Bob on BAC Canadian Rockies 2007

Osprey Nest on Bridge


Mama Bear and Her Cub

We got up at 6:30 and ate breakfast in the room. It consisted of orange juice, coffee, muffins and granola with yoghurt. We took our time getting ready for the ride and left around 8:30. The weather was cool enough for a light jacket.

Just after we left the Trans-Canada Highway and turned onto the Bow River Parkway, we saw long-horn sheep grazing on the side of the road. They were kind of mangy looking - not a pretty sight. The ride was cool and refreshing. There were lots of trees and wildflowers. I stopped at Castle Junction to take pictures of ospreys and their nest on a bridge that we crossed two days before. I also caught a whistling marmot in action. After leaving Castle Junction, I saw a mama bear and her cub foraging in a meadow by the side of the road. This was one of my goals on the ride.

I stopped at the Baker Creek Chalet for lunch, but I was too early. I continued on to Lake Louise Village and arrived there at 11:30. It was way too early to check in, so I cycled over to the hostel and ate a hamburger, potatoes and salad. After lunch, it was still to early to get my room so I decided to cycle up to Lake Louise. This was a steep climb! I caught up to Jo-Ann Nicola and Felix Braendel and saw them again at the chalet. There were hundreds of tourists at the lake, but very few cyclists. I wandered around a bit and took some pictures. The chalet has been going through renovation since I was here a few years ago. Fairmont has taken it (and many of the other CNR hotels) over and is doing a good job restoring it.

After flying back down the hill, I was able to get into our room at The Mountaineer Lodge at 2:00. The weather was starting to get cloudy and the temperatures were in the high 70's.

Most of us went to dinner together at a family restaurant just up the street. I had lasagna.

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