Sunday, May 13, 2012-Dawson Creek and beyond

There was a nice breeze when we left Grand Prairie, but the wind picked up and blew all the rest of the day.
Stopped in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and the '0' Mile marker of the Alaska Highway.

The surveyor

The museum telling the story of the building of the Alaskan Highway was closed, but the art gallery had a photo display.
The excitement for today was seeing a blonde-tipped grizzly bear!!

We are at an abandoned Provincial Park near Prophet River

Sunday, May 6, 2012–Lake Louise to Alberta Friends’

We drove to Lake Louise, saw an elk on the way - no photo.


While I am a little disappointed not to see the lake's pretty turquoise water, it was a treat to see it iced over and all the snow.



As we drove today, we stopped often for more mountain photos plus some pretty water photos.
This is a bridge built across the Alaska Highway for animals to cross. There are webcams on them that I want to check out when I have Internet again!






After turning at the Saskatchewan River Crossing, we saw three different flocks of bighorn sheep - what a thrill!! One flock was over 30 sheep including several rams - we took many photos!
This is the guardian of the first sighting.


His responsibilities?

Second sighting....and these are just a few of the photos!There were about 45 total in this flock. No photos of third sighting.





The water is so pretty!

We stopped in Red Deer at the Red Deer Buffet - weren't terribly impressed. Then it was on to our friends’, Leo and Ellen, farm. After a warm welcome, getting the camper set up and a nice walk on their property, Ellen and I beat the guys at Cribbage!

Saturday, May 5, 2012-Bow Falls and Banff Gondola

Rain overnight and this morning along with snow. The mountains are 'socked' in. I won't complain about a day off!!
Then the sky started to clear so we headed out.


Went to Banff.....saw Bow Falls near the Banff Springs Hotel

 

We drove through some of the scenic area. This is Mount Rundle with Bow River and Hoodoos.


Hoodoos


We rode the Banff Gondola ($31.45 off season) on Sulphur Mountain. The gondola climbs 2,292 feet to 7,486 feet.


At the top, snow started falling....what a treat.


We walked the one kilometer (.625 miles)boardwalk to the summit and the Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site of Canada. The view was outstanding.

This is looking back at the top of the gondola ride and the boardwalk to the summit.

The Cosmic Ray Station, a Canada Historical Site





And the immediate area cleared....another shot of the top of the gondola ride.

Arrived back at the Bow Valley Park (saw 3 elk along the way) just as it started to hail and a thunderstorm came!

Friday, May 4, 2012

After what I consider a very boring week on the road, we have reached Canada! There are some clouds, but what I can see of the mountains so far, they live up to their reputation.
We drove by the site of the Calgary Olympics.

We are camped in a Provincial Park, Bow Valley ($27), with electric hookup not far east of Canmor, Alberta. Other than the hosts, we are the only ones here. Due to freezing, there is no water in this campground right now.