WEDNESDAY, SEPT 18

WEDNESDAY, SEPT 18:

     Took our time getting up and going.  Made a nice breakfast, and I used the free camp showers to get a long hot shower!  

     Started out to be a nice day – mostly sunny, with high fluffy clouds.    Saw beautiful scenery as we first started  travelling down the road from Jasper to Banff.  Unbelievably raw, jagged-edged mountain peaks.  Beautiful glacier waters. 

 

 

But then the clouds started gathering more heavily, along with fog.  So we couldn’t see as much.  Same was true when we took this famous scenic route up the other way when we were through here 4 months ago.   But even with limited visibility, it’s still easy to see why this is rated one of the top scenic drives in all the world.  

     We’ll probably have another chance to see it in a few days.  We’ll be in Banff  4 nites, along with  Loretta & Steve.  Then, they’re driving north to Jasper.  Unless we feel a pressing need to get home, we’ll drive up with them.  So we’ll hope for a clear day then.

         Passed the place where we dry-camped 4 months ago.  Back then, in late May, hardly anyone was there.  Today, the place looked like Grand Central Station!

     Found our campground (within the National Park).  Had to go through the town of Banff to get here.  I remember from my trip here in 1989 that Canada does their National Parks different than the  U.S.  Right in the middle of a National Park, they’ll have a “town centre,” which is a town like any other – with shops, lodging, as well as private residences, schools, etc.  They essentially build the Park around a town, it looks like.  And of course the towns in the big parks like Banff are filled with dozens of restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops, etc., covering several blocks.  Reminded me of Ketchican.  I much prefer the U.S. model – allow one concessionaire to run a very limited number of lodging facilities, restaurants, etc.  And the buildings have to blend in with the natural surroundings.  So any time we want to go somewhere – find a trailhead, for instance, we’ll probably need to go thru the congested town.  Oh well . . .

      The campground we’re in is very nice.  It’s the only one in Banff which accommodates large RV’s and has full  hook-up’s.  The sites are set out with quite a bit of privacy, and large trees.  No Wi-fi, though, so we’ll have to go into town and use a coffee shop or library.  

      Had some leftovers for dinner, and then came into town.  Went to a coffee shop in Banff  to use their internet..  Called Loretta to check in.  And they had just finished dinner across the street and walked by this coffee shop.  They knew exactly where we were!  So they came over and we  spent a couple of hours together, so glad to see each other.  Loretta is going to act as tour director for our time together here.  I’m very glad to hand over that role to her!  Trust her totally to give us all a great time here.