After a decent night’s sleep in the antique hotel, I woke up early, schlepping the gear to the bike from the third floor down the narrow stairs and headed around the block for coffee and wifi. So far this trip has been a bit thin on connectivity, as the parks and campgrounds have been in areas with no cell coverage and when I’ve moteled it, for some reason internet has been poor to nonexistent.
After coffee, a muffin and a bit of email I fired up the bike to find a gas station. By the time I was gassed and geared up again, I’d had three conversations with other patrons about the bike, where I’d ridden from and suggestions for places to see. So far the Canadians have been friendly, and except for the lack of a southern drawl and the use of eh, I’d almost think I was back in Texas.
From Cochrane I took Highway 1A, which I guessed was the old original highway and looked a bit more interesting on the map, until it eventually connected back into Highway 1. The temp was cool and the skies overcast and threatening, but on the horizon I could see blue skies over the Rockies.
The road was a nice ride with plenty of curves and increasingly beautiful scenery, until the merge into the main highway.
It wasn’t long before the mountains and valleys were eliciting Holy Crap! and other juvenile remarks of wonder from me. The peaks were stunning and valleys filled with evergreens and pale green rivers were absolutely beautiful. For those who haven’t been, the Park is basically a very well maintained multi-lane highway with the mountains distant on either side. There are relatively few pullouts for photos or vistas and it’s not like Glacier or other parks where one is close to the scenery.
The scale of the Canadian rockies were much grander than the Colorado rockies - so much so I called the Canadian rockies the Mother of All Rockies. Seriously impressive!
After I bought my park pass, it wasn’t much longer before the exit for the town of Banff came up, and I tooled into the posh ski resort town for a few pictures and to say I’d been. It is much like Aspen or any other resort, with pricey shops and milling tourists but with a more international flair,
The day was spectacular and clear with blue skies, sun and few clouds. I found a coffee shop and wifi, only to find the internet not working of course. I was beginning to question the North American status of better technology, which was proving difficult and poor on this trip. I had far more access and reliability in Mexico!
My internet uploading plan now in ruins, I walked the town a little and enjoyed the sunshine.
My travel plans had been a bit vague, needing to be back in Kalispell, Montana by Thursday afternoon to meet my friend who was flying in. I had planned on heading on to Golden and then turning south, but began to realize I would be riding long days to make the deadline. After being on the road for nearly two weeks, I decided to make it an easier ride.
I rode north to Lake Louise and though bombed by tourists, the lake was truly stunning. I did a few selfies and snaps of the lake, then turned back south for 93 and the road through Kootenay Park to Radium Hot Springs to shave a couple hours off of the next day’s ride.
Highway 93 was certainly no slouch for scenery and after a while I got a headache from looking up and around so much. I stopped at several spots for pics and to walk a bit.
At the Welcome to British Columbia sign, I pulled off to find a husband and wife on a Harley taking selfies. They’d ridden from Minnesota and were heading down to the east side of Glacier NP. Wishing them well, I headed on for Radium.
Several times deer crossed the road and at one point there was a herd of mountain goats on the roadside. They didn’t seem to be afraid and I was able to get a few pics from fairly close range.
It was late in the day by the time I rolled into Radium, finding a good motel and then hitting the hot springs for a soak.
The Banff/Kootenay Parks are indeed as stunning as I’ve heard and I regret not having time to make it to Yoho and even further north to Jasper. A good excuse to come back wink wink nudge nudge.
The last 2 days have been slabbing it - albeit through some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. Tomorrow I head south for Kalispell
Manana Amigos!