Chicago, August 2009

We left Chicago on a airliner bound for Calgary in Canada. Here we are waiting at the gate. McBear managed to sneak in that it was a CRJ700 from United Express.

Click each photo to enlarge

Having arrived Calgary International Airport, we went to Hertz to pick up a rented Toyta Yaris that would bring us to Jasper and even further.

Calgary, August 2009

We had limited time but we managed to go to the City centre of Calgary to see some of the city high lights, for example the Calgary Tower. Calgary is a major city in Canada and has around one million inhabitants.

Both Calgary and Jasper are located in the state of Alberta. Like Colorado in USA, the eastern parts of Alberta has plains that stretch for miles and miles. To the west the famous Rocky Mountains suddenly rises from the ground. On our way along the Trans Canada Highway 1 towards Banff we made a stop to have our photo taken on the plains with the Rocky Mountains in the horizon.

Banff National Park, August 2009

On our way through the Rockies we passed Banff and stopped at some of the many glacier lakes along the famous road, Icefield Parkway. The lake water has a particular light blue colour due to minerals in the melting glacier water.

We went to the Moraine Lake near Lake Louise. As the water is melted glacier water, it is freezing cold, but that didn't prevent people from swimming in it! Brrr!!! Being a polar bear, Roger of course wouldn't have minded a swim himself...

There are black bears and grizzly bears in both Banff and Jasper National Parks. This became evident as we walked along the paths in the woods surrounding the Moraine Lake. A sign on the path prevented us from going further. Roger read, that by law only groups of at least 4 hikers should continue.
"But... WE are bears too - even 4 of us!" Tom pointed out. However, we decided to turn around.
Kevin, being a bit philosophical, pointed out: "So, now there are 3 kinds of bears in Banff National Park: Grizzly Bears, black bears, and ... the Travelling Bears!"

Lake Louise, August 2009

We went to visit the famous Lake Louise. Lake Louise is another lake fed by glacier water, so the water has a special blue colour.

As Lake Louise has become a major tourist attraction a huge hotel, Chateau Lake Louise, has been built at the lake shore.

Lake Louise, August 2009

Distances are great in Canada. The distance between Lake Louise and Jasper is 228 km! That's more than between Dublin and Limerick in Ireland! And there are NO other towns between Lake Louise and Jasper. We therefore decided to stay the night over in the village Lake Louise. Here we are, having just arrived at the Post Hotel.
"Now, this is a posh hotel!" Roger reminded us, "so make good use of it!"
When we checked out the next day, McBear nearly had a heart attack as the bill came to 376 Canadian Dollars!

Our room had a couple of HUGE beds. We shared one bed - that is, Roger shared one side of the bed while the rest of us shared the other side.

Lake Louise, August 2009

In the evening, McBear and Roger went down to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere in the lounge. Hanging above the fireplace was a huge moose head.
"Good Lord!" McBear burst out. "I hope we are not going to get toy animals that size at home!"
"It's not a TA," Roger pointed out, " - it's a moose however stuffed."

Next morning Roger wanted to have a bath. He was imagining that the water was the Arctic sea. But something was missing.
"There are no icebergs..." he realized.
"Well..." McBear began, "down the hall is an ice cube dispenser, howabout that?"
"Brilliant! McBear, do me a favour and get loads of ice cubes!"
But when we poured cubes into the water, the cubes melted almost as soon as they hit the water...
"Oops, there won't be many cubes left for your bath..." McBear said.

Columbia Icefield, Jasper National Park, August 2009

As we headed north towards Jasper, we were driving along the Icefield Parkway and we passed several glaciers including the mighty Columbia Icefield which itself has several glaciers. We stopped to have a look at the big Athabasca Glacier.

Here we are at the bottom of the Athabasca Glacier. Since 1844 the glacier has retracted a mile and there are concerns that it could melt away completely within the next 100 hundred years.