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I know that probably everyone has seen the pictures and surely some of you have been here, but this is everything I thought it would be and more. Jan, we WILL come here and I promise I'll fly. I've often said that, as much as I like photography, NO photograph can match the awe of seeing places like this with your own eyes. How blown away am I? Just know this, any of you who know me have heard me say that the most beautiful place on earth (that I've seen) is the Road to Hana on Maui, which Jan and I have done 3 times and I'd do again any time, and hopefully will.
Well, if I had to pick the one most spectacularly beautiful view, this is it. Perhaps Lake Geneva, Switzerland is on a par with this spot because I've seen some great pictures of that, but have not been there......yet. (Message to Dan & Marilyn Flaherty: Let's not put off the Germany, Austria, Switzerland idea for too long.) Also know that it is curently 1:30 AM and I've been so inspired that I've been in my room since 8:00 PM writing the last three entries to
Mountain Goat
In Banff National Park the blog. (With the hourly trip outside to smoke a cigarette since the hotel is non-smoking of couse)
But, I get ahead of myself. When leaving Banff, I planned to see Lake Louise and continue traveling through Banff Park, Jasper Park and probably spend the night in Jasper. Lake Louise was one of the must see places on my itinerary, but when I got here I just had to stay overnight. So I drove all of 38 miles today. I drove here through the park on highway 1A, which is called the Bow Valley Road. I chose that because it is slower and more scenic then the big highway, Trans-Canada 1. Following the signs to Lake Louise, I came upon the one and only hotel on the lake, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. http://www.fairmont.com/LakeLouise/
I wonder how much they paid for this unbelevable piece of real estate. It sort of reminds me of the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO with it's fabulous view of the Rockies, only larger and of a newer architecture. So I went in to the hotel to see if they had any rooms available. They did. (another benefit of early season because this
Lake Louise
They now have about 20 miles on them place is full most of the summer). Well, I've heard of "bait & switch" sales, but this front desk girl used a new one for me. I'd call it "shock & awe and switch." I'm not going to tell you what this room on the 5th floor overlooking the lake cost (Jan knows). But suffice to say that the switch was hundreds of dollars less than the first one. I told Jan that I decided to spoil myself after my hard night of camping. She asked when did I ever stop spoiling myself.
I've had amazing luck with the weather so far. To have only one day here and have it be sunny and warm is good fortune indeed.
This place has an Swiss alpine feel to it and back in the late 1800's the Canadian National Railway brought in Swiss climbers to lead them through the mountains. Since I decided to stay all day, I hiked around the lake to the glacier, which is named Victoria Glacier. I hiked about 12 km, which is 6-7 miles!!! I think at 6500' of elevation, that just might get me into the Senior Marlboro Smokers Hall of Fame.
Bentley Tour
20's era Bentleys on Alaska Tour There are about 34 vintage Bentley touring cars on a tour from Vancouver to Alaska and back. They are part of a worldwide Benley owners' club. These cars are from the 20's and are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and they drive them all over the world. One couple from Perth, Australia started in Vancouver and is going to end up in Baltimore. They previously toured South Africa and last year Mongolia. I may keep running into them all the way to Alaska.
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Jan
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You never want to hike that far with me!
These pics are so very beautiful! Is it those new hiking boots that have you trekking across the U.S.? Lake Katherine and Little Red Schoolhouse will seem quite boring after this!! Continue to have fun and enjoy!