Day 48 - 5/19/04
Radium Hot Springs, BC to Castle Junction, AB
67 miles
Went through Kootenay National Park and into Banff National Park,
crossing two mountain passes along the way. Saw my first bighorn
sheep and black bear in the wild. I was definitely aware of the
fact that everyone else photographing the bears was in a nice enclosed
car. The weather turned bad and I ended up riding the last hour
in a rainstorm. Stopped at the first place with lodging, a
hostel in Castle Junction. I've never stayed in a hostel
before. This one at least is sort of like staying at summer camp:
bunk beds, shared shower facilities (separate for boys and girls) and a
kitchen. It's run by a guy named Tony who looks to be a few
years my senior. My fellow lodgers consist of three French women
touring Canada, and a couple from Calgary. They all seem very
nice.
Day 49 - 5/20/04
Castle Junction, AB to Banff, AB
21 miles
The forecast is for rain today and the next couple of days, so I
decided I'd try to get to a town despite the rain. This morning I
put on all the rain gear and rode into Banff in a steady
rain. The last time I was in Banff was in 1988 on my
honeymoon beginning Disaster #1. Sorry, positive attitude:
Valuable Learning Experience #1. Ah . . . good times, good
times. Sixteen years have passed since then, but it only
seems like a hundred.
But I digress. Everyone in these parts is very excited that the
Calgary Flames are in the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since
1989. Lots of Flames flags on cars, etc. Since the camera
is not waterproof, took no pictures today. But, I do have one
that Tony, the guy running the hostel, took this morning as I was about
to set off. Hopefully the sun will come out soon.
