12AUG08 Waterfowl Lake CG, Banff NP, AB - Canmore, AB, Canada
Really slow start today...Cold last night as things (finally) cleared. Campfires are permitted (for an additional 9$), but being near the woodpile we heard mucho chopping (Geez, are they building a house, or WHAT?) and the neighbors had a Kleig lite on 'till 0100.
37 degrees at 0430. Got up about 0830 for pictures of the cliffs and water, chatted with a recumbent bicycle rider from the Netherlands who started in Atlanta freaking Georgia. Lots of common ground, then he lit into Bush. Not with a vengeance, but certainly with conviction. Sad to be on the unpopular side of the lines. Anyway, he'll finish in Jasper and then train to Toronto to exit - his US visa expired and he couldn't get an extension! He and his daughter, now married, had comparable travels when she was young, and just before her marriage.
Em up around 0930, finally out of the CG at 1030. Rode back to Lake Louis for lunch - a picnic by the side of the road nearly attacked by some ground squirrels! Tried to get to a hike near Field BC, but foiled by an inaccurate wall painting map in the deli. Neat little town though, and more awesome scenery. Continued back to Canmore stopping 'only' for photos. Nice to be 'home' (second night qualifies) for a hot shower. I thought EM was gonna cry she was so happy. Must admit, it felt pretty good to be clean and warm. Even shaved.
Set up the tent and left Em to read Grapes of Wrath for school while I checked out a road I'd found on a map in McD's. Wow! Just Wow! Finally some dirt/gravel (they really don't like or encourage motorized vehicles off road in these NP's). This looks to be paved soon, as it is graded and packed, with some washboards and chuck holes to hold your attention. Late sun was wonderful on the rocks, and, oh, the lakes! Saw mountain goats and deer, and took gobs and gobs of photos and video.
Here's a question: How fast do you ride through paradise?
I enjoyed going 'quickly' (which, of course, is a relative term), but was continually stopping and even going back for photos or a look. Beyond belief, beyond scale. Still the teal blue glacial runoff water, but some clearer places. Saw fish rising and men with poles, so there's that as well. I'd say Canmore is a stop on it's own!
So now the only real worry is getting Em (and me) on the plane. Should be a good nite's sleep, and a warm shower in the AM to get us moving by 0700 and out by 0800 to 0830 and in cue by 1030 for the 1430 flight. If not that one, we'll have to sniff out an alternate. If we make it on the flight this'll have been a bang up holiday!
Em up around 0930, finally out of the CG at 1030. Rode back to Lake Louis for lunch - a picnic by the side of the road nearly attacked by some ground squirrels! Tried to get to a hike near Field BC, but foiled by an inaccurate wall painting map in the deli. Neat little town though, and more awesome scenery. Continued back to Canmore stopping 'only' for photos. Nice to be 'home' (second night qualifies) for a hot shower. I thought EM was gonna cry she was so happy. Must admit, it felt pretty good to be clean and warm. Even shaved.
Set up the tent and left Em to read Grapes of Wrath for school while I checked out a road I'd found on a map in McD's. Wow! Just Wow! Finally some dirt/gravel (they really don't like or encourage motorized vehicles off road in these NP's). This looks to be paved soon, as it is graded and packed, with some washboards and chuck holes to hold your attention. Late sun was wonderful on the rocks, and, oh, the lakes! Saw mountain goats and deer, and took gobs and gobs of photos and video.
Here's a question: How fast do you ride through paradise?
I enjoyed going 'quickly' (which, of course, is a relative term), but was continually stopping and even going back for photos or a look. Beyond belief, beyond scale. Still the teal blue glacial runoff water, but some clearer places. Saw fish rising and men with poles, so there's that as well. I'd say Canmore is a stop on it's own!
So now the only real worry is getting Em (and me) on the plane. Should be a good nite's sleep, and a warm shower in the AM to get us moving by 0700 and out by 0800 to 0830 and in cue by 1030 for the 1430 flight. If not that one, we'll have to sniff out an alternate. If we make it on the flight this'll have been a bang up holiday!
posted by Randy Masters at 6:34 PM
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