For The Love of Travel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weather has changed today, raining and lots of mist and cloud. We were lucky to get that perfect day yesterday in Lake Louise, but after lots of changing hues, managed to get a spectacular shot before we departed.

I’ve been practising macro shots of birds and furry critters and am getting quite good at it I reckon.
Today we are venturing through Kicking Horse River Valley, checking out Emerald Lake and Bow Valley. Despite the weather, still gorgeous.
Staying at the Fairmont Banff Springs built initially in the late 1800’s, then a fire, and rebuilt by 1928…lots of nooks and crannies in a palatial masterpiece. Dreamed up as a luxurious development by William Cornelius Van Horne, who was then GM of the Canadian Pacific Railways. ” Since we can’t export the scenery, we’ll have to import the tourists”. He commissioned Bruce Price, who designed the initial lavish structure.

 

 

OMG, opened bedroom curtains @ 6.30 and there is a WOWIE! WOWIE! breathtaking view this morning of Lake Louise! Rushed down stairs in anticipation of sunrise and I’m glad I did….is 56 lake photos in the collection a tad excessive?? Ha ha, no will prune to 3.
Did a 7 km walk up 1000 ft to Lake Agnes tea house, which was lovely but a bit tough on knees…OUCHIES on the downward climb. Saw a squirrel sunning itself on a rock and having a munch in front of Mirror Lake (1 km from Agnes tea house). Gorgeous mountain, snow, glacier, pine tree shots….let them speak for themselves…

Also took the shuttle to the gondola/chair lift ride and that was pretty spectacular as well. Mt Temple was the absolute standout …. Bud the shuttle driver tells me he and a few Aussie mates climbed the 11,000 ft in 6 hours….SAS level of fitness I said to him!!  

I will sleep very well tonight!!!!!!!

Very lush green pastures, swamps, and fir lined mountainsides today provide welcome relief from bleak vistas of previous journeys. Snaking rivers with white water, both creamy green and iridescent blue. I sighted an eagle and an osprey first in the group this morning, which is good for me, who is usually asking others ‘ where is the bird’???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The train has passed through the Colombian Ranges, Selkirk Mountains, Van Horn range and Glacier National Park on the way to the Rockies. Lots of gorgeous cloud formations as backdrop to landscape and river shots.

As we pass through the valley through the little hamlet called Field, there are majestic mountains surrounding us and the kicking Horse River flows to our left. It is evening and the mountains have a lovely purple and greeny hue.

We pass through a series of spiral tunnels built in 1907…emerging through each to lovely mountain views, a tad disorienting but given the 260 degree twists underground…amazing feat of engineering.

We’ve been following Canadian freight trains and waiting for rail staff to complete line works, so our schedule has been affected. Apparently there are 100 passengers on board that are going onto Calgary, who will need to ‘detrain’ first at Lake Louise, so the rest of us (1200), will be delayed in arriving at the Fairmont until about 10pm. C’est la vie, awesome trip so far. Can’t wait to wake up, to take in that gorgeous view around the lake.