Figment – 07-30-12 WY/Canada Trip – Cochrane to Sherwood Park, AB
Boy, oh boy, that was not so bad. I was only in the shop for about 2 hours while the Mamas whiled the time away at a nearby Starbucks. I’m all fixed and I feel good!

I hit the road again to take the Mamas to see their friends in Sherwood Park. Remember our company in Banff? The wind was in my face and I loved it. There wasn’t too much traffic and our trip was similar to first coming into Canada – mostly flat, but gently rolling, with planted fields everywhere. It was a very pretty drive. I was styling, if you know what I mean?

Well, it was all good until we started looking for my campgrounds. Some roads were being worked on and closed and the owners didn’t know how to give good directions. With Mama Mary’s help with the GPS and talking to workmen on the road, we found the place after an hour or so. We’re all tired, so I’m gonna hit the sack even before the Mamas tonite. Nite. Nite.

Conni – 07-29-12 WY/Canada Trip – Cochrane, AB
I finally got to take a few pictures of that drive between Balzac and Cochrane this afternoon. As I had thought, the story could be best told with a movie camera. Not often I say that, but…

Figment – 07-29-12 WY/Canada Trip – Banff to Cochrane, AB
Oh boy, I was back on the road today. It really felt good after sitting for so many days. Besides, I didn’t get to go on all those side-trips. They did show me the pictures though, so that helped. Finally, I felt like I was in control again. It was the same trip back to Cochrane we took to Banff all those days ago. Going the other way, it did look somewhat different. I really enjoyed the wind in my face. Nice day.

Here’s the bad news part – I go back in the shop tomorrow to finally get those nasty automatic jacks repaired. I heard the Mamas will only have to pay a deductible instead of around $1,500, so they’re really happy. I’m just not too happy because it will take most of the day and I’ll be away from them. Good news is, if all this works, they won’t have to drive me up on plastic blocks again. I don’t get why they dislike it so since they’ve gotten pretty good at it. But, whatever makes them happy makes me happy.

Conni – 07-27/28-12 WY/Canada Trip – Banff, AB
Parts of these days were spent mostly around camp and town. We drove around the area to grab some more pictures. We took a road up the backside of Tunnel Mountain and got some pictures of the Banff Springs Hotel and the Bow River that runs behind it.

We also drove up Sulphur Mountain where Mary spotted a grizzly about 10ft off the road (this is inside Banff town limits). We had just passed two parked Park Rangers who had shotguns (not deadly ammo) on their hood. When Mary spotted the bear, she pointed it out to them. They’re harassing them to keep them safe from people and vice versa. I hate that, but I know it’s necessary. Anyway, being a good citizen barely allowed us enough time to take a quick pic from the Jeep. When we first spotted him, he was fully exposed - no bushes or trees blocking him. Of course that didn't last :)  Look almost exactly in the center of the picture, just to the right of the tree. 

Here’s some street entertainers on Banff Avenue:

Just down from our camp there is a pullout to view the Bow River and some Hoodoos:

We went for one last drive on Hwy 1A to look for wildlife. No luck in the 4-legged kind, but we did spot an Osprey.

Conni – 07-25-12 WY/Canada Trip – Banff, AB roundtrip to Yoho National Park, B.C.
Today we ventured back past Lake Louise to go into Yoho National Park in southeastern British Columbia. This park is also in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and is along the western slope of the Continental Divide. Yoho is named for the Cree word for awe and wonder. Appropriately named, I’d say.



Map showing Yoho National Park just across the border from
Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Our first side-trip took us to the convergence of the Kicking Horse River and the Yoho River.

Up the same road is Takakkaw Falls, which plunges 1246 ft., with 833 ft. free- fall. It is the second highest waterfall in Canada. I took about a 20 minute hike to get closer to the falls. After taking my pictures and then a short drive to the dead-end of the road, I discovered I could have walked from there in about 5 minutes and had the same pictures. Go figure, eh? (Where did she pick up that 'eh' business? mes)

Takakkaw Falls

Takakkaw Falls

The view across the road from where the pictures of the falls were taken. Looking at the road below,
you can see the jeep where Mary and Sadie are waiting.

Flowers along the road, in the valleys and alpine meadows were beautiful. Even though it is August, it looks like spring in the mountains.

We stopped for lunch in the small town of Field, B.C., right beside the Kicking Horse River. The people in the small café were extra friendly and most came out to say “hi” to Sadie.

Field, BC

Look closely at the tower and you'll see the holes
made by the pileated woodpeckers.

Little restaurant in Field, BC

Sadie on her bed under the table

Conni and Sadie

Next we went to Emerald Lake. We’ve been there several times in the past and it was always a vivid emerald color. Today was not, for some reason?

Canoes on Emerald Lake



The little red dots in the foreground are people

Emerald Lake

Our last stop in the park was at Natural Bridge. This is so beautiful and hard to capture in single pictures. It is an impressive natural rock formation that spans the Kicking Horse River. A powerful reminder how much influence water has in shaping the landscape.

Mary taking a picture with Sadie in her belly pack

Mary - 07-24-12 WY/Canada Trip - Banff, AB
We stayed at the campground on Tunnel Mountain most of the day. Conni spotted an Elk on the campground road. While taking pictures of the Elk, she met a bicyclist and enjoyed a nice chat with him.

We went to one of our favorite restaurants for dinner, The Maple Leaf. In years past, we've enjoyed dinner here with Bob, Francoise and Michael and also with Gail and Shirley. As always, the meal was superb.

Mary – 07-23-12 WY/Canada Trip – Banff, AB Rest Day

We declared this a rest day so no scenery pictures; however, I did grab a shot of Conni wearing shorts and having to put on a jacket to walk Sadie. Unfortunately, when I cropped the picture, I cut off the bottom half with the shorts. Anyway, I believe it was in the 50’s this evening. I am so glad to be missing the 100°+ days in North Texas. Wish all of you suffering the heat were with us now.