Lots of Photos...

I've learned that everyone wants 

to be on top of the mountain, 

but all the happiness and growth 

occurs while you're climbing it. 

This day has been a real gift - we woke up to beautiful sunshine this morning and it was gorgeous all day. Patti went on some gondola rides while Ray and I hiked. I'll share a few pictures from yesterday and today.

Patti and I unknowingly ended up with the same shirt so we both wore them yesterday.

Beautiful Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
The turquoise water is gorgeous.

I thought it was cool; Ray thought the temps were great.

A panoramic view of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise from the lake side.

Moraine Lake, Banff National Park
The lake is extremely low and that is still ice on the lake.

Entrance to the Bow Valley Parkway, Banff National Park
When possible, we've been driving this instead of the the Trans-Canada Highway
because it is very scenic and there are places to pull off the road.

Just after sunrise this morning from our balcony

Banff National Park scenery

Banff National Park scenery

Near Norquay Ski Area
One of the most relaxing places I have ever found!
Later in the day, we got to sit in those chairs and could have stayed for hours.

View from the chairs above.

Taken close to the red chairs
It was a little windy!

Same red chairs near Norquay Ski Area

Banff National Park scenery

Banff National Park scenery

By such a river it is impossible to believe that one will ever be tired or old. Every sense applauds it - The Sound of Mountain Water, Wallace Stegner (read on sign near entrance of Johnston Canyon)

Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park

Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park
I really did not enjoy the catwalks!

Lower Falls in Johnston Canyon

Can you see the rainbow?
Blue arrow is pointing at it.

Cave at Lower Falls

View after going through the cave.
We got VERY wet from the spray.

Upper Falls in Johnston Canyon

Us with wet hair near one of the 'minor' waterfalls in Johnston Canyon

Beautiful tall trees in Johnston Canyon

We hiked down to Pilot Pond at a pull off on Bow Valley Parkway

The Vermillion Lakes, Banff National Park

A full moon rising - moon it is above the rightmost mountain peak.
Taken from our balcony.

Sun!

Busy day today. We went to Lake Louise in Banff National Park. It looks exactly like the pictures you see with that beautiful turquoise water! Also saw a black bear. And, maybe best of all, we saw the sun!

Maybe I'll have time for some pictures tomorrow.

A Few Photos and Mountie Hats

We spent time in Banff National Park today. It's been cloudy but it hasn't rained much. 

We stopped at Lake Minnewanka.

Lake Minnewanka scenery

Ray at Lake Minnewanka

Lake Minnewanka scenery

We had lunch at Johnson Lake.

View from our picnic at Johnson Lake

View from our picnic at Johnson Lake

Tonight on the way to dinner, the sun came out!

Photo from Railway Ave

When we got back, I snapped some shots from the deck - love those mountains!

Photo from our deck

Photo from our deck

Photo from our deck

The real excitement of the day was the Flat Mes getting there Mountie hats! They celebrated by climbing a rock wall. 

The Flat Mes

We plan more time in Banff National Park tomorrow.

Congrats Colter, eh?

We just found out that Grandson Colter was given a 'Future President' award today in his first grade class!  

John Quincy Adams said "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

Congratulations Colter!!! We love you and are proud of you!

Grace, Jackson, and Colter attended a new school this year and have done very well. We are so proud of all of you!

A Rainy Canadian Day

We have LOTS of daylight. It is light by about 5AM and gets dark by about 10 PM! We awoke to a cloudy sky and a light drizzle. The clouds in the mountains are neat this morning - here are some shots from the deck.

Since we were in rain, we spent much of the morning shopping in Canmore. First stop was a GREAT fabric store, The Sugar Pine Company. There were notions,

 sweatshirts, shirts, gifts, some fabric,

and then the entire upstairs was fabric, kits, and patterns!

And I did not get a photo of the yarn! I did find a t-shirt, some post cards, a neat quilt kit for Halloween, and yarn for two pair of socks. Maybe I'll find time to stop by again before we leave. So glad we found this place!

This afternoon we went to Banff National Park. The city of Banff is within the National Park. 

When we were taking pictures of the above sign, Ray noticed the back of the sign down the road. Interesting! That is a picture of Mount Rundle.

We saw the Banff Fairmont Hotel. I looked a little bedraggled from all of the rain...

Here's a photo of the Hotel with some guy's head - sorry!

It's not raining tonight but the clouds are moving in. The forecast doesn't look good for tomorrow but we are hoping for some rainless hours.