Glacier, Banff and Jasper

     This area received 275 percent more snow than normal this year.  Spring thaws have to go somewhere.  That, along with excessive spring rains have caused flooding everywhere.  It has rained some part of the day for each of the thirteen days that we have been on the road.  We drove into Glacier National Park, where rain at lower elevations produces snow up there where we were.  Every road that we ventured down was closed because of snow. For some reason they didn't tell anybody that the road was closed ahead until you had driven ten or twelve miles on it.  It would have made since to put up the barrier at the beginning instead of the end.  At any rate we had no choice but to turn around and head for Canada.  The border crossing was an easy one; just a few routine questions and we were on our way north to Calgary where we spent the night   

    In the morning we headed west toward Banff National Park.  The weather was somewhat cloudy, but they were high clouds and it was still very bright.  As we traveled into the park, the mountains were only partially blocked by the clouds and mostly the views were amazing.  We stopped at The Banff Avenue B & B, to say hello to friends of our friend from Sarasota, Bob Collins.  We met Jamie and Connie, and Connie's son, Kyle.  We so enjoyed meeting them.  Jamie MacVicor is the author of a new book called Advance Man which is about his experiences as the person who makes the arrangements for the soon-to-arrive circus. Our friend Bob was also an advance man for Ringling Bros Barnum and Bailey Circus.
     We left Banff, heading north toward Jasper.  There really are no adequate words to describe that ride.  You'd have to be a great poet or writer, or perhaps a composer to come close to telling the story.  The peaks are snow covered, sometimes glaciated, stick straight up to the heavens...just spectacular.  Each scene is as astonishingly beautiful as the one you just saw and that goes on for 200 miles.  We came across four bighorn sheep along the highway and they were kind enough to stand there while we took as many pictures as we wanted.  Those curly horns are amazing.  Then, later on we saw an elk, then another, then still another, each standing by the road munching on grass.  Their antlers are covered in velvet and not too big yet.
     Eventually we headed out of the park east toward Hinton.  We'll never forget this day's ride.  We are staying here in Hinton tonight and will continue toward Dawson Creek and the Alaska Highway tomorrow.

Sunday, May 29   

     We had kind of a tiring day today, near its end finally getting on to the long-awaited Alaska Highway.  On our way we saw a momma black bear with three very small adorable cubs, but they scurried off into the brush before we could get their picture.  And we also saw a moose which was too far enough off the road to get a good look.  So, indeed, we're seeing lots of wildlife...that's what we came to see.  We drove about fifty miles on the Alaska Highway landing for the night in Fort St. John.  So far the road is just fine, but if what I read is true, that's not always the case.  I'll let you know.

     Canadian gasoline is about $5 per gallon.  Not surprising, gas cost more in Middletown, NY than anywhere else on the trip across the entire country.