A walk to where it all began for Canada's National Parks...

One of our group walks at the CVF convention was a 6 or 10 km walk to Banff Cave and Basin. This is where it all began. The hot springs were discovered back in 1883 and Banff became a National Park (the oldest one in Canada) in 1887. Due to having to attend a meeting that afternoon (boo!) I opted for the 6 km walk. What can I say...another beauty of a walk. There isn't such a thing as "ugly" in Banff - well unless you count (and I do) the construction sites of McMansions in the area.

So off on another walk....on another stunningly beautiful day.

No time to shop during a group walk - and no time to go back and snoop around in here either!

This was on the side of the building above.

Enlarged picture on a poster of the endangered Banff Springs snail found in the mineral waters....you could barely see them in the water - mere dots!

Banff Cave and Basin Visitor Centre

The original Springs.

Elevated wooden paths took you around the site.

Mineral springs water fall

Not a shabby view from the look out

Viewo of Banff townsite from Cascade Gardens....the gardens were nothing to see at the end of May after a LONG winter however I am sure they would be fantastic in the summer.

Comments

A walk along the coffin trail (and a couple of lakes) in the Lake District

While in the Lake District I wanted to do some light walking but not heavy duty hiking where I could easily get lost and my body not found for days partially eaten by hungry...sheep? Anyway, you get the drift...not too grueling and safe for a solo walker. I get a bit nervous when I am too far from civilization. There are lots of books about walking in the Lake District but they seem to be all about walking the fells in remote places...neither Thelma nor I fancied that. While browsing in the post office/shop in Ambleside one day (if you are ever in Ambleside you must go there - a treasure!) I found a stand of walk descriptions on post cards. And there I found my walk. After all who could resist a stroll on the "coffin trail" in William Wordsworth country... I took a look and thought hmm...cafe along the route...that works for me. (with at least the security of knowing there was an available "loo" along the way.) Okay, I may not have totally...

Cowboys and Outlaws in the Big Muddy of Saskatchewan

One of the (very) few advantages of being stuck at home during this pandemic has been an opportunity to see more of my home province of Saskatchewan. Last summer and fall not only did I do a couple of day trips with friends but I took four day tours with Engelheim transport, a local Regina company. I have to admit my favourite day out was the "Big Muddy Valley and Outlaws" tour. While I had been to the Big Muddy previously many years back I was eager to revisit and learn more of its history. So in early October, I hopped on board and off we went. The bus is only booked to half capacity so it was easy to social distance, hand gel was a must each time we boarded the bus, masks were required when you got on and off the bus and in any buildings we visited. I felt totally safe and oh my, it was so good to have an adventure!! Despite the name the Big Muddy isn't a big huge puddle of mud but a valley of badlands that were formed from a glac...

Peeing on fish or a fish out of water

Well this morning we headed off by boat to Siem Reap. Due to the low water on the Tonie Sap Lake (more like a river until near the end of the trip when it widened considerably) the trip would be an 8 hour one... It was supposed to be boring but ended up as anything but...in no certain order...let's see.... We had a rest stop (turned out to be the only one) along the way and the loo was just a hole over the lake and there were fish circling around underneath. Yes it was just a hole in the floor...you definitely had someone watch your stuff while you went in or one false move and your camera/purse or whatever would be in the lake. The fish either like the warm pee coming in or they are pervs and like to see ladies parts. We were just a few minutes out when all of a sudden there was something flying over me and jumping all over the floor - a little fish! Guess he wanted to join the tour. Roger reached down and scooped him up while I hooted and ...

Restless Prairie Girl

Search This Blog