5/27/12 BANFF NATIONAL PARK, CANADA

POSTED FROM STARBUCKS:

We made it to Banff with no reservations in advance. Being a holiday weekend I was afraid it may be a problem especially since we had a nail in one of the camper tires.  That held us up 2-3 hours waiting to have it fixed at the tire store.   We arrived at the only FHU campground around 5:00 and were able to get a nice site with a view of the snow capped mountains nearby.  It’s a huge park, very nice, lots of pine trees with loop sites.  We prefer to have electricity when the nights get this cold (32 degrees last night) so we can run the electric heaters.  Otherwise we can use the propane heat but it goes through propane pretty quick if it has to run a lot.  Hopefully it will warm up so we can do some dry camping.  It helps offset some of the camping fees.  Here it’s $38 Canadian.  Yesterday was a cool 57 degrees, perfect for hiking.  No rain, no wind, just a slight breeze here and there.  After a late breakfast of omelets we hiked 4 miles that meanders along the Bow River.  We drove into the town of Banff to get information at the visitor’s center.  Stopped at the liquor store for beer.  Yikes, $24 for a 12 pack.  I had heard booze was expensive in Canada and it certainly is.  $42 for tequila that normally cost about $14 in the US.  They only sell alcohol at liquor stores, not Wal-Mart or convenience stores. 

Glacier National Park

 Our campsite at near Glacier.

5/27 Monday – Beautiful weather today, warmed up to the low 60’s, sunny, many families picnicking everywhere.  We took a scenic drive up to Minnewanka lake, Cascade Ponds, Vermilion Lakes then back to the town of Banff and ate our sandwiches in Central Park.  A very nice park in town right next to the Bow River.  Afterward we walked this very pretty little town and shopped a bit.  It reminds me of Ouray, Colorado, kind of a little Switzerland.