Is That All There Is?

After winding my way down through the Icefields of the Canadian Rockies, from Jasper to Banff, one might ask "Is that all there is?" As if over a hundred and seventy miles of breathtaking grandeur was insufficient to elate the soul, perhaps a more appropriate question would be "How do you top that?"

Topping it depends on what you want, obviously. If your cup of tea is the sunrise/sunset over the ocean, you need to travel hundreds of miles from here. But if mountainous landscapes float your boat, the Rocky Mountains are hard to beat (on the North American continent).

I had bypassed the opportunity to see Lake Louise, the epicenter of calendar chic, in order to locate my overpriced hotel room in Banff, some 35 miles to the south. Just before reaching the exit that would lead me down Banff avenue I stopped at a scenic overlook where I took a couple of pictures, but more importantly, for me anyway, had a conversation with a couple bikers. They were "locals", having ridden up from Calgary, a stone's throw to the east, provided one can throw a stone 135 Km.

They recommended a couple of hikes near Lake Louise if I decided to go back there, but fortuitously mentioned a ride I could take for a great view of Banff if I didn't want to take the time to hike. 

So I gathered a picture from a point on the road below Norquay Ski area of the best seats in town,

and put it next to the quintessential picture of Lake Louise

and let the reader decide.

Then I show you what was behind, and on every other side of, the camera at Lake Louise and ask again, which do you choose?

I overheard one lady complaining because the lake wasn't blue. To each his own, I guess.

From Banff I went north along the main route and, just south of Lake Louise Village, turned into the overflow parking for the shuttle bus to the lake, or as we say here in Canada " the boos to the lac". The traffic director sent each car ahead of me to a specific row to park, then walked up to me.

"You going up to the lake? There's ALWAYS room for bikes man, just go ahead and ride up there, we'll get you in", then, as he stroked his long mustache, "from one great mustache to another!"

Once I reached the lake parking lot I was waved around other waiting cars to a special section for bikers. A quick hike to the lake, a few pictures, a shake of the head when I see the cost of renting a canoe to tour the lake

and when I saw they had a source for hamburgers strictly for hikers

I headed back to the parking lot. There I met a couple of bikers who had just ridden all the way from Virginia, in 8 days! I departed soon after, back tracking to highway 93 and coming west out of Banff N.P. into Kootenay N.P., still riding among Giants.

The highway eventually dropped into Radium Hot Springs by way of one of the narrowest mountain passes you will find anywhere.

By this time it was lunchtime, and after that it was heat, miles and where do I stop for the night. I noticed on my Google Map that I would come to Cranbrook, shortly north of the US border. A chance to spend the remainder of my Canadian money and to pick up my final Canadian H-D poker chip!

Tomorrow I hope to ride the Going To The Sun Road through Glacier; kind of a Welcome Home present!

The official "I've been to Banff picture"

The afore mentioned Norquay Ski area, which has doubled for a setting in the Alps in movies