Alaska 2012
 
 

Day 04

July 8

 
  
  
 After three days of pushing hard on the road (2,220+ miles), today I planned an 'easy' day. Alain and I are just going to do a short run up to the Lake Louise area and piddle around. I get up early to get in my walking and the streets of Banff are empty - which suits me just fine.  
  
 The restaurant next door offers a 'real' breakfast so I decide to take them up on it. Those 'continental' breakfasts offered by most hotel/motels are more like a small 'island' instead of a 'continent'. This place has the real deal - hen fruit, pig meat and a little fruit to slow down the hardening of the arteries. And at 9 bucks, it's not much more expensive than Cracker Barrel. 
  
 When I get back to the room, I set up a probable route on my netbook and successfully down load it to Fred with the app I wrote. We'll see how Fred does with some fresh knowledge. 
  
 Well, Fred looses his brain and can't find the satellites so Alain takes the lead as I fuss at Fred a little bit. 
  
 

When he see a turn off for 1A, he radios me -

"Let's take this - I think it is the old road."

I just follow his taillights and I am not disappointed.

 
  
 The road twists and turns through beautiful forests and there is practically no traffic. Since we are in no hurry today, we make a stop at the look out for Castle Mountain. 
  
 And it is easy to see how it got its name as the natural battlements mimic some of the old European castles Alain and I have seen in the Alps. 
  
 There's something relaxing about riding through the forest in the cool of the morning - especially after covering so many miles mostly on interstates. 
  
 Soon 1A pops back out onto the main highway and now Fred has decided to regain his brains and is trying to direct us once again.  
  
 The Banff area is a major tourist attraction and Lake Louise is one of the main draws. 
  
 We are directed to a parking place, fortunately a distance from the many tour busses. The walk to the lake is short and shady - but crowded. There are lots of signs giving some of the interesting facts about Lake Louise. 
  
 The lake is located at the foot of the Victoria glacier. Close to 3.5 million folks come to visit it each year and I think most of them showed up today. I was expecting a pretty blue like the waters of Crater Lake, but today it is a lovely green. 
  
 Tim told us yesterday over dinner to be sure to also visit Lake Morraine, a nearby lake that has not garnered the fame of Lake Louise. It's a nice ride past beautiful mountain streams ... 
  
 and lovely mountains. 
  
 And we get a few twisties throwed into the mix which is all right by us. 
  
 There are some visitors here but no where near the magnitude as Lake Louise. 
  
 In fact, a poor monk is having a hard time preaching for his lunch as the crowds have thinned out. But that's the way it goes when you try to pass the offering plate ... 
  
 Lake Morraine is also a visual treat just as was Lake Louise. 
  
 And for those of us with 'new' knees, this makes us glad that we have the new ones and not the old ones! 
  
 Once we get to a better observation point, I have to agree with Tim. I like Lake Morraine better than Lake Louise. Nothing like local knowledge when a feller is out on the road. 
  
 

Since we are in no hurry, I decide I'll sit a spell and enjoy the coolness and the beauty. I notice a young couple standing nearby and the young man has a typical military haircut. So I ask him -

"You in the service by any chance?"

"Yes sir" he replies, "Graduated from pilot school, stationed in Texas. I'll be flying the C17s."

"Well, I appreciate your service. I got to take one of those eleven week vacations courtesy of the USMC many years ago" I tell him with a grin.

We talk about the military and the pros and cons of making it a career. His wife is listening intently as she is not so sure about the career end of it.

"Well, hindsight is 20/20 but as far as retirement goes, I'd been smart to have taken the USMC offer. They were going to send me to officer candidate school straight out of boot camp. But my brain thought - 'The way you've treated me for the last eleven weeks, you expect me to sign on for eleven more weeks of this and two more years? What load of pumpkins do you think I came in on?' Of course I didn't say it out loud but I did gracefully decline the opportunity" I tell him. "If I had taken them up, I'd be fully retired with a mighty nice pension instead of still working full time."

We both laugh and continue to talk. I wish him and his lovely wife well in whatever path they decide.

I amble my way back down the rocks to catch up Alain and we head back to our waiting steeds.

 
  
 The ride back out to the main highway is a lovely one that ends too soon. 
  
 Since we liked 1A so well coming up, we decide to force ourselves to take it back to the hotel. It's a tough job but somebody has to do it. 
  
 Since we have the time, we make another stop at Storm Mountain.  
  
 It reminds me a lot of the Cumberland Escarpment in East Tennessee near Crossville. 
  
 With the snow capped mountains in the background, it's a lovely view that I don't think I would ever get tired of seeing. 
  
 We enjoy the sweepers of 1A and the lack of traffic. 
  
 As we approach Banff, we have to stop to get a shot of this lovely reflective lake. 
  
 Soon we are back in Banff proper with the crowds and the traffic. 
  
 

I tell Alain,

"You know, that restaurant next door was pretty good for breakfast. And they have calamari as an item on their menu which I love. What do you think?"

Alain, always the gentleman and always flexible decides that works for him. So we wander next door and fortunately get there before the crowds. The food is excellent and the service is good and we talk about what lies ahead for us on the road.

 
  
 With proper nourishment under our belts and below, we decide we'll stroll around a bit. This is the height of the tourist season in Banff and the sidewalk traffic shows. 
  
 But Alain is on a mission and he hits pay dirt. Nothing like a little ice cream for a night cap and nothing like a Dairy Queen to serve it up. 
  
 But I can't understand how my large Blizzard evaporates so quickly. I figure it must be something about the mountain air. 
  
  A little slower of step, we waddle back to our motel room. We see this unusual bird waiting on us. I believe the species is designated as the '82much' or something like that. 
  
 I fly over the route tomorrow just to be sure that Fred is in agreement with us and then I turn in for the evening. It's been a great day to relax and ride with a great friend.