Day 7 - Thursday, September 13^th

Banff

                The first thought that ran through my mind as I was slowly waking up was whether or not I would be able to move after the 26 miles yesterday? Had to run through a quick test: Toes OK, Feet OK, and even the legs seemed OK – that was – until the moment I tried to walk! It felt just like two wooden legs. I was so stiff.

                Stopping by Mt Robson visitor center I met 4 Danes touring Canada. Sometimes the world is so small. Jerry was for the first time in the minority with all those Danes surrounding him. After talking to the Danes for a short while Jerry and I went to the town of Banff. The town was just like Gatlinburg, TN – a tourist trap with all these fake Swiss Alp Style houses and souvenir stores on every corner.

                Right outside of town on the other side we saw a sign pointing to a lake. The trail, though, was two miles to the lake. Trying to talk Jerry out of going there was hopeless, we were going. Four stiff legs, a lot of bear calling, and we finally found a small pond with a few common ducks! Needless to say we were a little disappointed. Although the lake was pretty and the ducks were neat to watch it was just not so spectacular in comparison to all what we had seen yesterday on our long hike. I guess everything is relative.

                Driving back through v Banff National Park, however, was no less “fantabulous” than it was last time we drove through. This time we had the sun on the other side of the road highlighting the mountain walls on that side.

                It was late afternoon before we pulled into the same campsite as we had stayed at last time coming through Banff – Mosquito Creek!