Mt Lorette Ponds

Another spectacular day in the Canadian Rockies with hardly a cloud in the sky and the temperature reaching 24C. It was almost swimming weather.

Kananaskis Country is a large area of parks on the edge of Canmore, made famous during the downhill ski runs of the 1988 Olympics. After a lazy start to the day and all the exertion of the past few days we decided a 65 km drive to Kananaskis Village was in order. But first the Canmore markets.

Our view to wake up to this morning.

Crab apples for free. Residents are encouraged to pick all the fruit in their yards to not encourage bears into the town. Bears that come into town end up being shot.

We started the trip to Kananaskis by ignoring the GPS, looking for a back road. We found it and some pretty lakes but the road turned out to be 62km of bad dirt mountain road. I am sure it would be a spectacular trip but it would seriously upset the car rental company. So we took the highway.

An old mine entrance now sealed up.

First stop was a man made lake, Barrier Dam, made for hydro electric generation.

Again this road, Highway 40, is a picturesque wander amongst the mountains and streams of Alberta. Our next stop was Mt Lorette Ponds, created during the upgrade of Highway 40 and stocked with fish every summer for anglers. Nothing left but reflections by this time of year.

And a squirrel.

It is common but not universal to see liquor bans in National Park areas. In Lake Louise there was a liquor ban for the long weekend in the National park campground. There was no evidence though of it being enforced but I think the idea is to seriously discourage noisy drinking parties in the campground, which it did.

Now this is a great idea which would be sensational if imported into Australia.

We journeyed on to Kananaskis Village which is primarily a ski resort. They are trying to generate some summer interest by creating mountain bike trails but at the moment it is virtually deserted.

Anything in an attempt to keep Nicky warm.

Kananaskis Village

A late lunch in the village and then back to Canmore for a little more retail therapy and a haircut for me. I was looking a little shaggy after 6 weeks on the road.

Tomorrow it is a 4 hour drive to Fernie and preparations for the big wedding.