More Banff

Breakfast was a better choice today at Melissa’s. It had a strong western theme with large servings.

The sun was shining so we thought we would take the bus to Sulphur Mountain and the Hot Springs then walk the 5 km back to town. 

Everyone else was thinking the same thing.

First the hot springs, no we didn’t go in. 

Relaxed in the sunshine before walking to see the gondolas going up Sulfur Mountain. Did the ride up last time we were here so skipped it this time. 

Went inside for a coffee and when we came out it was pouring!! 

The clouds were coming. But sunny at the top of the mountain. 

A fun way to ride.

So we took the bus back and instead visited the Whyte Museum. 

Excellent information on Aboriginal people, artists, climbers, guides, and even learned how to build a birchbark canoe.

The park brought in Swiss guides after some deaths on the trails. How could females climb in those outfits??

This is buffalo poop! The things you learn in a museum. 

A huge room full of artists depicting the many mountains of Banff. The large painting is Lake O’Hara by Group of Seven’s J E H MacDonald.

Even after the weekend the amount of tourists has not gone down. We are still shocked at how busy it is. 

Oh the sun came out again. 

Time for a late lunch at Touloulou’s, a New Orleans theme.

Maybe a few too many fries??

Time for one more walk before it rains again. 

Bow River 

Bow Falls

Looks better in person and noisy! 

Walk back to town.

Always a view to capture. 

And a reward even though it was raining again.

Packing up for home tonight. Bus tomorrow morning to Calgary airport and into Vancouver by 1:30 p.m Home to our own beds tomorrow night. 😊

Exploring Banff

Well it wasn’t the best night’s sleep but we slept in,

so we were happy.

Twin beds, a small space but a fridge so all good. Banff seems usually busy, the streets are full as are the cafes. So Yellow Bunny picked our breakfast stop. 🙄

Why so busy? We quickly found out! 

Runners from over 25 countries took part! 

A kind runner let me take a picture of his medal.

But it was pouring. Not the best weather for a run.

Well done!!

Our next stop was the Cave and Basin trail that leads to the Cave and Basin Historic Site. 

The rain stopped for a bit as we followed the trail.

For over 10,000 years the Indigenous Peoples have used the caves and basin as a special place. In 1883 three railway workers happened upon the thermal springs, that led to the creation of the first national park in Canada. 

This is the skylight entrance where the First Nation people would lower rawhide ropes get to the hot water in the basin.

Looking from outside you can see the hole used.

A tour group getting to feel the hot springs from their guide.

We also toured the First World War Internment Exhibit next to the Cave and Basin. It told about the unfortunate history of Canada during the First World War when the government interned those thought to be “enemy aliens”, mainly Germans and Ukrainians.

Many of these camps used the prisoners to build roads, bridges, cutting trails for the parks.

Leaving the historical site we saw an elk and even got closer (not too close) to take a photo. Much easier than on a train

Heading back to wards Banff Avenue we came upon the horse trail rides offered here. Not on our list of things to do.

And of course always mountains. We had thought of going to Sulfur Mountain this morning but you’ll see the fresh snow. 

Everywhere you look are magnificent mountains 

And different angles 

If you haven’t heard of magnet fishing, it is a poplar “sport”. This gentleman brought up some nails as we watched him “fish” off the bridge on the Bow River.

He said he has found horse shoes, pocket knives, an Apple Watch and more. 

Norm and the “Sleeping Buffalo”

Now time for another coffee and treat. 

And the rain is back. Our dinner tonight is from Nesters where Norm found a Saturday Globe! And we relax in our room with the CBC National news.

Kamloops to Banff

As we arrived at the Coast Hotel in Kamloops — after almost 12 hours of clickety clack from Vancouver —we were informed that the bus would leave our hotel for the train station the next day at at 6am! That meant we would have to be up at 5am. We did it. By 7am they gave us coffee, tea and cranberry lemon loaf to keep us happy. And then breakfast on board the moving Rocky Mountaineer train.

Scrabbled eggs for Norm and smoked salmon on avocado toast for Mary.

The day started a little grey. This is Shuswap Lake.

Then it started to rain as we headed into a tunnel.

Yellow Bunny was not impressed with the coal train passing by.

We kept warm with hot chocolate.

Next came 3 Mile Gap. It apparently started just serving coffee for a nickel in the early 1950s and now it has antique cars, a ghost town, and a 200-room hotel.

The Kicking Horse river was amazing. Fast moving and beautiful. 

The Stoney Creek Bridge is 90 metres above ground. And the story goes that Lady Agnes, wife of PMJohn A Macdonald walked across with the menfolk VIPs but wearing ladies dainty boots and a billowing bustled dress that kept her from seeing her feet and the railroad ties. 

A long way down!

Sometimes the action is a bit slow on a train….

Two snoozing passengers know it is definitely time for lunch. Our appetizer was prosciutto and pickled vegetables.

I had a steak, so good. I can’t remember the last time I had steak.

Norm had crab ravioli, or “crabioli ” as our table mate dubbed the dish.

A late afternoon highlight were the spiral tunnels that take trains through both Cathedral Mountain and Mt Ogden. The railway doubles back upon itself twice, something like the cursive writing capital L in Lucille Ball’s name, our guide told us. It tunnels  under mountains and crosses the river twice in order to cut down the grade.

No photos since we were mostly in the dark. 

But more Kicking Horse River rapids and  rafters on the white — and pale green — churning water.

The Rockies with some clouds.

During the train ride we saw black  bears, big horn sheep, a marmot and ospreys. By the time someone saw them, it wasn’t possible to get a photo. 

But we did see a mom and baby once we arrived in Banff.

Next the Banff Springs Hotel

A light snack

And then we checked into OUR hotel, the King Edward Hotel, built 1904 and the oldest in Banff.

No air conditioning but that isn’t a problem since we could see our breath as we walked about tonight.