Marlipops fell over today.
We had not even hooked up the peril to start our trip, when she was off shutterbugging. That is a word we have discovered used to describe a snaphappy person who takes a picture or two.
Anyway, she stepped onto the grass verge at the side of the road, and it was wet from the rain, and over she went, smack onto her right shoulder. After the past year of trying to get her left shoulder fixed, she damages her other one!!
So the Captain picked her up and manfully carried her to the coach, and spent half an hour massaging some feeling back into the damaged area.
It is said that the drive from Jasper to Banff, in Alberta, Canada, known as the Icefield Parkway, is the third most scenic and beautiful drive in the world.
Well, numbers one and two must really be out of this world, coz this drive today was mind blowingly, breathtakingly stupendous.
We have decided not to try and describe the splendor of this place, just strongly suggest you go on line and look it up, or better still, come see it for yourself.
We are actually going to drive it again, from Banff to Jasper and back, tomorrow. This is for two main reasons. Firstly, it is very difficult to stop the coach, or The Titanic as it has been christened by a certain nameless relative, Larry, to take every picture opportunity. It will be much easier to pull over anywhere when we drive the peril.
The second reason is that it was raining today, and we mist ( get it?) the first 40 miles or so coz of non visibility.
What we did see, when Mr. Sun decided to show his big round face, was enough for a total change of plan, again.
We had decamped Whistlers Mountain campsite in Jasper, taken pix of some mule deer wandering around the site, and were heading to Calgary, via the Icefield Parkway, to find a site to stay at for several days, even a week, to take care of some bizniss and maintenance.Once we had driven the Parkway, we decided to stay in Banff, Marlipops did her magic with campsite locating, and we are currently sitting in Tunnel Mountain Trailer Park government campsite, just on the northeast of Banff. A wonderful site, with full hook ups, quiet and full of trees and greenery. The staff are friendly and helpful, not like them at Whistlers.
One very interesting thing they have here is large animal bridges.
Once the Parkway ends at Lake Louise, the road becomes 4 lane and very busy, and is fenced on both sides to protect both animals and vehicles. So, as there are lots of big animals, moose, cariboo ( that’s how they spell it up here, eh) elk, deer and bears, they have constructed two wide bridges out of rock and earth and grass, to make them feel like normal ground, for the big critters to safely cross over the road.
Canada is an enigma.
There is obviously a very strong American influence, but also there is a British feel to the place. The currency has The Queen on everything, the government is exactly along British lines, the newspapers are written Englishly, the spelling of words is the English way. It is also interesting to note that a lot of the Canadians we have met speak with a French accent. Strike one misconception, that only certain areas of this country have French influence. Having said that, the other misconception that anything with a French connection is not good, is totally wrong also. There has only been one person we have met who was less than helpful. Everyone else is pleasant, smiling, and eager to help. A very enjoyable country to visit. Prices are higher than the States, but a) we are in tourist areas, and b) from what we see and hear, state benefits are better here, so the money has to come from somewhere. If we don’t like the prices, we shouldn’t be here!!
Enough.
The good news from England for our American viewers is The Wolves won again.
Animal watch today was mule deer.
