Day 23- Jasper

Today we considered  a downtime day. Although the itinerary mentioned several items, such as the Jasper Tram and a visit to Maligne Canyon and Lake, we chose to take it easy. I did hear that several people including Richard and Susan, Michael and Sherry and others, did take the tram and found it cold, windy, but very enjoyable. Also Paul and Marie Isabelle went to Maligne Canyona and Lake and found those enjoyable as well.
We puttered about the room in the morning then went for brunch downtown to Papa Joes or something like that. After receiving a recommendation as to which laundromat to visit, we headed that way, but stopped in the camera store on the way. Both Linda and I bought new cameras- me because mine is putting strange marks in every picture, and cleaning the lense didn't help, and Linda because her new camera makes all pictures yellow, so she stopped taking pictures. We both love our new cameras- both Fuji's.

Upon completion of the laundry, we did a bit of shopping, then headed back to the hotel.
Linda was washing her Morgan, and I was ironing, when a young reporter came by and set up an appointment to interview us. which we did at 5 PM. This is for the local newspaper.
Then we prepared for dinner at the hotel dining room- the Moose;s nook, at 7:30 PM. Linda insisted that we stop by Fiona's on the way to dinner, and lo and behold, another celebration for my birthday- champagne and everyone on the porch,

Then onward to dinner at the Moose's nook where Ken had made group arrangements for dinner. Linda had arranged for birthday cake for me and Callie, whose birthday is Monday. For Paul's birthday, we had squelched sparkers on the cake, but somehow, the group managed to convince the waiters to be in on having sparklers on the cake.

Lo and behold, the fire alarms went off, and the other diners in this posh place were soon laughing as several people were waving napkins at the fire alarms.   Fortunately there were no sprinklers that went off, nor fire department showing up. Everyone left in the dining room enjoyed delicious cake.

Tomorrow is another long drive to Quesnel where Ken and Pat will join back up with us.

Day 22- Lake Louise to Jasper

Having slept in on the wonderful Fairmont bed, we packed up and headed for breakfast about 10:30 AM in the Poppy room. At $56 for breakfast, we decided that tomorrow in Jasper we would head to town for breakfast, rather than pay Fairmont breakfast prices. After stopping for 94 octane gas, we headed up the Icefields parkway to Jasper. We had intended on stopping at the Athabasca glacier for the ride on the "bus" on the glacier, but we were not impressed with the glacier, after having been to Norway and Alaska and walked on much bigger glaciers. We hear it has decreased in size immensely over the part 15 years (an article in the local newspaper talked about it disappearing in the next 50 years ) A few people went on the ride and thoroughly enjoyed it. I can't believe that having buses drive over it can help save it. I doubt in the US, it would be allowed.

We arrived at the Fairmont Jasper Lodge at 4 PM, only to find the rooms not ready yet. A complimentary drink, a few words with the head housekeeper, and our rooms were ready by 4:30 PM rather than the 5:30 they first told us. That is unacceptable for a high caliber hotel to not have rooms ready by at least 4 PM. It is a very spread out hotel with bungalows of a few rooms stretched out over a lot of acreage. A lad on a bicycle lead us to our room and helped with the bags. Arrangements had been made to park our cars in the staff parking lot, so there is a lot of calling for the golf cart to move us about, or walking a lot.

As it was my birthday, and my dinner was at the Jasper Brewing Company, we called cabs for the 4 mile drive to town.  Everything was set up as requested. We had a delicious, although noisy, dinner with several Happy Birthdays sung.

Tales of bear sightings including watching a bear devour a tourists picnic we shared (pictures coming).  14 of us crammed into the cab van to return home with laughter all the way. Linda called us shortly  to say that Ken and Pats daughter had had her baby daughter, Phaedra, just a bit ago, on my birthday. I had predicted that when first told of the due date which was several days earlier. We are wondering if Pat loosened up that filter so she wouldn't miss her grandchild's birth? They intend on meeting us Sunday in Quesnel, if they can tear themselves away from the new baby.
Tomorrow is another  "lie in" day, and opportunity to see more of the Jasper area. Linda wants to shop, and of course, it is again laundry time.

Day 21- Cranbrook to Lake Louise

Today was the first cold and dreary day. Those who had wondered why we were carrying the heavy clothes and blankets now understood why they were told to bring them. It didn't rain, and a few bits of sunshine peaked out at intervals.

Otherwise it was a pretty drive into Banff then Lake Louise with a stop and a walk at Marble Canyon.

We first went to Banff, quickly left after a short lunch just out of town at Phil's. It was Canada Day so the town was packed and very active. Basically there was no where to park. We did notice a few Morgans in the Hospital parking lot, but we wouldn't park there to take up patient parking. Having been given an off highway route to Lake Louise, we took the Parkway and saw some goats, and others saw bears.

As it was close to my birthday (tomorrow), we upgraded our room at the Chateau Lake Louise to get a lakeview room, and it was worth every penny. (view from the window0). I sat in the window seat and read 1/2 of my book looking out at the beautiful view.

Although I doubt mom had ever stayed at this hotel as a child, she spoke often of going there as well as to Jasper, since she lived in Calgary. When I mentioned to Philip that we would probably never be back there, he said he would like to do the transcontinental train across Canada, staying at the big hotels, so perhaps we will be back. Ken and Richard had made dinner reservations for many of us, so we enjoyed a gourmet, although a bit skimpy on the volume and pricey, lovely meal in the Fairview dining room. (my trout dinner)

Alan reported he was having coolant problems and would be late to arrive today.
We cancelled the 8 AM drivers meeting the next day, in order to alllow people to enjoy the location a bit longer.