Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Banff Townsite

We left the Icefield and drove into Banff National Park. Many tourists would visit Lake Louise in the park, but we decided to go to Lake Moraine which is nearby. Many of these big lakes in the national parks are basically glacier-fed, that is, the snow from the glaciers melted and flow into the lakes. These lakes have an interesting turquoise colour and they are very still.

To get to Lake Moraine, we had to drive up a mountain road. While at the lake, we walked, climbed up a huge woodpile, and perched ourselves on a protruding rock which would have been a good launching platform into the lake below.

I was enjoying the view when Dey spotted an animal scurrying about on the woodpile. Charlene and Dey took some time trying to get a picture of that animal which I could not see at all. However I was fortunate to have this curious squirrel coming up to me. I bugged Dey to take its photo and he managed to get this great natural shot of wildlife at its best pose. It probably just wanted to get its photogenic face taken.

We found our tummies grumbling and decided to go to Banff Townsite for lunch. It is such a bustling town, mostly due to the fact that there were many tourists there, so food and other stuff are not cheap.

Finally we decided to leave Banff and proceeded on to Mt Revelstoke where our final rest stop would be before heading back to Vancouver. The three of us were looking forward to the hostel, as we had confirmed that there would indeed be a nice bathroom and a bedroom to ourselves. In fact, it is a suburban house which has been converted into a hostel.

Outside Mt Revelstoke Hostel

We took the much desired and missed hot showers and cooked a simple dinner. We took turns to check our emails using the PC installed in the den, while chatting with an Australian who had travelled around Canada.

We had hoped that it would not rain the next morning as we had made plans to take up horse-riding lessons from a rancher at Mt Revelstoke. However the good weather did not last, and it was a real bummer as we were all looking forward to it. As there were only 2 available horses and a donkey left at the ranch, Dey and I were hoping to see Charlene on the donkey. She had ridden on a horse before, and the rancher had told her that she, being the only one with some riding experience, should ride the donkey instead. It sounded really funny because I thought I would be the one to ride that pony since it is smaller and supposedly more manageable than the horse.

As we loaded our packs into the car, we found out that air had leaked out from the back tyre on the left, and it was now really flat. Thank God that we were not on the highway when this happened although I would have hoped that this leak did not occur at all. And it was most fortunate that a garage (with a cute and muscular mechanic called Jeremy J) was just behind the hostel. Before long, we were on our way again, back to Vancouver.

AFTERTHOUGHT

Dey and I had earlier joked about how this trip aboard would either bring us closer together or break us up. We are still together, occasionally reminiscing the great times we had there. And I am sure anyone on a tour to Canada would do so too.

CREDITS & SPECIAL THANKS TO -
Charlene for being the Editor
David for being the Photographer
Christina for writing too much
20th Dec 2000

The End