Saturday, 10 September 2016 - Salmon Arm - Calgary
Our planned early start went by the wayside after I found out last night that some of you, including Therese could not access the story pages on a tablet or phone. With some help from Clint back in Brisbane, I have made some changes that I hope will fix the problem. consequence of this temporary fix is the loss of the site menu on these pages. I have included a "Return to Home Page" link on the Header page reached by clicking "Return". There is also something that you can do that may resolve your problem or assist it in addition to my fix. Within the settings in your web browser and usually under the privacy tab, you should clear the cache. I can't give you clear instructions or take any responsibility for results as each browser differs and I don't know many of them. The two parts did fix Therese's tablet and phone.
Anyway, underway 1 hour late at 9:00am we headed for Mt Revelstoke National Park near Canyon Hot Springs to take a look at some large Cedar trees and possibly take a walk on the boardwalk. The day was quite cool threatening rain, foggy, temperatures ranged between 12 and 15 degrees all day. Apart from some intermittent rain drops, we avoided anything of significance. It was quite cold by the time we arrived so the first order of things was to make a hot coffee for our picnic smoko then put on the wet weather gear to keep out the increasing showers and cold. With our priorities for the day to visit Lake Louise and Banff, and possibly continue on to Calgary, we elected not to do the boardwalk.
Onward to Lake Louise and you would not believe this place. Electronic signs a long way before warned of traffic congestion. Pretty hard to believe based on the traffic on the road. Apparently this is a very popular spot on weekends. Absolutely full of people and cars, virtually no parking space, except for a motorcycle, and an army of people directing traffic. I spoke to one of these people and asked what special event was on. "None", was the reply, "It's like this every weekend, in fact, this is much quieter than last weekend".
It is a really beautiful. The lake is fed by the melt of a number of glaciers and has a beautiful crystal blue colour to the water. The colour is caused by the fine powder of the stones ground up by the movement of the glacier. The waters from the glaciers we saw in New Zealand were the same colour.
From Lake Louise it was on to Banff. What a dramatic ride through the Rocky Mountains. Continually changing vistas of trees, towering rough-hewn mountains formed from an old sea-bed, lakes and streams. Lots of photos today. We arrived in Banff with the intention of going up Sulphur Mountain on the Gondola. There were a number of conferences going on in town and accommodation was at a premium same as well as the price. Best price, A$350 for the night, B&B A$220.
Took the Gondola. ride. Fantastic view from up there of the surrounding mountains and the valley through which the Bow River flows. The wind was blowing pretty well and was as cold as..... By this time the rain was building up over the Glacier and valley and did not look good for the 90 minute run to Calgary. Decision time. Prior to booking the B&B, I decided to check the weather because a report from a couple of days prior had mentioned the potential for snow early in the morning. Current forecast, rain from midnight until about 7:00am, 2 degrees at that time and not much warmer by 9:00am. That was it, I would rather ride in 12 degree rain than have to worry about the potential for ice in the morning. We booked a room in Calgary and all suited up headed out through the same intermittent rain spot patches with plenty of threatening cloud. Haven't spotted too much wildlife so far, some deer up off the side of the road and couple of Ravens on top of the mountain. On the way down from the Gondola, there on the side of the road, posing for photos, was a big elk. Not at all worried by the attention.
Once out of Banff and on the highway we left the mountains behind for plains country, fine and sunny all the way and except for an argument with the GPS in finding the motel an uneventful and enjoyable ride. 110 KPH zone most of the way, even stretching that a bit, we were still one of the slowest vehicles on the road. There must be a high level of tolerance here.
552 klms today, total to date 1069 klms.
Fog nestled on the sides of the mountains
Three Valleys Lake Chateau
Looked like an old float or promotion, though it good for a smile
Resting on the cold wet road
Nothing like a hot cup of coffee among the cedar trees
A snow/ice gully down the mountain
Dramatic views around every corner
Better once you get around the corner
Lake Louise with the feeding glaciers visible through fog and rain, Keen canoers.
On the boardwalk at the lake
On the boardwalk at the lake
Rugged mountains wherever you looked
Rugged mountains wherever you looked
Rugged mountains wherever you looked
Entering Banff, a very quaint and busy town
Banff, a very quaint and busy town
Banff, a very quaint and busy town
Ravens just prior to assaulting a bag of garbage
Looking down to Banff from Sulphur Mountain
Bow River Valley from the Gondola
Someone we saw on the Gondola
An elk, I think he was expecting to be paid for services rendered
