Waterton Lakes National Park

Here are a few photos of Waterton Lakes National Park. Spectacular views and few tourists. An amzing hotel resort. Hi Mom!

Day 10 - Smashed in Head Jump & Waterson Lake

Day 09 - Thursday, July 9/2009
Starting Location: Claresholm, AB

Ending Location: Waterson Lake,
Distance Travelled: Approx. 100 miles or 160 km by truck only.

Today, we stayed a while at the home of Chris & Adrienne Bolton and explored their backyard...an endless grassland range of the rolling hills of the foothills. Adrienne & Chris offered to take us on a tour of Smashed-In_Head Jump.  This is a protected heritage site where the Indian tribes of the Blackfoot would herd buffalo along a 85 mile corridor that they gradually narrowed, using buffalo runners dressed in wolf skins to keep the herds moving. At the right moment, when the sun was strong in the east, a young boy, dressed as a baby buffalo, would cry for help as other Indians would jump up, wave brushes and holler and would create a stampede of the buffalo who would, blinded by the sun, and in a frenzy, run right over a small cliff known as a jump.  The blackfoot would then use the dead buffalo to survive on for the winter, using almost every part of the buffalo, leaving no waste.  Very interesting site. Also saw a buffalo hide that shows a small pictogram of a significant event that happedned in the year, for the past few hundred years (ie. first sighting of a building other than a tent).
Adrienne was an amzing guide thru the museum, having previously worked there as a guide.  Her knowledge of the area was amazing and very informative.
Next, they drove us to Waterson Lake which is spectacular in beauty.  Huge mountains that border Alberta, B.C. & Montana.  A lot of wildlife, a quaint town and an amazing view. Had a coffee and bought souvenirs from an amzing resort. The person I bought the souvenir from, Luke, is a co-op studnet from Niagara College and lives only a few miles from me in St. Catharines.  Such a small world!
Thank you so much Chris & Adrienne Bolton for your exceptional Albertan hospitality.
Tomorrow, we are off to the Banff area and then up to Jasper.
 

Gas:
None today 

Photos around Claresholm

Some of the scenery around Claresholm and Chino, Chris's dog

Day 9 Driving thru the Rockies

Here are some photos as we drove thru the Rockies on our way to Banff and Lake Louise for the white water rafting. We had a great day on the water! Gotta plan for the White Owl in Ottawa!

Day 9 - Wed. July 8/09 White water rafting Banff

Day 9 - Wednesday, July 8/2009
Starting Location: Claresholm, AB

Ending Location: Banff to Claresholm, AB
Distance Travelled: Approx. 370 miles or 600 km by truck only.

Today, we drove via truck to Banff National Park and the Lake Louise area for some wild white water rafting. The drive thru the Rockies was amazing as the mountain tops were slightly under a cloud layer. Snapped pictures constantly as we drove along Hwy 1 thru to Wild White Water Rafting which was about 1 hour west of Lake Louise. The air temperature is only about 13 degrees and there is a drizzle. It's better than tomorrow as the forecast is for a high of 3, with a chance of snow in the Lake Louise area.
At the rafting sight, we dressed in wet suits, booties and gloves and rafted along the river with our guide Ted, who hails from Pickering and has been guiding for 27 years. The river had category 2,3 & 4 rapids with category 5 being the strongest navigable rapids. It was a riot as we all got soaked and laughed all the way. Tremendous views along the 14km water route. This is an excellent venue and is highly recommended. Had coffee, cookies & watermelon after the trip back. An awesome adventure.
We dropped Amber & Carly off in Banff as they are now on their own for a concert in Mission, BC. Drove back to Claresholm for the night and are eager to visit the backcountry, Waterson Provincial Park and the buffalo jumps. Weather is supposed to be wet again tomorrow, but is expected to greatly warm up by Friday.
Gas:
Claresholm $.939/li 16.245li $15.25

Day 8 - Claresholm then sightseeing Calgary

Day 8 - Tuesday, July 7/2009
Starting Location: Cochrane, AB

Ending Location: Claresholm, AB
Distance Travelled: 150 miles or 243km.

