One Day In Banff

Day 8

We have just the one day in Banff so the plans are made and we are off and running by 9.00am. This will be our first trial of driving since the well address Italy drive, hopefully we have learn from that. The first thing to make it easier is it is an automatic car that straight away removes some tension , secondly it in a small country town , and last of all the speed limit is slow to very slow so that make more time to make a decision.

So, in the car, up the road turn left turn fight follow this til you reach surprise corner,from here we view, thanks to incredible clear sky and the sun perfectly positioned we can see the magnificent Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel,it is a glorious old style building, set in the middle of a green sea of trees. We leave here to go to another lookout called Hoodoo viewpoint and here we have spectacular views ire in 180 degrees.

We move on to Two Jacks lake, compared to others this was small in size ,but the tranquility and the beauty of this spot would not be surpassed . We now continue on to we come to Lake Minnewanka much bigger but it is also much busier which take away the beauty because you have boats and jet skis racing all around, plus the never ending parade of tourist buses there was nowhere to hide. We had a bite to here then continued on to mount Norquay. This situated on the other side of Banff across the Trans-Canada HWY1.

The morning has been so clear but a breeze has come up and little by little that dame smoke has returned. We decide to continue our journey up back will make a decision if will ride the chair lift to the top whew we get there. No good can't see the top of the mountain so decide against any further climbing, and how lucky was I , we got out of the car looking around and to my right I caught a glimpse of a coyote stalking Something, within a split second he had pounced grab what appeared to be a ground squirrel and moved off , now I don't know if he appreciated me being very quite or if he was just a show off but Shirley and I follow behind and he stop , gave me his side profile , then as if he could read my mind he lifted his kill in his mouth ,waited for me to take that shot then off he run . Truely amazing. We saw chipmunks squirrel, deer and Hoary Marmot and of course the poor ground squirrel.

Time had flown and needed to get back to drop the car off as we are going to hick along the Bow River Trial to see the waterfalls then continue on to the Fairmont Hotel and golf Club. Following the trail has that calming effect as the water cascades over rocks and drops and cannons into the canyon face on its way to the still water. I have taken a couple of movies of this hope it get on the blog r. Move on ,up to the Fairmont ,this is a classy place beautiful outside and in.we were here for a drink as a true travellers would do ,try out the most expensive place in town. It hard to distribute but it felt good to there , the drinks felt good going down the cost was responsible what more could one want .our first drink was on the porch balcony which had views of the Bow river and the golf course stunning, we then move into the bar and again the service was of the standard you expect from these classier establishment.

We leave and head home to get ready for a dinner at Junipers Bistro restaurant ,on a hill overlooking the valley gorgeous and the meal was the same. I put in a photo of the entree menu and the mains ,for entree we shaded Wild AHI Tuna Poke and mains we both chose the duck abreast. The photo will help.So that day 8 in a nutshell ,full on let me tell you but good. Hope all fit and healthy .

Love Shirley and John