May 15, 2013 - We’re in the Canadian Rockies … Woo, Hoo!!!

We have visited the Canadians Rockies on more than one occasion before now … and still, this beautiful location in Canada nearly takes your breath away. We are in Banff National Park … our campsite tonight is in full view of magnificent snowcapped mountains. During supper tonight, several female elk chomped their way across the campground within feet of our camper … what a fun connection with nature on this stint in the Canadian Rockies. Check out the pics … and go ahead … get jealous!!! We love it.

May 12, 2013 - Banff

After a slightly more leisurely wake up, we went for a morning stroll in beautiful Banff, followed by a lovely home cooked breakfast provided by the b&b owner. Another couple from San Francisco were also guests, so we got some travel advice about their city which will come in handy later. We hired bikes and rode around town, the golf course and some trails. We are now in Calgary Airport waiting for our flight to Toronto.

May 11, 2013 - Rocky Mountaineer day 2

Soon after leaving Kamloops at 6.30 am the landscape began to change back to green and lush again. The mountains gradually got taller, snow began to appear, and then mid afternoon we reached the Rockies. The scenery is stunningly beautiful. We saw a black bear (as opposed to a grizzly - black bears are smaller and less dangerous) and several elk quite close to the train. We arrived in Banff at 6.45, and went for a walk after checking in at our B&B. The weather continues to be unseasonally warm. There are spectacular mountains all around us....

Aug 18, 2012 - Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff

August 15-18 We drove on the Icefields Parkway, stopping in Jasper. We went to the Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls, both truly beautiful. On Thursday, we woke to 39 degrees (F). This is after 72 degrees the day before. Once the sun came out, it warmed up quickly. We drove to Lake Louise. The lake is beautiful, but there are tons of people everywhere. We walked to the end of the lake, which is a good hike. Friday morning we drove to Banff, which isn’t too far from Lake Louise, so the drive was quick. We are staying at Tunnel Mountain...

Aug 4, 2012 - Banff 4 August

Another great day today. Visited Lake Louise this morning. Arrived there early to beat the crowds. All but 2 of us went on a 7k hike up a mountain. I opted to do a 1.7k each way walk up to the Fairmont Lookout. It was good but so bloody hard. I was so sore from yesterday I had to keep stopping on the way up. It's great being on top of a mountain but hard getting there. My right knee and feet were so sore.... After that walk realised that my camera was not working.We found a camera store in the resort so I purchased another one. I couldn't...

Aug 3, 2012 - Golden to Banff 3 August

Left Golden to hike in Yoho NP. Stopped at Takakkaw Falls for photos then onto start of 15klm hike to Twin Falls. Started at 9.30 and we were given 5 hours for walk. The terrain was very varied and spectacular. It was a great walk but very tiring. The elevation was supposed to be only 300 metres, but felt much more than that. I was so tired and sore. Fortunately I wasn't the only one. Four of our group walked really fast and due to some mixed messages we ended up being split up. We were supposed to met Ron our tour leader at 2.30. The...

Jul 12, 2012 - Banff Alberta Canada

We drove a whole 70 miles from Calgary to Banff...LONG day...NOT!!! Didn't have reservations at Tunnel Mountain II Campground, but got one since we got there early and it had FULL hookups. So, apparently they are updating the park and alot of it is closed while they add the full hookups. Went into town and its like Jackson Hole on steroids...LOTS of touri! Jackie and I took the bike out for an evening ride around Lake Minnewanka and saw some Big Horn Sheep...woopeeee! Tomorrow we head to Lake Louise.

Jul 9, 2012 - Golf with Ena & John

Another great day to be outside in the mountains! Ena and John joined us for a round of golf on the Tunnel Mtn course at the Banff Springs. Despite the 30C heat, it was a fun game and a great way to catch up with friends. We followed up with a cold beer and bbq on our deck, the perfect summer day!

Jul 2, 2012 - Banff

Day Twelve – Banff 68k I awoke at around 2am to the sounds of someone playing an acoustic guitar in the campground. It wasn’t loud but it was annoying when one is expecting silence or trains. A couple of trains went through Lake Louise at the same time and they gave each other a double toot as they passed in the night. That, one can understand, but guitar playing at 2 am in a public campground? Fortunately it was over soon and I fell back into a fitful sleep. The meal crew prepared pancakes for breakfast. As it was a short day going from...

Jun 20, 2012 - Banff, Alberta

On June 20th we left Fairmont Hot Springs and headed north on RT 93 towards Banff, Alberta. What a day of marvelous sights including the creatures in the included photos. It is so fun driving through the parks where the wildlife can stroll across the road at any time. Banff is a very picturesque town resembling an alpine village that could be in Switzerland. The downtown store fronts at kept in the alpine theme along with the inns and homes. This is definitely a place we will pay a return visit, but you definitely need a car. Trying to...

Jun 7, 2012 - Tunnel Mountain 9

Just back from Peru and busy trying to organize our condo. But in between organizing and rain storms, we headed into Banff to check out the Tunnel Mountain 9 hole golf course at the Banff Springs. Normally the Banff Springs courses are well outside our price range for golf but they have a special membership deal at the 9 hole Tunnel Mountain course for Bow Valley Residents (that's us now!). So we played a round to see if we liked it. Definitely can't beat the scenery and we really enjoyed the course so we are now officially members! Now we...

Jun 7, 2012 - Weather!

The weather has not been the most wonderful during the last 10 days of our trip, 8 out of the 10 days it has been raining. June 5 and 6 were the worst with heavy winds, streaming rain and the temperature dropping to -1 during the night with snow. We travelled through Mnt. Robson Provincial park, and into Jasper National Park. Nowhere were there campsites available with electricity and our batteries were getting down; so no heat! Also no Internet access and no phone; a few years this would have been quite normal except for the fact that we...