Leg 4

Norm's Ride
Calgary, AB to Jasper, AB

Leaving Calgary we head toward Banff National Park.  It's a beautiful. sunny day.  The temperature is just right for riding.

Main Street Banff

  A few miles inside the Park we see a group of cars stopped which usually means some kind of animal is present.  A group of Bighorn sheep is leisurely grazing on the mountain side.  They are so majestic and look perfectly at home climbing the mountain's rocky ledges.

Banff City Limits Sign

During the next fuel stop I enthusiastically talk the other riders into stopping at the small resort town of Banff.  It's a bustling tourist town known for its mountainous surroundings and hot springs.  Our main mission for stopping today, however, is to have lunch and purchase local decals. Mission accomplished!

Lake Louise is our next stop.  The last time Norm and I were here you could almost see the bottom of the lake because it was so clear.  Today the sign reads, "Thin Ice".  Even though it was mostly covered with ice, it was still a spectacular sight to see, especially since it is framed by such towering snow-capped peaks.  Breath taking!

Group Photo at Lake Louise

I'm always amazed at the beautiful scenery and wildlife in Canada.  Today is no exception.  We saw three bears and four mountain goats before arriving Jasper.

Lake Louise

We decided to camp tonight and as soon as we finished setting up camp, a Canadian Park Ranger informed us that a female elk had just charged one of the other campers. They were warning us to be on the look out, but they were going to try and find her and gently persuade her to leave the campground.  He no sooner left when she appeared.  We kept a close eye on her, but she seemed more interested in grazing.  That was ok with us.  It's never a good idea to make any female mad, especially one that's bigger than you.

Athabaska Falls on the Icefields Parkway