We decided to move camping locations and visit Chris & Adrienne Bolton, of Claresholm, AB. Chris is a childhood friendof Al's and they offered their home and trailer to us for our stay. Very gracious hosts. Since the weather has been so wet, and since they know the area, we took them up on their offer, so packed our bags & tent.
Drove to Claresholm is nice weather, although the area is always windy, therefore, now insect pests. Claresholm is in the rugged foothills with a view of the Rockies. It's not far from High River, home of the Mantracker.
Chris & Adrienne both work, so we headed to Calgary via truck to sightsee & shop.
The Bolton's offered to take us around the area on Thursday. Looking forward to seeing Waterson Lake Provincial Park and the foothill areas that include a buffalo jump where the Indians used to herd the buffalo over cliffs for their hunts.
Tomorrow, we're off to Banff National Park and the Lake Louise area for some wild white water rafting. This will be our first day in the Rockies.

Gas:
Claresholm $.939/li 16.245 li $15.25

Day 7 - Monday, July 6/2009
Starting Location: Cochrane, AB

Ending Location: Cochrane, AB
Distance Travelled: no travel - sight-seeing in Calgary, AB

Not a bike travel day as we drove to Calgary Saw Native dances, a roedo and a great evening show that included the winners of "So you think you can dance, Canada" and some other big name singers. Saw an excellent demonstration of bike jumping with the stunt men doing flips, leaving the bike and doing handstands in mid air, all while jumping over araamps, cars, etc. They were fantastic.
At the rodeo, saw all types of rodeo events. It rained so hard, that the corral was absolutely floating. The announcer named it Lake Calgary, but the rodeo proceeded despite the tremendous downpour. We were sitting under an overhang so did not get wet. Got very chilly. There is a huge carnival along side the stampede and fireworks to end the night.
Tommorrow we plan to visit the city side of Calgary and then stay at a place an hour south of Calgary.

Gas:

No gas day - Hooray

Corner Gas to Dinosaurs

Day 6 - Sunday, July 5/2009
Starting Location: Buffalo Pound National Park, SK

Ending Location: Cochrane, AB
Distance Travelled: 550 miles or 891km 3327 miles to date


Weather in Buffalo National Park, just outside Moose Jaw, was cool and rainy. We drove thru some rain to Drunheller, AB, where the famous Bad Lands, Dinosaur fossils and HooToos could be found. Found vast expances of farm ranges that went on forever and had very flat horizons. A different vastness than the wheaat fields of Saskatchewan. The weather cleared up very nicely and it was great biking weather. The report is for thundershowers though.
Can across the Bad Lands were were mezmerized by the location. How it all of a sudden appears out of nowhere and how carved the landscape was. Stopped along side to look at hill tops and look for fossils. Drove into Drumheller in very nice weather and visited the museu, which was very interesting. We wanted to stay more and explore outdoors, but we did not have much time as we booked a sitte in Cochrane,AB, west of Calgary.to stay. We had booked the site early due to the stampede being in Calgary and wished we had more time in the Drumheller area. We loved the area, and if time permits, we may try a drive-thru on our way back.
We stayed at a RV park and perched our tent on a rocky RRV driveway as there were few sites to find.
Tomorrow is not a bike travel day as we will drive to Calgary and take the train to the Stampede.

Gas:
Moose Jaw, SK $1.059/li 8.59 li $9.01
Swift Current, SK $1.059/li 10.136 li $10.73
Medicine Hat, AB $0.964/li 12.8l5 li $12.37
Brooks, AB $0.969/li 5.488 li $5.32
Drumheller, AB $0.94 /li 10.244 li $9.72

SpringHill RV Park, Cochrane, AB $37/site + $5 for extra adults

Day 4 Portage la Prairie, MB to Manitou Beach, SK

Day 4 - Friday, July 3/2009
Starting Location: Portage la Prairie, MB

Ending Location: Manitou Beach, SK
Distance Travelled: 450 miles or 730km 2021 miles to date


