Saturday, July 30, 2016
We got a "friendly note" from the trailer park...
Soooo... the trailer park didn't like where we had set up our tents last night and left us a "friendly note" to move our tents onto the gravel.
Ugh. We bought some cheap tarps to protect the bottoms of our tents and their ground sheets from the sharp stones. And then it rained. The rain just pooled on the gravel trailer pads, and started collecting under our tents. Our emergency solution was digging out these drainage ditches to run the water away from our tents.
Banff-Lake Louise-Columbia Ice Fields Adventure
Before starting the MTB trip we wanted to take a day to explore the Banff area. While Mildred was still making her way to Banff with Greg, Val, Laura and Heidi; Lindsey was in town and getting information on adventures for us. The weather forecast was for storms around noon, so we were looking for alternatives to day hiking. By the time Mildred arrived in Banff Lindsey had reserved spots for us on a tour to Lake Louise and the Columbia Icefields.
Being a Canadian long weekend, accommodations in Banff were already booked by the time I thought to make reservations back in April. The only availability I found for 6 people was at the Trailer Court Campground... for large trailers only. With a gentle reprimand at the check-in office for not camping in a trailer, we found nice"tent spots" in the treed area by our reserved trailer site. Our luxury camping site came with a front row view of Mount Rundle. Our first night sleeping in a tent was accompanied by a rain and thunderstorm, foreshadowing the forecasted weather.
We were picked up by a shuttle bus at 8:10 am at a hotel just a short walk from our campground. The tour bus was scheduled to leave the terminal at 8:30 am which gave us just enough time to pick up coffee and bagels at Tim Hortons. Lindsey was so thoughtful, she picked up a black coffee for the bus driver too.
Lake Louise was our first stop. We learned from our driver the original name was Lake of the Little Fishes, which I think is a much better name! The first European to visit the lake renamed it to Emerald Lake, for obvious reasons. Lake Louise was the name given to honour the daughter of Queen Victoria (or Louise Temple, depending on which story you prefer). We enjoyed warm sunshine, views, and a short walk along the lake. Val spotted white birds on the lake, but we weren't able to identify them.
We enjoyed warm sunshine and even more spectacular views at Peyto Lake and Glacier, our second stop.
Before our final stop we drove by Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier, Waterfowl Lake, Mistaya Lake, Mosquito Creek, Mt Saskatchewan bringing back great memories of my trip with my sister, Leone, in my cousin's, Richard's, pick-up truck decades ago. Unlike that trip, on today's relative short trip we were lucky to see quite a bit of wild life including: a cute chipmunk at Peyto Lake, a black bear eating buffalo berries from bushes along the side of the road, a flock (?) of Mountain sheep with several females and their ever so cute lambs, a black wolf along the shore of the Saskatchewan River, and (my favourite) a raven pair in the parking lot of the Crowfoot Glacier. I tried to get the raven to talk to me... but he just cocked his head, opened his beak without talking, puffed his feathers out, and walked away (he kinda reminded me of Greg).
We arrived at Columbia Icefields in the sunshine, but dark skies were threatening our day's itinerary. We watched the blue skies disappear as the clouds poured into the glacial valleys. We could hear thunder, and soon rain was falling on the glaciers in our view. As the rain reached our viewing platform, we started to head back to out warm bus, jogging a little as we approached the bus to get out of the rain as it started to get heavier. After 3 of us got in the bus , the rain storm turned into a hail storm! Val and Lindsey came in the bus a little later and a little wetter! The young boy sitting near us was very excited to see and experience his first hail/snow storm. While we watched from the warm, dry bus he played outside in the rain and hail, making snowballs, sliding with his feet on the hail, and laughing. It was fun to see him enjoying the "bad" weather.
Although our plans to stand on a glacier and walk on the Glacier Skywalk were cancelled because of the hail storm, lightning and thunder, we had a great day and fun adventure. Val and I weren't that keen on walking on a see-through platform high above the glacier anyway!
Being tourists...
Off to start today's adventure
Before we start the MTB trip we are spending a day as tourists in the Banff area.
Heading out on our first ad ven cha...
We are tourists
We are going to act like tourists, today
Columbia Ice Fields, here we come!
Friday, July 29, 2016
Mount Rundle
"Mount Rundle exhibits 3 of the dominant rock formations which occur in many of the mountains of Banff National Park"
We are almost there!!!!!
It's hardd to believe it, but we are getting very close now!! So exciting to be almost here and starting!!!
Horses fueling up next to us
We are in horse country now. The trailer at the gas pump next to us had 4 patient beauties.
