Bankhead Coal Town Exhibit - Banff Library for Blog

Kind of a leisurely morning after a nice sunrise.  Finished the car reorganization and then turned right out of the campground to see what was down the road.  

Several small lakes and then we came upon the Bankhead Coal Town Exhibit.  

There  were coal deposits here so the railroad started a mine and build a town of about 900 people in it’s hay day.  They had running water and electricity in the houses which was quite modern for the times.  The coal was used for the steam locomotives.  It was an active and thriving community until coal went out of fashion and the town folded and they moved the bulk of it elsewhere.  There are still ruins of some of the old buildings that they didn't move and good signage.  Very interesting.

and the scenery was stunning from the Bankhead town!

As it was driving into Banff!

We spent the bulk of the day at the Banff Library where they had internet access and a plug for the computer.  It was a great day and I finally got caught up to yesterday!  We did wander a little through town--a fun place! Back to the campground, dinner and off to bed.  Nice to feel a little caught up and organized once again!  Gretchen coming tomorrow :-)!!

Sunrise - Banff - Two Wolf Lakeside Campground

Just experienced the most incredible sunrise.

It’s very cloudy and they were just crimson!

Boy, it pays to get up early! We left at 6:35 on our way to Banff to hopefully find a campground for the long weekend. It’s Canadian labor Day on Monday. A grand start to the day!

The Rockies were beautiful along the way!

After a beautiful ride we found the campground that was full. We had to wait 2+ hours for folks along the lakeshore to check out and then we got what one person referred to as "the best campsite" there...and we have to agree.

The view from 5 steps outside the tent ;-)

After putting up the tent we headed into Banff and hit the Visitor's Center and then headed up to the historic hotel here.

As we walked through the building we came upon this setup for a wedding reception to be held that afternoon. Think this one probably beat out the Emerald Lake Lodge dollar wise!! It really was an elegant and beautiful spot.

This monument to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was just outside the side of the hotel. There was also a statue of William Van Horne, President of the Canadian Pacific Railway who built the hotel with the quote "Since we can't export the scenery, we shall have to import the tourists" and if this town is any indication, they have done a great job!!

Not far from the hotel was the Bow River Falls with this wonderful Canadian Mounted Policeman (who had a very nice cruiser) there for the pictures. Then back to the campground and dinner and then a walk along the lake.

This little guy was having dinner too..

and the scenery was great!! Then to bed...another great day!

Happy Anniversary!

Takakkaw Falls – Upper Spiral Tunnel – Chateau Lake Louise Lunch– Lake Louise Walk

Happy Anniversary to us! It’s a damp, cloudy, chilly morning here in Yoho. Lots of rain last night and the tent is sopped…glad we’re not moving today! We’re off to Takakkaw Falls, up the Yoho Valley from the campground.

We stopped at the uphill spiral tunnel display. You can barely see the exit tunnel on the left and the long dark line on the right is the entrance tunnel. We did see one of the small maintenance carts go into the tunnel and emerge quite a long time later....it's a fairly long route in there!

Some great glaciers along the way! One area of the road is extreme switchback but the rest is a very pleasant ride up with mountains all around. Only a few folks at the falls parking lot. We walked down the trail and the falls really is incredible!

It’s Canada’s highest unbroken falls at 830’ and is stunning.

High up in the drop it hits an outcropping that sends the water spewing out into a wonderful wide cascade for probably 750’ and then down to the bottom with a few other drops after that until it again forms the river. Quite glorious! Spent a fair amount of time there. Then off to lunch at the Fairmount Chateau Lake Louise.

Got prime seating in the Lounge with a full mountain and lake view in front of us! We ordered Butternut Squash Ravioli and Scallop and Prawn Lentil Cassoulet and a

flight of Canadian wines and one of Italian wines. The food was superb and the view tremendous. John had mentioned our anniversary story to the waitress when we sat down and they comptd our flights of wine. Very nice. Great way to celebrate.

Took some pictures around the Chateau and then took a walk down the Lakeside.

Beautiful area and we had sun most of the time. Decided when we got back to go see if we could get the Falls with sunshine on them so drove back up the valley. Just caught one picture with the sun. Then back for sandwiches and salad for dinner and to bed. Nice celebration as we enter into 43 years.

Yoho NP - Natural Bridge - Emerald Lake Walk

Up and out early with a very wet tent! Onward to Yoho for us.

Drove by the fire again and it was still increasing but slowly.

It was just a short drive through beautiful mountain and water scenery to Yoho. We checked into the campground and got a nice spot by the stream in the tenting section.

We stopped at the Spiral Tunnel stop and that was fascinating. When the railroad first came through this section there was high loss of like due to avalanches and a very steep grade on the railsroad here. They came up with this ingenious spiral loops through the mountain to drop the grade to an acceptable level. We got lucky and got to see a train going through the tunnel on the upper left of the diagram - the lower one.

The train going down the hill comes under the highway from the other side having just gone through one spiral tunnel that dropped the train 45’ and then circles around into another tunnel and spirals around inside the mountain and comes out another tunnel exit. Not sure of the elevation drop on that one. The lower cars just visible through the tree are the end of the train...then go around and go into the tunnel at the top and spiral around inside the mountain and then come out the tunnel (not visible) in the middle. The trains here are unbelievably long!

This is the engine coming out of the middle tunnel at the lower elevation. It was fascinating!

Then on to Natural Bridge and the wonderful falls it creates.

Then down the road to Emerald Lake. It was delightful. The sun was out and we had a nice late picnic and then walked around the lake.

A blue heron flew in at the end of the lake and John got some good pictures. Fun to watch.

The Lodge there looked wonderful. As we walked through the grounds a bride and groom were just signing papers. What a lovely day for a wedding.

Headed home as the clouds began to set in. This passenger train had just arrived in the station when we drove by. There are trains around here constantly! Had dinner with some in and out showers and cleaned up fast and into the tent and the rain came and went most of the night. Lots of thunder and lightning and trains—with very squeaky wheels—but no whistles after 8 pm.

Glacier NP - Glacier Trail - Meeting of the Waters Trail - Fire

Found a much more pleasant trail this morning gently going through the woods

beside the river that went up to where the base of the glacier used to be. The last ½ mile was pretty much rocks and the terminal moraine so we didn’t go completely to the top….

just more of the same, but the hike was quite nice with some beautiful views of the glacier and

it’s stunning waterfalls.

You would get single sections of water that would hit rocks and then divide and divide again, quite lovely. Came back down

and took the Meeting of the Waters cutoff and it comes to a bridge over the river that is formed by two rivers coming together.

Very dramatic and a great viewing point in the middle of the river! Nice hike! Stopped at the Hotel by the Information Center and did some blogging and then headed back to the campground and dinner. Adrian, the Netherlander, stopped by to chat so we invited him to dinner. Nice evening…then off to bed.