Day 26
We are staying at the Banff House B&B in Banff. We slept really well last night, and had to force ourselves to get up and join everyone for breakfast Connie, the B&B owner, served fresh cut fruit, scrambled eggs, bacon, and English muffin. Two other couples are staying here, all retired teachers from Wisconsin.
After easing into the morning, we drove the Lake Minnewanka. First we circled Minnewanka Loop, next we parked and walked a portion of one of the pathways at Lake Minnewaka. This lake is the only one in the National Park that allows motorized boats to access its water. The glacial lake is also the longest lake in the National Park at 28 km.
As we left for Johnson Lake, we saw some deer off the side of the road. At Johnson Lake, numerous people were picnicking and swimming enjoying the weather. There is a path around the lake that we began to hike on, but apparently Todd has great blood, because the mosquitoes would not leave him alone, so we cut the hike short.
After returning to town to pick up some lunch food at Safeway (a wrap and broccoli salad), we drove to the Gondola at Sulphur Mountain. We ate lunch before purchasing a ticket for the 8 minute ride up the mountain.
Once at the top, it was still a hike to the summit of the mountain (on the positive side, the walkway was a boardwalk (versus rock, gravel, or dirt all of which we have experienced). The views from the top, Sanson Peak – elevation: 2,256m were AMAZING! This was the site of a meteorological observatory built in 1903. The small old building still exists with its rustic interior furnishings viewable through windows.
On our travels today, we spotted a few Big Horn Sheep, loons, and some deer, but the highlight occurred when we went to back into our parking spot at the B&B across the road, munching on the grass was AN ELK! Delhi, India has their cows roaming the streets, Banff, Alberta has their elk! Great photo-op!
After the excitement, Todd went for a bike ride and I went for a walk to the downtown area (no purchases); the elk went across the road to the hotel gardens to munch on their flowers. Prior to dinner, we chatted with the other guests at the B&B over wine and cheese and crackers. Tomorrow they leave for Jasper, so we gave them some recommendations.
For dinner, we opted to go to St. James Irish Pub. Well (well rated on Trip Advisor) did we get entertained and not in a good way. We were sat at a table across form the bar. At the bar was a very loud, obnoxious, young woman and her woman friend who were chatting with one of the local male patrons. Todd and I, and the table of four beside of us were sending looks their way, and when the F-bombs began, one of the men next to us made a comment to keep it down. All of a sudden, the male patron at the bar turns to the table beside us and accuses them of being Brits and killing people, and who did they think they were. They were from Michigan and were just as appalled at the display at the bar as we are. The guy was eventually escorted out, but the loud, obnoxious woman and her woman friend just turned their attention to other men at the bar. We continued chatting with the people next to us as none of us could believe the display. Todd and I shared a salad and an order of fish and chip s, and we couldnt wait to finish our meal and drinks and exit. Out on the street, even with all the traffic, we couldnt believe how quiet it was .