I’ve been gone for over 3 weeks. What do I miss?
Obviously, family and friends. Jackson started walking on my birthday, and Whitney is cooing and smiling. Stephen and Allison are moving into their first house. Michael was in DC for a quick wedding weekend and saw his brothers and families and met his new niece, but I haven’t seen him since Thanksgiving.
Amazon Prime videos don’t work in Canada unless I purchase a Canada membership...Not! I can’t use my cell phone unless I have wireless for texting and FaceTime so no Googling on the road or for sightseeing. Can’t believe I’m missing technology!
Electric teapots in rooms along with a coffee maker is nice, but I have really missed my drug of choice, Diet Mt. Dew! I’ve looked in convenience and grocery stores; they are nowhere to be found. Regular Mt. Dew, yes, but no diet and there is a difference. Guess I won’t be moving to Canada!
I continue working my way towards my ultimate destination - Banff National Park. Unbeknownst to me until I arrived, there are 3 other national parks next to Banff. All four parks together are recognized as a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site.
Northwest of Banff is Yoho NP where the Canadian Pacific Railroad traveled through a pass and set up restaurants at the base to avoid pushing dining cars to the top. In 1909, a fascinating collection of prehistoric fossils dating to 505 million years ago were discovered. The Burgess Shale marine organisms predated all previously known plants and animals.
This natural bridge was formed by rushing waters, and one day, it will collapse to form a gorge. People are jumping from rock to rock; with my agility, I’ll stay on the man-made bridge!
I’ve heard of heli-skiing, but there is now heli-biking. A helicopter drops off you and your bike on a mountain top and away you go!
Lots of wineries and breweries along my travels. You could take the same trip and turn it into a Pacific NW tasting!
What would you expect of a body of water named Emerald Lake? A brilliant gorgeous green?
It is vibrant and bright and emerald green!
I walk the shoreline trail observing wildflowers...
...and listen to the calls of the loons. Are those babies on their backs?
A mountain known simply as the Big Hill was the most difficult part of the Canadian Pacific Railroad line. To solve the problem, a pair of spiral tunnels were drilled through the peak. The new solution eliminated run-away downhill trains, and used 2 engines at five times the speed as 5 engines previously. The train enters one tunnel as the cars are seen curving up the hill, and it will spiral and exit another tunnel.
As I’m taking pictures, here comes a train, and I get to watch it spiral!
I enter Banff NP heading north to an iconic site, Lake Louise. Named after Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter...don’t ask why she was picked and not the first three...Lake Louise is known for its turquoise glacier fed waters ringed by mountains. Trails circle the banks while ice skaters in winter...ice can be a meter thick...and canoeing in summer...water is a cool 70 degrees...entertain visitors.
In the distance is Victoria Glacier; named after you know who. The glacier grinds the rock and creates rock flour which is washed into the water below. The suspension of these particles give the lake its blue to green color based on how many particles are still suspended vs. floated to the bottom.
Lake Louise is packed with tourists today. It’s a place you seek peace and contemplation, but I feel like the Tower of Babel. Be quiet, people, and soak in nature!
The beautiful Fairmont Hotel Louise has majestic views of the lake. I suspect these fortunate guests wander the shore and enjoy the quiet in the early mornings and evenings.
I love to visit grocery stores when I travel and wander the aisles looking and trying different items. Dutch Crunch Bread made fabulous peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! But, no Diet Mt. Dew.
Canadians, you are missing a treat!
No comments:
Post a Comment