Weather in Portage la Prairie was the best so far, but after 2 hours of riding, louded over. Took the scenic route thru Qu'Appelle which was a very unique landscape of hills and valleys within the flat prairies. Saw some dinglehoppers which Carley also knows as prairie dogs.
After a long muddy detour, we ended up in Manitou Beach, SK which has a very unique lake that has high concentrations of various minerals that make it impossible to sink in. Cree Indians used the waters as a healthy bathing place and is said to have cured their disease. Only three other places in the world with these types of aters. Went into a local spa that heats the water and floated in the water for hours. The water has a very strong taste of salt, is gold in colour from the
minerals and burns any cuts or abrasions. It is said to be more bouyant than the Dead Sea.
Off to Moosejaw, Roleau and Swift Current tomorrow.

Gas:
Brandon, MB $1.049/li 14.375 li $15.00
Melville, SK $1.049/li 17.73 li $18.60
Watrous, SK $1.048/li 13.205 li $13.85

Day 3 Kakabeka Falls to Portage La Prairie, MB

Day 3 - Thursday, July 2/2009
Starting Location: Kakabeka Falls, ON
Ending Location: Portage Le Prairie, MB

Left Kakabeka Falls a bit late (10:30 a.m. and went for breakfast in town. Left for Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. Not much picture taking as we had to cover a lot of ground and we had that late start. Saw the sign indicating that the watershed now heads towards Hudson's Bay instead of south, saw a moose aalong the highway and a few deer. Kenora area looks the most beautiful area covered, but we did not stay long enough to take advantage of it's beauty. A lot of nice rivers and beautiful landscapes. Took photo at Ontario/Manitoba border and then on to Winnipeg. Landscape all of a sudden is very flat. Put the cruise control on and let the bike go in a straight line on it's own. Great for covering a lot of terrirtory quickly. Got to Miller's campsite outside of Portage La Prairie at about 9:45p.m. Nice place that is inexpensive to camp in, has all the emenities, but small airplaces take off from an airport that seems to be next door.
Was cool for half the ride, staying at about 13 degrees, but once in Dreyden, the temperature really warmed up to about 24 degrees. Off to Regina and Moosejaw.

Starting Location: Kakabeka Falls, ON

Ending Location: Portage Le Prairie, MB
Distance Travelled: 496 miles or 804km
Total to Date 1571 mi or2545 km

Gas: Price/li # Litres $ Amount
Ignace,ON $1.109/li 12.76 li $14.15
Kenora, ON $1.039/li 13.6 li $14.13
Winni

Day 2 Sault to Kakabeka Falls

Starting Location: sault Ste. Marie, ON

Ending Location: Kakabeka Falls, ON


Left Sault Ste. Marie very early in the morning. Had to wear cold weather clothing as the temperature was only 48F degrees. Most of the trip stayed cold with the temperature staying mostly at about 55 degrees. Got up to 65 at one short time. A bit cool for July 1st.
Stopped in Wawa and filled up with gas and coffee. Took photos of the big goose before moving on to White River for a photoshoot with Winnie the Pooh, a small statue set up by Disney. Stopped next at Terrace Bay for gas and lunch. Stopped in just outside of Dorion to walk the 600 foot suspension bridge. Next stop was outside of Thunder Bay to view the Terry Fox monument. It's a great view of Thunder Bay and the lake as well as the monument.
The group I,m with went to a catch & release Bass pond and enjoyed a few hours of fishing.
I went into Thunder Bay and walked thru Centennial Park which has beautiful falls and walking and biking paths. It's a memorable spot.
In Kakabeka Falls, the Provincial Park has a nice campground right next to the impressive falls.
Off to Kenora, Winnipeg and final destination Portage La Prarie, MB.

Starting Location: sault Ste. Marie, ON

Ending Location: Kakabeka Falls, ON
Distance Travelled: 525 miles or 850km
Gas: Price/li $ Amount Total
Sault Ste. Marie,ON $1.033/li 17.42li $18.00
Wawa, ON $1.079/li 12.38li $13.36
Terrace Bay, ON $1.069/li 14.97li $16.00
Kakabeka Falls, ON $1.069/li 20.3li $21.70