Blogs from Banff, Alberta, Canada, North America

Cascade Gardens The Cascades Of Time Gardens are a little oasis just minutes walking distance from downtown Banff and this morning Pam took us to these beautiful gardens but not before showing stunning views from both sides of the bridge overlooking the Bow River. Parks Canada took over the Brett Sanatorium and Hotel built in the 1880s, when it burned down in 1930 and converted it into the present day gardens. Ontario architect, Walter Beckett, planned the Parks administrative building and the gardens in the ~12 acre site, which was completed in 1935. The gardens were made as a geological garden to explain the geology of Banff National Park. But they evolved into a rock garden with rustic features and extensive floral bedding. Over 50,000 flowers are planted every year. We wandered along the garden’s many ... read more

http://www.heygo.com 4th March Banff The Hudson’s Bay Company – the oldest incorporated business in North America – received its charter in 1670. The waters flowing into Hudson Bay have their watershed up in the Canadian Rockies and fur traders passed through the more northern Yellowhead route (now Jasper) long before the Bow Valley (where Banff is located) was mapped by Europeans. Why the ‘Yellowhead Trail’? The first nations met blond people for the first time. Canada’ began to emerge as a country in 1867 when Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia entered confederation. The real future of the country occurred when sparsely populated British Colombia joined in 1871 on the provision that a trainline connected the country. Meanwhile, in 1867 Russia sold Alaska to the post-civil war USA for 2 cents an acre! Russia ... read more

Welllll what a day. We originally set the alarm for 6am, snoozed til 7am, snoozed til 8am, realised the sun wouldn’t come up til 8:50am, so then officially woke up at 9am. We got the shuttle down to the village (also I asked how we get the shuttle back and they’re actually drop off only, so every time we go to the village we’ll have to do the gruelling, icy walk home) and headed straight to the rental store. We got fitted, paid (which by the way, holy MOLY skiing ain’t cheap), and did the gruelling, icy walk home, but this time carrying skis, poles, boots, helmets and pants. Once again, in freezing, -16 degree weather, it got way too hot. We had to organise a few things before we left, like our lift passes and ... read more

We woke to thunder claps and steady rain. No need to get out of bed then! The thunder stopped - the rain didnt'. We roused eventually and had breakfast. Our plans for a ride to the lake were delayed until the afternoon when the rain was meant to clear. Instead we spent the morning finalising the last week of our trip and trying to book all of our accommodation and connections. When we get back to Vancouver we'll head straight to Seattle by train. We've booked tickets for an NFL game on the Sunday (very excited). We'll head by ferry over to Vancouver Island and spend a night there before heading back to Vancouver by ferry. Tom and I, and maybe Jeff will then head off to Whistler for a day trip while Graeme has other ... read more

Well, it took until our 14th day in Canada but we've finally had a day not on the bikes - well not in a serious way anyway. We had a decadent sleep-in until 9am before rousing for a leisurely breakfast. We got some house keeping out of the way and then jumped on the bikes (minus the paniers) and headed into town for lunch and to explore. Banff is a bustling tourist town in both the summer and winter. The streets are packed with tourists and every shop seems to be advertising for "Help Wanted". I think I've met more Aussies than local Banff people working here! And why not? It's a great place to come and spend some time having fun before settling down to the harsh realities of life. After a bite to eat ... read more