BANFF

Well folks I’m sitting her about as close to heaven as a person can get.  We’ve been waiting for this moment, and it may not last long so I’m taking full advantage of it.  So here is the scenario.  I’m sitting at a picnic table in Tunnel Mountain Campground just outside of Banff.  The ground squirrels are keeping me company.  Chattering away, ask for more green grapes please.

Jack and Russ have taken the rental car back so I have at least an hour before I need to get supper.  Might not be outside all the time though, the rain clouds that have been following us around since our arrival seem to be rolling in again.

I was right.  Just as I wrote that big rain drops came down, a fallin’ on my head.  So now I’m inside and the sun is out again.  So has been the story of our time in Banff.  Not that it spoiled things for us.  It didn’t.  This has been a fabulous few days.  Much of it because Carol and Russ instantly fell in love with the mountains.  I think Carol has taken a thousand pictures in the last few days alone.

We went downtown our first day here, shopped, ate out, explored until 5 pm wen we picked up a rental car.  After supper we went for a drive around Two Jack’s Lake, a beautiful loop that takes you past cascade water fall, around three very scenic lakes, through flats (almost marshy meadows) and forests. The views with the mountains as backdrops are spectacular.  We came across a herd of mountain goats, and later two elk in the woods then a deer.  Over the few days here we have seen a goodly number of elk and deer.  Not within the town of Banff like they used to be.  The place is crowded these days and the National Parks people have fenced all around the town.   At each roadway in, there is a Texas Gate to stop them walking in on the road.  The same thing along the Banff Highway.  It is now a busy multi-lane which they are in the midst of twinning right through the park.  In one way it’s a shame as you see no wildlife from the main highway.  On the other hand though, this road is so busy, a steady stream of traffic, much of it trucks, that there would be many accidents if the animals were to get out on the road.

We used the old Bow River Parkway between Banff and Lake Louise and it was lovely.  Slower going, as its narrow and windy, but here you see wildlife, and are close to nature instead of viewing it from behind a fence.

So, as I said we parked the rigs, and rented a car while in Banff.  And we were pleasantly surprised by the price.  Shared it with Carol and Russ so it cost us $140 each (including gas).  Best money we spent in a while.  Because we had the car we explored and visited places we never would have otherwise.  They have a great bus system here which even comes to the campgrounds, but its still a lot of walking and much of it hilly and uneven.  Fare is $1 for seniors

Went to The Caves, where the original hot springs were discovered.  It was fascinating for Jack and I because we swam and visited here when we first came to Banff with John and his Cousin Connie.  John was 7 or 8.  We swam in the pool that is now closed to the public.  The original pool has been turned into a reflecting pool and the bathhouses converted into a theatre, and museum, etc.

This place is especially interesting because it was the foundation of Canada’s wonderful National Park system.  Back in the 1800's three amateur prospectors came across a hole in the ground and decided to explore it.  They went down and discovered the hot spring that still bubbles away.  It was big enough to swim in back then so they set about turning it in to a business.  After land disputes and some skulduggery over land titles the Canadian government stepped in and set aside the land for the use of all.

From there it became our first National Park and led to the setting aside, and protection, of millions of acres.  Here in the Rockies there are several huge parks which protect the land, the wildlife and the environment.  It has led to the Banff to Jasper Highway being named one of the most beautiful drives in the world.  There are 230 kilometres of World Heritage Site scenery along this route, completely protected.

On Wednesday we had breakfast out then headed for Lake Louise via the Bow Valley Parkway.  Stopped at Johnson’s Canyon and Carol and Russ hiked in to one of two waterfalls.  I didn’t go because it was raining, and the trail is dirt. To slippery for me to risk.  Jack decided to stay back with me.  We slogged on through the rain to Lake Louise which was not at its finest because of the rain and low cloud.  

One of the true bonuses we have had on this visit to Banff and the Rockies is the wildflowers - so many are blooming now.  I am a lover of photographing wildflowers, and this time in Lake Louise the Alpine poppies were magnificent.  Orange, yellow and white - sheer beauty.  Indian Paint Brush is in full bloom along the roadsides, colouring them red.  

Carol and I went up Sulpher Mountain in the cable cars today.  Russ wouldn’t go so Jack stayed down with him.  At the top, Carol went to try to walk to the Summit.  Again the knee thing I wandered around on my own enjoy chatting with people, and discovering some lovely Alpine wildflowers.  I have a real case of the “I wants” when it comes to photographing flowers.  I would love to have the ability to take close ups.  That requires a tripod and time, or a camera with a closeup lens.  Have to see how the money holds out.  Would love to be able to photograph lichens and mosses and neat stuff like that.  Hmmmm, maybe for Christmas, and then we would have to come back........

We rounded our Banff few days with a quick trip to Canmore.  Lovely little town with a better grocery store and fun main street shopping.  Tonight we have been packing up, ready to head north to Jasper tomorrow.  If the sun is shining we may pull into Lake Louise so that C&R see it as a turquoise lake instead of slate grey.  Or we may push on.  Its about 300 km to Jasper and these days that is a big drive for us to make in a day. This will be no exception, we have to visit Columbia Ice Fields, Athabaska Falls, etc., gaze at glaciers, hunt for wildlife (Carol is itching to see a bear) and we hope to see it all in sunshine.  There will of course be spectacular mountain vistas.

Now we just hope for no more rain.  Please no more rain.  Not for the next three days. Other than the rain its been a fantastic four days here.  We had a bit of bug go through first Jack then me.  We got really chilled because of getting wet, being cold then hot over and over again.  Jack has the shivers and sore throat - felt lightheaded - that sort of thing.  Then I got it.  Hit me a bit harder, but I’m pretty well over it.  Carol looked and sounded awful this am, but wouldn’t admit to it.  During the day today Russ was lightheaded.  So its either altitude sickness or some little bug running rampant.  Luckily it only seems to last a day or two.

Been in touch with Mom several times over the last few days.  Jenny and Jess moved some of her furniture and stuff into the new apartment, and she seems quite happy with that although she has days of fretting about it all.  

Was also able to connect with a few of you via internet because I found out there is one free wireless site in Banff which happens to be at my favourite coffee shop/artisan bakery called The Wildflour.  I happily spent a few hours there, while the others did laundry.  Lucky me.

AND ONWARD

Jack said be on the road for 9 am, but the rest of us are keeners.  We rolled out of Tunnel Mountain at 8:15 am on Saturday, July 11th. The first part of the trip is a b it of a pain because of construction.  Did I mention they are twinning the TransCanada through Banff?

I got a black mark on my superior navigational skills chart when we missed Lake Louise exit (only one and very poorly marked because of the construction).  We needed gas.  Next station is Saskatchewan Crossing.  Oooops.

The pilot didn’t turn around, so I, the navigator absolved myself of any responsibility for running out of gas or having to pay more than the .96.5/litre in Lake Louise and decided to enjoy myself snapping pictures at will.

We know we are more northerly tonight.  Here it is 10:50 and the sun is just going down. 

More next time

Julie - Remember if you want to get in touch email us at julie@seacroftpei.com