We left our bags outside our room at about 6:45 and headed down for breakfast. When it was time to load the bus we got on and found the row with our names on it. We were on the right side almost all the way in the back.
This blog is co-authored by Penny and Paul and was posted by Penny. If you read Penny’s blog you’ve read this. It covers day 2 quite well so I figured I’d save time and just use it.
Today we boarded the bus for our trip south to Waterton. The first detour was a quick spin through downtown Calgary including a trip past the Calgary Stampede grounds.
Our tour guide described the stampede as a 10 day period of parties, fun and rodeos and very little productive work. Off we go again and our next little fun thing was passing the Nanton area where the British conducted flight training during WWII. One of very few flight worthy WWII Lancaster bombers was sitting next to the road on display. This was very unusual since it is normally inside the hangar and all the passing bus usually gets is a quick peek as they drive by.
We then headed to a reproduction of Fort Macleod, the North West Mounted Police fort that was actually the beginning of law and order in the area.
Next was lunch at Johnny’s a restaurant which was a wonderful western food and Chinese restaurant that had fantastic food.
We headed off to Waterton and the territory went from plains to mountains and it is fantastic.
We stopped at the Prince of Wales Hotel to take pictures,
continued to a set of waterfalls
and then to our motel. All of the tour rooms overlook the lake and it is beautiful.
As we passed a visitor center our tour guide mentioned that there was a strenuous trail that had fantastic views. Paul and I decided to try it.
The Bear Hump trail is only about 3/4 mile long but also rises 700 ft. It is quite steep and we had to stop and rest several times on the way up. Penny and I almost decided to turn back when we met some nice people from Canada who were also climbing. They said it was worth it and Penny struck up a conversation with the woman in the family. That seemed to give Penny a second wind and we forged on with a little more energy. The trail got steeper as we climbed with large beam stairs keeping the trail from washing away.
We made it to the top-and the view made the climb worthwhile.
The trip down went a lot faster and our legs were quite rubbery when we reached the bottom. We were walking back to our hotel – with some doubts of making it back in time for dinner- when a passing truck stopped and asked if we wanted a lift. It was the Canadian family we met on the trail . So we got back in plenty of time.
We have had fantastic weather here and everybody we meet in Canada has been cheerful and friendly. I thought the people where we live were friendly, but these Canadians are putting them to shame-you betcha!
After a very good dinner (the food has been great here,too) we took a walk out the back door of our lake-front room and took more pictures.
Tomorrow we ride the red jammer bus at Glacier National Park in Montana. Our cell phone should work normally since we will be in the USA. We will likely call.
The weather is supposed to stay beautiful all week. The only down side is that there are fires West of here causing the hazy conditions you see in the pictures.
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