Happy Independence Day, America!

I had been a little negative about spending three days in Banff over Canada Day.  I had imagined too many people, making too much noise, blocking too many views.  Never mind that I was also blocking someone's view.  I was wrong.  Banff is a bicycle friendly, über international city with Asians, Austrailians, East Indians, Englishmen...the list goes on.  I am sad to be leaving.

We used a bike path that runs from Banff past Vermillion Lakes before it connects with Highway 1A. Green.  Lush.  Patty thought it was the most beautiful route we have ridden.  We are utterly surrounded by beauty.

It was a relatively short ride past Johnston Creek Canyon and Castle Mountain.  I had clocked a little over 41 miles when I checked into Lake Louise Campground.  It felt very good to say "Yes!" When I was asked whether or not I had a reservation.  The campground is full.  It is not as big...and not as clean as the campgrounds were near Banff.  There is a fence that runs the perimeter...to protect the Bears, and to protect the campers.  There are resident grizzly mamas, one, named 72, had two cubs last year.

After Patty got in, I thought we should climb the 3 or so miles to see Lake Louise.  Patty wasn't so sure...traffic was heavy and the road up to the lake is windy with narrow shoulders.  But...she's a good sport and off we went.  What a climb!  And if that wasn't enough, when we got to the lake with the beautiful chateau on the shores, I decided we really needed to hike around the lake to the Fairview viewpoint.  In cycling shoes, no less.  Poor Patty, she puts up with an awful lot.  But...it was worth it. The ride back down to Lake Louise Village was zoom, zoom, zoom and we ate dinner at the Village Bar and Grill.  You can refer to the past two days if you want to know what I ate...:). Yum yum!