Oh Canada!
We woke up this morning, and had ourselves some fun. We were off to a HIGHLY anticipated spot, the Canadian Rockies at Banff National Park (BNP). It was about twenty dollars for both of us to ride through this park but after we saw it we would have paid a hunderd. It took us most of the day and we made lots of stops, almost as many as the city bus. Banff is located in Alberta just west of Calgary and comes highly recommended.
We had to don the warm gear, not because we are gay but because as we got near elevation the rain had stopped and it was very chilly. The coolness was a nice break though, the last few days had been like we were walking on the sun. For those not familiar, itt is about 10-15 degrees cooler when you are under way.
Most of these photos were taken at Banff except for a few. We will let the pictures tell The Rest of the Story, Good Day!
As usaual click on the images to see a larger picture and view the captions.
We had to don the warm gear, not because we are gay but because as we got near elevation the rain had stopped and it was very chilly. The coolness was a nice break though, the last few days had been like we were walking on the sun. For those not familiar, itt is about 10-15 degrees cooler when you are under way.
Most of these photos were taken at Banff except for a few. We will let the pictures tell The Rest of the Story, Good Day!
As usaual click on the images to see a larger picture and view the captions.
I Have a Feeling We Are Not In Kansas Anymore
Meet Ed and Sandra Christiansen from Pittsburg Kansas. Hold the "H" in Pittsburg please. We met them in the town of Lake Louise at the entrance to place we had just finished eating lunch. Ed had crept low and slow into the lot as to let us know, "hey we see your friend lying on ground trying to take a picture and we promise not to run him over. Tommy was in the process of taking a picture National Geographic style, getting the best angle and sacrificing his body for the sake of the shot.
Ed and Sandra said they have been coming to this spot for years, I think he said 30 years but I dont think they can be that old. They had flown into Calgary and were staying at an amazing place directly across the road and their back yard area was right on this running stream. They were such kind people and had many great tips about the area. They are the ones that told of us Bow Lake. While visiting the lake we took a special picture just for them. I kind of wish we were related to them.
At one point Ed asked about our lady friend and when I told him her name was Helen he laughed and his reply is what is qued up in the below video. I asked him kindly to repeat himself as no one at home would believe me. Thanks for the memories Ed and Sandra.
Ed and Sandra said they have been coming to this spot for years, I think he said 30 years but I dont think they can be that old. They had flown into Calgary and were staying at an amazing place directly across the road and their back yard area was right on this running stream. They were such kind people and had many great tips about the area. They are the ones that told of us Bow Lake. While visiting the lake we took a special picture just for them. I kind of wish we were related to them.
At one point Ed asked about our lady friend and when I told him her name was Helen he laughed and his reply is what is qued up in the below video. I asked him kindly to repeat himself as no one at home would believe me. Thanks for the memories Ed and Sandra.
Breakfast Anyone?
This was from day four.
We do not know why we both thought this video moment was so funny. Oh yeah I know why.... because we are on vacation and everything is funny.
We do not know why we both thought this video moment was so funny. Oh yeah I know why.... because we are on vacation and everything is funny.
This is Paul
This is Paul and he's been everywhere man. Paul was checking into the same hotel as us at the same time. We chatted with him for a while and his story was unique. Paul hails from Houston and made his way to Jasper Alberta on his motorcycle, via dirt road trails!!! Paul has been quite a few places and was riding a dual sport motorcycle. He had had all kinds of gadgets, gps, guages to help guide him through the back country. He uses a series of maps called the Pan American Trails and they are a series of back county off road trails used by adventurists of all types.
I could hardly believe the places he had been off road. I think he mentioned that the trails run in the US, Mexico and South America. He manages to get away on these long trips because he owns his own air conditioning business and plans his work and biking to accommodate one another. He is going to South America next year to do the same thing. For this trip he is also heading to Alaska and left his home in mid June. I think we are making better time than him.
He also was also wearing a nifty device called the "SPOT", on the back of his jacket. It sends a signal to satellite every ten minutes and updates his location. It also has an built in emergency if he were to get into trouble. The device uses the same satellite that satellite phones use so his family can log on and check his location twenty four hours a day. No hiding from big brother. Do you think the SPOT could help me find a new job?
The low tech side of his bike included several plexi glass shields he had fashioned himself for a windbreak and a garden type kneeling pad bungeed to his seat. He had also pre-wired a few extra clutch cables so if one breaks he just has to undo it at either end and make the new connection with the cables that are already in place. He also had a made quick way to change his oil on the fly. Paul, maybe we will see you on the MAIN roads near Alaska.
I could hardly believe the places he had been off road. I think he mentioned that the trails run in the US, Mexico and South America. He manages to get away on these long trips because he owns his own air conditioning business and plans his work and biking to accommodate one another. He is going to South America next year to do the same thing. For this trip he is also heading to Alaska and left his home in mid June. I think we are making better time than him.
He also was also wearing a nifty device called the "SPOT", on the back of his jacket. It sends a signal to satellite every ten minutes and updates his location. It also has an built in emergency if he were to get into trouble. The device uses the same satellite that satellite phones use so his family can log on and check his location twenty four hours a day. No hiding from big brother. Do you think the SPOT could help me find a new job?
The low tech side of his bike included several plexi glass shields he had fashioned himself for a windbreak and a garden type kneeling pad bungeed to his seat. He had also pre-wired a few extra clutch cables so if one breaks he just has to undo it at either end and make the new connection with the cables that are already in place. He also had a made quick way to change his oil on the fly. Paul, maybe we will see you on the MAIN roads near Alaska.