Mary – 07-22-12 WY/Canada Trip – Banff to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, AB

We took a day trip along the Bow River to Lake Louise today. The drive is spectacular and the color of the river water is exquisite.


Bow River

 

Conni working out the next picture.



Bow River Valley & Canadian Rockies

Alberta Wild Rose

Below is an overpass in the park built for the animals. Fencing keeps the wildlife off the highway so these special overpasses were built to allow the animals to pass from one side of the road to the other.

We had lunch at Lake Louise Station – one of our favorites for its atmosphere and history. The former train station is 103 years old and was first opened as a small bistro in 1990. Restoration began in 1993 and most of the station is now a restaurant with several dining areas. The trains still use the tracks behind the station but the station is no longer used as a stop.



Lake Louise Station with Gully Jumper and Bikes

One of the dining rooms at LLS

Old station office and equipment

After eating we drove up the mountain to Lake Louise, one of the most exquisite lakes in Banff National Park. Lake Louise is named after the Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848–1939), the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and the wife of the Marquess of Lorne, who was the Governor General of Canada from 1878 to 1883. The Stoney Natoka Indian name for the lake is "Lake of the Little Fishes".^[The color of the glacial lakes comes from rock flour carried into the lake by melt-water from the glaciers that overlook the lake.

Lake Louise - Banff National Park

Lake Louise is fed from glaciers above the lake

Leaving Lake Louise we headed for another glacially-fed lake about eight miles away – Moraine Lake. It is located in the Valley of the Ten Peaks at an elevation of 6,183 feet. The color of Moraine Lake, like Lake Louise is due to the rock flour deposited in the lake on a continual basis.

Moraine Lake




We opted not to go on this hike since we
couldn't round up two more folks. Ha ha

Conni is standing on a rock - always wanting to be taller. Ha



Hanging glacier on the way back to Banff

The gentleman in the picture below comes to the campground everyday for a shower. He parks in the overlook right across the street from our campsite and gathers up his fresh clothes and toiletries from the back of his truck and  then heads for the men's shower/restroom in the campground. We started referring to him as the blue truck shower man.

Enjoying a glass of port at the end of the day. One of my rare dress up and put on make-up days.

Conni – 07-21-12 WY/Canada Trip – Banff, AB
OK, I picked up the local paper and “Mudslide Mayhem” with a nasty picture of a mudslide was on the front page. You may be able to see the pics and read about it at banffcragandcanyon.com? It said: “There was so much mud, rocks and branches that the debris spilled over the metre high concrete highway barriers, filling the west and eastbound (Trans-Canada Highway) lanes before it trickled down to block the Vermilion Lakes Road below.” Yep, that’s right where we were yesterday! That was approximately 2-3 miles from where we’re camping and we didn’t even know it had happened. Reckon that’s a good thing.

Mary – 07-21-12 WY/Canada Trip – Banff, AB  We headed to town in the afternoon in search of t-shirts and wildlife. We happened upon this mule deer chowing down on bushes in front of the post office.

Mule deer visiting the Banff PO.

Below are a few shots of downtown Banff. Beautiful flowers are everywhere. We ended the day with dinner at the Banff Brewery. Probably not going down as one of our favorite dinner spots but the atmosphere was nice. Tomorrow we are heading to Lake Louise for lunch at the Lake Louise Station (former railroad station).

Shopping on 1st floor, Banff Ave. Brewing Co. on 2nd floor.

Downtown Banff

Our bank in downtown Banff

Figment – 07-20-12 WY/Canada Trip – Banff, ABI had a nice time visiting with Bob and Francoise. They seemed to like me too. They left this morning and the Mamas spent a leisurely afternoon. Then, the winds came! And, then the rains came. Then, the lightening came. Oh my, scary to me! Even the Mamas were looking at each other when we swayed in the wind. I think if my jacks were down, it would be better. So, we were just having a nice evening, rocking a little, and listening to the rain on my roof. In the meantime, we lost power, but didn’t know it because I’m smart enough to just revert to propane for the fridge and batteries for the lites. The Mamas didn’t even notice we had lost power until it was bedtime. It was around 5:45 in the morning before I was all back to normal. What a nite!

Conni – 07-19-12 WY/Canada Trip – Banff, ABFriends Bob and Francoise came to visit us from Edmonton today. How neat is that? They are going to spend the nite in Figment, so Figment will get to know them better too.

We decided to take a driving tour looking for wildlife, since the Park Service has pretty well re-located most of it away from town. This is sad for us since you used to see so much here. Best for all, I guess, but still sad.

