Homeward Bound (but not for long!!)

After Calgary we drove back into the Rockies - this time towards Southern end to visit the tourist shopping mecca of Banff and the village of Lake Louise.

Home on the Alberta Range.....

Mel found Banff to be a successful souvenir shopping destination.  It's not a bad venue to look at either as its flanked all around by tall, craggy mountains with the bow river flowing through its centre. We stopped off in the downtown area to enjoy the scenery, do a spot of shopping and enjoy a coffee made by a barista from Australia.  As is the case in a number of tourist destinations in Canada young Australians flock there for the experience of working in an area distinctly different from anywhere in their home country.  It is always a bit weird hearing an Australian accent but strangely comforting at the same time.

Banff Springs Hotel

We hiked a few new places around Banff - one being Johnstone Canyon.  The hike is an easy walk along one side of the canyon on a custom built walkway.  The river is a lovely blue colour caused by glacial fed waters.

                   

Yep - boys will be boys....

 Bren and I have never seen Lake Louise unfrozen so we were anxious to see it in all its melted loveliness.  We weren't disappointed - especially the morning that we woke early, left Mel and the boys to sleep in the TT and made it to Lake Louise before the hordes of people that also love it visit there.  We hiked the trail along the lakeshore to so that we could see the waterfall we had visited in the spring.  At that time it was a thick frozen sheet of ice that we managed to climb to the base of.  As we walked along the trail I was intrigued that I could not hear the waterfall in the distance.  This intrigue turned to amazement as we turned the corner at the end of the trail ready to see the wonder of a beautiful waterfall (if not a silent one!!!)  only to see a trickle of water.  Well not even a trickle - more like a drip.  We couldn't believe it - and were really thankful that we hadn't dragged the kids on an unfruitful 3km hike.  They would not have been impressed.

Lake Louise

The interior of Chateau Lake Louise

Moraine Lake was another place we visited on our trip with Mel.  The water in this lake is an incredible vibrant blue but its colour changes as clouds pass over.

Our journey homeward took us through Glacier National Park which as the name suggests has many glaciers.  The drive through this park is just as beautiful as driving through the Rockies.  

Along the way we spotted a herd of big horned sheep grazing along the roadside which was a nice surprise.

About an hour from Kelowna we stopped for a rest at Dave's Goat Walk just outside of Armstrong.  Here we watched as some very clever goats worked a pulley system in order to get a tasty reward of corn. The goat's aren't the only attraction.  The owners of the property have a fabulous deli full of meats and cheeses and bakery goods which is surrounded by beautiful floral gardens.

We arrived in Kelowna very weary but grateful that we made it home.  Our beds invited our tired bodies to bed and we all crashed for a peaceful nights sleep.  There really is nothing like sleeping in a comfortable bed!!