DAY 8 - CANADA

CANADA DAY 8  -  LAKE LOUISE TO BANFF

Today is a short travel distance, but a lot packed into the day.

We are on the road by 9:00am and our first stop is the Natural Bridge, a rock formation carved by the waters of the Kicking Horse River.  Great photo opportunity, but it shows up better on video.

Next stop is still in the Kicking Horse Pass, where we are able to see the Spiral Tunnels constructed so as to reduce the steep gradient and number of locomotives required to get the train up and through the Pass.     Very long trains would see the front.  No trains are passing us, however there are extensive model and pictures to show the path of track through these spiral tunnels.

“Wheels Rolling” and onto the glacier fed Emerald Lake in the Yoho National Park for a view of this beautiful lake and a coffee stop.  The “glacial flour” causes the milky colour via the refraction of the light’s rays, but is clear if you were to scoop it into a bowl.

Our next stop is the Banff National Park and a visit to the Sulphur Mountain for a steep gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain for supposedly incredible views of the Rockies.   Unfortunately the very light smoke haze of yesterday afternoon has now become very thick, reducing visibility dramatically and breathing difficult.   We only spend a short time on top, and then return to ground level and attempt to find something for a light lunch.  It is only just passed 1:00pm and the cafeteria has sold out of most lines.

For the afternoon we were on and off the bus stopping at various sites around Banff, including the Bow River and Bow River Falls, the Hoodoos (a strange vertical rock formation), Banff’s famous 700 room Hotel.     Chipmunks running around entertained us all at some sites.

We get to wander around the main street for an hour and it is a “honey-pot” for tourist shopping and the street is packed with tourists from all parts of the world. The shops with the fossilised slabs of materials and ammolite (opalised) ammonites of all different sizes and magnificent colours.

We have 2 nights at our Caribou Lodge accommodation, so preparation for laundry as we are heading back to Vancouver via the Rocky Mountaineer train over the next couple of days.

Dinner is supplied with Honeyed Pork Ribs on the menu after the usual introductory salad……lettuce, croutons, ceasar dressing and grated straw shaped cheese.    A local cabernet merlot goes well with meal.

Still very smoky at 8:00pm as we go for a walk with Helen & Ian.  We are stopped by a sign “Caribou, Bear and Wolves” are in these woods, so do not proceed.