We drove out to Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka first. A very nice drive and beautiful water. For safety, from July 10 to September 15, you are not allowed to hike the Lake Minnewanka trail with less than 4 people since this is a place where the bears feed on berries. Since none of us can run very fast and we didn’t have the required bear spray, we opted to stay in the Jeep.

Bob with camera in hand.

After that, we drove over to Mt. Norquay looking for mountain goats. This is a two lane winding road up to the Norquay ski area. Every time we’ve driven it in the past, we’ve seen the goats. Well, a big surprise this time. No goats!!!! BUT, a really nice surprise – we saw big horn sheep. The road also offers some very nice overviews of Banff and Vermilion Lakes.

Town of Banff taken from Mt. Norquay.

Banff townsite, Tunnel Mountain (smaller mountain) and
Mt. Rundle in the background. We are staying on Tunnel Mountain with a
beautiful view of Mt. Rundle.

Papa big horned sheep - really pretty eyes.

Lastly, we went back down to Vermilion Lakes. No elk, no moose – we’re not batting very good today. But the scenery is beautiful. We did luck out and spot a bald eagle.

Bald Eagle

All in all, a nice drive with beautiful scenery and good friends.

Figment – 07-17-12 WY/Canada Trip – Calgary to Banff, ABI drove on Highway 1A and 1 today to Banff. It sure was beautiful. I got to follow the Bow River and it was a color I’ve never seen before. It was really rushing by every time we saw it. I was back in the mountains, even though we were driving in the valley. Mountains on both sides and a river next to me, how can it get any better?

The Mamas took a real chance that we would have a place to sleep for the next 12 nites. The campground is a “first come, first serve”place. As Mama Mary kept saying, ”they’ll have a place for us!” And, they did! I have a prime spot right next to the main road across Tunnel Mountain. The Mamas get to sit on their respective couches and see mountains (up close). If they walk a few yards, they can see the Bow River and the valley. And, we’re only about 5 minutes from town. In other words, it looks like we’re out in the wilderness, but we’re close to everything.

I must say, I really love the place they picked for us. Only sad thing is, I’ll get left behind while they get to see some more beautiful things. They promised to show me the pictures though. The next best thing, I guess.

Parked right across the street from a beautiful overlook of the
Bow River and a view of Mt. Rundle.

Little Figment checking out the view from the side window.

Sadie enjoying her rainy day view
on the dashboard.

Oh, did I tell you that some little Columbia Ground Squirrels (they looked like Prairie Dogs to Mama Conni) watched the Mamas get me all ready for our stay? They were very curious, but would squeal and run down in some holes when anyone got too close. Sadie didn’t like the squeals and would lay her ears straight back and high-tail it when she heard it. So, Mama Conni said the squeals worked J

OK, I’m going to rest now and review all I’ve seen in the past several days. It’s gonna be a good nite. Nite, nite.

Mary – 07-17-12 WY/Canada Trip – Banff, AB
Since the trip to Banff was quick, we got set-up by lunch and headed to our favorite breakfast and dessert spot -- Melissa's. Check out the Brownie Hot Fudge Explosion. Yum!

Figment – 07-16-12 WY/Canada Trip – Calgary to Cochrane, ABWell, it rained most of the nite and the Mamas had to deal with mud puddles getting me all ready to travel this morning. Not a great park, so I hope we don’t stay there again. The trip should be short over to Balzac. I’m not looking forward to being left alone there, but hopefully it won’t take long.

Should have known. They took me away from the Mamas and I spent several hours in a gigantic shop with some of my cousins. They found out that I had a brake problem with one jack and a motor problem with another. After finding all that, then there was the problem of who would pay to make me well. It could be my birth place, an extended warranty, or even the Mamas. We found out it would take some time to get the parts I need and to figure out the payment, so we left and spent the nite in Cochrane.

A homemade 'RV' built on a trailer. Whatever works, right?

I will say that I saw some of the most beautiful hills, fields, and valleys (without having real mountains involved) that I have ever seen. Mama Conni wanted to take pictures, but it was a 2 lane highway and Mama Mary was driving Gully Jumper, so no pictures. I know that made her sad. Maybe when we go back and I’m pulling Gully, Mama Mary can get those pics. I hope so because I wouldn’t mind seeing them from time to time.

A very nice park here. The Mamas washed my face, so even though my body is all messed up due to the rain and dirty highways, I feel good now. Nite, nite.

Mary - 07-16-12 WY/Canada Trip - Cochrane
The town of Cochrane reminded us a bit of a much smaller Southlake - very quaint with restaurants and shops. We ate at the Blue Dog. Dinner was good but bad marks for being out of ice cream.

The Blue Dog in Cochrane, Alberta