DAY 9 - CANADA

CANADA – DAY 9   BANFF  -  FREE DAY

Kept to the same early morning rise for breakfast and then catch the Downtown Tourist bus [with our complimentary pass] to go down to the laundry to drop off and collect later.  It is quite cool out and both Dot & Michael have failed to bring a light jumper over their short sleeve shirts.  The smoke has moved in from the large Forest Fires to the south in Washington State USA.

Then back to Caribou Lodge to go on the optional organised Rafting Experience.  The numbers for the Rafting Tour have grown from both Evergreen Tours as the Helicopter Trips have been cancelled due to the smoke and minimal visibility.

We are picked up in an old yellow school bus and transported to below the Bow River Falls and all fitted with life jackets as well as being required to sign a waiver form before getting onto the raft – ours had up to 16 tourist plus the Raft company paddler/guide.  The rafts are well set up with timber flooring to assist moving around the raft and many helpers to assist with getting in and out of the raft.   We all sit on the inflated sides and have ropes to hold onto should we need them when we go through the faster bumpy sections of the river. We raft down the Bow River for approximately 5 miles, which takes about one hour.  It is so peaceful and relaxing drifting along taking in the sites, though unfortunately the background was a smoky haze.

Our guide Kim, (mid 50s+) was very informative about the local area and advised us that he has got to know and care for the local Indian elders. He has been encouraging their youth to endeavour to learn and document their knowledge and wisdom before it gets lost.   Unfortunately, he indicated that the bulk of the younger generations are not interested, are more involved in gangs and drugs.
Kim indicated he lives and works alternately between Canada and India in the rafting industry.

At the end of the rafting we have a bus that returns us, via the edge of the attractive golf course, to the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel complex.    We have a wander around and have some lunch there at one of the restaurants ….seafood chowder and bread. 

After lunch we wander around to make a reservation for an evening meal, earliest booking being 8:00pm.   Then onto the Indian Trading Place followed by the Indian Museum, which was very informative.   We finally get back into town to pick up our laundry and pick up the bus to the Caribou Lodge getting back after 5:00pm.   A quick shower and change then backout to pick up 2 different buses to return to the Fairmont Banff Springs.  From there we need to take their courtesy shuttle bus to the Waldhaus Restaurant which is located at the back of the Hotel complex adjacent to the golf course.   It has taken around an hour with all the transport.

A pre dinner drink in the outdoor hotel section overlooking the Golf Course. We are entertained with the site of 3 large elk emerging from the surrounding forest to graze on the Golf Course.  One of the elk, which is the larger of the three has only an antler on one side, seems to be challenging the younger elks.

Into the restaurant at 8:00pm which is a Swiss theme, so we share a fondue for starters.    An enjoyable night, though food somewhat disappointing.   Chardonnay wine very nice, and so should be at the price we paid.

Shuttle bus and then the 2 Downtown buses to get home, arriving around 11:00pm to pack our cases in ready for 5:45am cases out.