Day 2 St Joseph-Moose Jaw Saskatchewan
Passed through Ferguson Falls and Fargo on I94 until heading north on 52 toward Minot.
Gas stop in Fergus Falls, ND where Val decided that she would "assign" all rights to the Upper Otter Tail River, I would be "assigned" all rights to the North River. I decided that I would like everything north of the Continental Divide and would be willing to let Heidi have everything south. We are still in negotiations. Perhaps I should read "The Art of he Deal" to get some pointers on negotiations🤔
Next stop Minot, ND. Getting out of the car for an hour so Val could bond with her heritage at the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation. Val had her picture taken with Sondre Norheim. Of course readers will recognize Sondre as the "Father of Modern Skiing", born in Morgedal Telemark Norway and died in North Dakota. The grounds had a pond, a church, a statue of Hans Christian Anderson and Casper Oimoen the Central States Ski jumping champion in the 1930's as well as Sondre. The grounds were "pristine" but my lasting memory will probably be feeling like we entered the "Night of the Living Dead". The majority of the people at the park were staring into their cell phones looking for Pokeman. It was a bit surreal.
We crossed the border at the North Portal outside of Bowbell, ND. The crossing was uneventful. Val had strict instructions NOT to volunteer any additional info than what she may have specifically been asked😉 Although we are not carrying any contraband, we did not want to have to unpack the entire van!
After the border crossing, on to Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. We ended the night around 10 pm at the Lounge at the Heritage Inn Hotel eating poutine and drinking Beer from Big Rock brewery before calling it a night.
Sent from my iPad
Gas stop in Fergus Falls, ND where Val decided that she would "assign" all rights to the Upper Otter Tail River, I would be "assigned" all rights to the North River. I decided that I would like everything north of the Continental Divide and would be willing to let Heidi have everything south. We are still in negotiations. Perhaps I should read "The Art of he Deal" to get some pointers on negotiations🤔
Next stop Minot, ND. Getting out of the car for an hour so Val could bond with her heritage at the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation. Val had her picture taken with Sondre Norheim. Of course readers will recognize Sondre as the "Father of Modern Skiing", born in Morgedal Telemark Norway and died in North Dakota. The grounds had a pond, a church, a statue of Hans Christian Anderson and Casper Oimoen the Central States Ski jumping champion in the 1930's as well as Sondre. The grounds were "pristine" but my lasting memory will probably be feeling like we entered the "Night of the Living Dead". The majority of the people at the park were staring into their cell phones looking for Pokeman. It was a bit surreal.
We crossed the border at the North Portal outside of Bowbell, ND. The crossing was uneventful. Val had strict instructions NOT to volunteer any additional info than what she may have specifically been asked😉 Although we are not carrying any contraband, we did not want to have to unpack the entire van!
After the border crossing, on to Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. We ended the night around 10 pm at the Lounge at the Heritage Inn Hotel eating poutine and drinking Beer from Big Rock brewery before calling it a night.
Sent from my iPad
don't fence me in lyrics - Google Search
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&channel=ipod_bm&site=&source=hp&ei=2YKbV7eNMofkjwO8_bHwCw&q=don%27t+fence+me+in+lyrics&oq=dont+fence&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.1.1.0i10l3j0l2.2999.8534.0.11291.13.12.0.5.5.0.397.3415.2-1j9.10.0.cgmwq...0...1.1.64.mobile-gws-hp..2.11.2111.3..35i39j0i131j0i10i3j0i10i46j46i10.tFbQl5NlYIY
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love
Don't fence me in
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love
Don't fence me in
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please
Don't fence me in
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please
Don't fence me in
Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies
On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise
Underneath the western skies
On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise
I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide country that I love
Don't fence me in
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide country that I love
Don't fence me in
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please
Don't fence me in
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please
Don't fence me in
Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies
On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise
Underneath the western skies
On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise
I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in, no
Pop, oh don't you fence me in
Don't fence me in, no
Pop, oh don't you fence me in
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Hello Saskatchewan!
We successfully crossed the internationally border, and we didn't even have to unpack the car. Phewff!
Val's bike is flying!
Val's bike is on the roof, sun is setting in the west, we are heading NW through North Dakota, and I'm sitting on the right side of Mildred.
Scandinavian Heritage Center, Minot, ND
We visited the Scandinavian Heritage Center in Minot North Dakota.
This is a map of scandinavia.
Greg's beard is getting whiter.
This is a beautiful norwegian church.
Val and Greg genu-flexing for the telmark ski idol
Telemark ski hero and idol.
Ski jumping Olympian.
Greg and 3 of Mildred's Mad Maidens.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)