, but I couldn't because he'd be quiet just long enough for me to start to feel ready to attempt to nod off, and then wake me up again with a sudden loud sound. So there was no pattern to try to match my breathing etc too. Closer to 4 I did start to nod off, but he made such a loud sound that I kicked the wall as he woke me up. It was very anxiety causing and I was biting my arm a lot to cope. His alarm went off just before 4:45 and happily he took his lock with him, signalling he probably won't be there tonight. My keycard stopped working.

[NOW: I was staying at the H-I Edmonton.]

Walking towards University Station, I got a day transit bus. I headed for the 404 bus (all 400s buses Sherwood Transit), but because that bus is $1 more I started to fish out extra money and he suddenly took off while I was doing so. Instead I took the 201 (St Albert Transit) to St Albert Exchange. I couldn't find Shava Bookstore but visited the exterior of the Bookstore on Perron St. It was a long commute to Bailey Books, which I knew wouldn't be open yet, so I turned back around Lions Park. I visited the exterior of Thundercloud Comics and then returned to the Exchange, only to find that the next bus wasn't for another 50 or so minutes. After a short walk I decided it would be faster just to walk to my next destination in Edmonton, CollectiVerse. I didn't find it but the walk probably did shave off some time.

[NOW: En route to University Station I had breakfast at a McDonald’s on 190 St SW. St. Albert Exchange is in, well, St. Albert. Shava was inside St. Albert Centre.]

I took a 52 bus bus (all remaining non-400s transit Edmonton Transit) to the not yet open Ultimate Key Issue Comics. The 51 bus took a while to arrive and in my heat dazed state I was very slightly off the bus stop. The driver called me lazy for not being at the stop. I tried laughing it off but his response indicated that he wasn't joking. I didn't engage further but was so upset that I accidentally got off before my destination. Just before I arrived at the not yet open Comic Fever, my next bus, 106 went by, so that one driver had a bit of a snowball effect. I visited Comic King and Warp 2 Comics.

A 9 bus picked me up as I was running to the stop, but there was a long wait for the connecting 3 bus. At Westmount Centre I couldn't find that branch of Revolver in the directory but had lunch at McDonald's (separate building but considered part of the mall). While there I noticed my right leg had been bleeding but it dried up. At Westmount Transit Centre I took another 51 bus to University Station. There a security guard expressed concern for my sunburned face. I finally got on the 404 bus. It was double Decker so managed to snag an upper front seat. As I got on woman got annoyed at me because she wanted to exit but the driver told her she was supposed to exit from the back.

 I got off at Ordze Transit Centre, Sherwood Park. I got some water at Safeway then visited the Bookworm, then Broadmoor Lake Park. You couldn't go in the water there, but there was an activity centre with drinking fountain. One of the workers checked that I was okay after I spent probably at least a minute just drinking water. I also filled up my water bottle and the Safeway water bottle. I'll keep using that as a second water bottle for now. If not for the drinking fountains I would have been in trouble. The lake isn't safe to go in, I walked to Mythic Collectables and took a 413? bus back to Ordze Transit Centre. Early on I handed over a phone I found.

[NOW: That Safeway has closed.] 

I got a local and commuter bus schedule. I accidentally got on the 401 instead of 404 bus, but decided not to correct this. Back in Edmonton, I saw that the City Hall had water jets. I accidentally left the commuter bus schedule when I got off the bus. I walked to the water jets and cooled off a little, careful not to let too much chlorinated water hit my shorts.

 I got a Blu-ray at Wee Book Inn (my first take home purchase in Edmonton) and Audrey's Bookshop. I took a Capital light rail from Corona (yes, Corona) Station to Health Sciences/Jubilee Station. Heading easy I saw a small South Park which had a dog section called South Bark. I think that's the first real gag this trip (more than anything else, the lack of humour in Calgary and Edmonton means I probably won't return. I can handle mishaps if a city charms me in some way; neither major city has. Well that and the lack of drinking fountains).

[NOW: Actually the area is South Park and South Bark the entire park.]

I had dinner at a Tim Hortons near H-I Edmonton. Back at the hostel I got a replacement card. 

[NOW: That Tim Hortons is on 82 Ave aka Whyte Ave.]