There's no place like home

Just creepy or a swinger?

We went to a restaurant in Calgary for lunch. Drinks, sandwiches, nothing out of the ordinary. Until the bartender showed up. He shook my hand, which both of us thought was a bit odd. (Thankfully, I washed my hands before the food came.) Then he was really friendly and inquisitive about us, our trip, etc. When he brought the check, he also brought us his card... We paid cash so there was no way to track us down.

Post Hotel at Lake Louise

A beautiful log hotel with cabins along the Bow River.

Columbia Icefield

The Columbia Icefield is enormous! It's the largest accumulation of ice south of the Arctic Circle. It straddles both Banff and Jasper National Parks. Meltwaters flow into the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans.

We took an Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier and stood on ice that is as thick as the Eiffel Tower is tall.

Icefields Parkway

We drove from Banff National Park to Jasper National Park on the Icefields Parkway, an amazingly scenic road with glaciers, lakes and waterfalls.

This picture of Peyto Lake was taken from the Bow Summit hiking trail.

Sunrise at Lake Louise

Lake Moraine

This morning, we made a quick stop at Lake Moraine.

A rock for Mom

Alison and her mom were planning a trip to Lake Louise in 1999, but her mom passed away from cancer before they could visit. So Alison decided to bring a part of the lake back home to her mom's grave. Don't tell customs ;)

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Amazing! We got upgraded to a suite and they gave us a bottle of champagne for our anniversary.

Room with a view

Lake Louise and the Victoria Glacier from our window at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Hike to Lake Agnes tea house

This afternoon, we hiked 4.4 miles from Lake Louise to the Lake Agnes tea house. We climbed 1,200 vertical feet to more than 7,000 feet in elevation. Lake Agnes was still partially frozen. We had hot chocolate and sandwiches before hiking back down.

Vermillion Lakes

Just outside Banff

3 grizzly bears

This morning, we left Banff for Lake Louise. Instead of taking the Trans-Canadian Highway, we drove on the Bow Valley Parkway. As soon as we got on the road, a mother grizzly bear and her two cubs stuck their heads out of the woods. The three bears ran across the street behind the car and back into the woods. They were long gone in a matter of moments...

The Buffaloberry

Is an amazing 4-suite B&B in Banff. James and Theresa are incredible hosts who have opened up their beautiful home to guests. Highly recommend!
http://www.buffaloberry.com/

View of Banff from Sulphur Mountain

Gondola ride

On Sulphur Mountain

Lake Minnewanka

Elk grazing

Along the Bow River in Banff

Lake cruise

This morning, we're off the Lake Minnewanka, then the Banff Gondola at Sulphur Mountain and the Hot Springs.

Guess who?

No one in these parts has ever heard of Liz Warren. Hmmm.

Hiking along the Bow River

After breakfast, we hiked along the Bow River from downtown Banff to the Bow River Falls and the Fairmount Banff Springs Hotel.