Seriously big bumps! (Adventures in the Rocky Mountains).

June 24 to 29

Our next adventure was the drive up to the wondrous Rocky Mountains. Pretty straight forward actually as drives go but about 900 kilometers from Vancouver so we took a couple of days to reach the biggest bumps. 

Picture the scene. Big (average about 3,500 metres high) mountains, many still with snow on their tops and some glaciers that are testament to their volcanic origins, thousands of green and very tall pine trees and lots of water in the form of rivers, waterfalls and lakes. 

Unfortunately bad flooding in Alberta meant that we had to change our original plans and we couldn't get to Canmore or Calgary. However the drive up from Banff to Golden more than made up for this as you get to see the Rockies at their best.

 As well as pretty impressive mountains the Rockies have some gorgeous lakes. Lake Louise tends to get most press but nearby Lake Moraine and the Emerald Lake are also wonderful and the latter two are a particularly wonderful shade of turquoise blue. 

Emerald Lake

Mike at the Emerald Lake

Mags and Mike at a rather rainy Lake Moraine

Lake Louise

Mags at Lake Louise

Arty farty shot over Lake Louise!

The recent heavy rainfall in the area also meant that the waterfalls are pretty spectacular. 

Takakkaw Waterfall. The second largest in Canada

 Wild life is abundant around here with elk, grisly bears, white mountain goats and deer. Hiking beyond the immediate tourist trails has to be in groups of at least 4 people and the warning signs on the roads are frequent and varied! Sadly (possibly) we only saw deer and a variety of hawks, eagles and the like at close hand.

Watch out for the Elks!

As our accommodation plans had to be changed at the last minute because of the flooding around Canmore, we booked several bed and breakfasts on the hoof as we travelled. They were all very good quality and a far superior option to most hotels. The real difference between the b&b's and most hotels is the quality of welcome from the hosts and the personal service they offer. This was consistently warm and helpful. Our final night was particularly sociable as the hosts, Anne and Mike, put themselves out to spend time with us and their other two guests who happened to be from Essex in the UK and who live close to where Mike was born.

Sometimes called the "Nappa" of the North, the Okanagan region is full of good wineries. Our beautiful b & b was within walking distance of The Mission Winery so it would have been rude not to try some of their delicious wines. So good we went back for dinner!

Our self catering cottage at Solitude b&b, Sorrento

Solitude b&b. The main house

Le Beausoleil b&b in Golden

View from Lakeview Heights b&b Kelowna

Sunset at The Mission Winery Kelowna

 After all these fantastic views we came across The Log House. A crazy place with domestic animals such as horses and goats, dinosaurs in the garden and sales of everything from ginormous pastries to specialist sausages!

The goat turns the wheel so get food!

The Log House, a good place for a quick stop. It will make you smile!