More Pictures from the Canadian Rockies

Picture # 1: Although the ewes will retreat to the safety of the mountains, I'm told by locals that the rams have grown quite comfortable drifting into the small towns and relaxing adjacent to family residences or even in busier places such as next to this station where I stopped for fuel in Alberta.

Picture # 2: While this is not where the above picture was taken, it is quite typical of many gas stops while traveling in the more remote regions of Canada. As mentioned in an earlier post, many establishments such as this one, are required to produce their own power just to sell gas and other necessary goods required for travelers in these regions..

Picture # 3: Castle Mountain near Banff, Alberta Canada after a late afternoon thunderstorm.

Picture # 4: The stunning turquoise color of Bow Lake in Banff National Park will almost leave one mesmerized. South of Jasper, Alberta Canada on the Icefields Parkway, it provides the backdrop for Num-Ti-Jah Lodge where guests can relax and enjoy the plunging waterfalls, enormous virgin forest, snow-capped peaks and glacier-carved valleys surrounded by shady forests of spruce and fir. Having to get back on the bike and leaving a place such as this is growing more difficult each time.

Picture # 5: If this baby doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth I don't know what would! I stopped for gas and these HUGE cinnamon rolls were laying on the counter. Personally, "I" had the willpower to resist purchasing one but wouldn't you know it, "Murphy" grabbed one and sneaked it onto the bike while I was in the restroom. Naturally, I didn't notice what he had done until we were too far down the road to turn around. Only good thing he's accomplished on this entire trip. :-) With my positive influence I think he's catching on that this Alaskan trip could be enjoyable after all.

Picture # 6: Laird River Hot Springs Provincial Park - British Columbia. First off, in case I get distracted and whisk you off to tales about other places, it is pronounced “lay-urd,” as it was not named, as first glance suggests, as a political payoff to a fellow, mediocre, office holder —becoming a boring place name for an airport, or bridge, or unfortunately, Alaska’s tallest mountain.

Instead, it a beautiful stroll up the wooden boardwalk to changing rooms some 700 meters from the campground. When you arrive, you can ease down the steps to into the main dial-your-own-temperature pool by moving right towards “the rocks of hell,” or downstream to where a cold water shower sends tingles all over your body. Actually, the game is to see how close to the steaming hot and bubbling source of the hot springs you can get. There's a rock ledge of sorts by the source where a few brave (foolish?) souls make attempts to carry a pebble far enough into the increasingly HOT water to deposit it on the ledge. Is it hot? You see the name given to it above don't you? I've been in hot springs before, but this one wants to take the meat off the bones if you venture too close to the source. Nuff said!

Did Mack Daddy get his rock on the ledge? You bet your petunias I did and I have the red marks to prove it. Geeez-oh-peets, that had to be the hottest water I've ever experienced. If you're tough enough to get your rock to the ledge, you sure as heck don't spend any time loitering in the vicinity. haaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Picture # 7: Just another beautiful early morning sight north of Toad River Crossing on the Tetsa River.

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