#20 Oh Well…Things Happen

Athabasca Falls

After walking on ice, we wandered down the Icefield Parkway to see the famous Athabasca Falls and hiking area. It was a later in the day and the parking lot was lined with sightseers and people hoping to find a space to become a sightseer.

As you know, we have encountered these parking difficulties before. Being regulars to the occasional “No parking” phenomenon, we set a deadline. Our limit was one time through the lot. No parking? Where’s that pub?

We must have found a parking space. There’s Pam on the Athabasca Hike. That walkway was an old carved out ravine where the Athabasca River once flowed. However, even the river flows are temporary. Thousands of years later, Mother nature swept through and altered the river’s course.

As the river raged, it created a new chasm leaving the old gorge for hikers, like Pam, to admire the true strength of water and time. Humans made those stairs of course. The chiseled, craggy rock sides were so interesting.

The Athabasca River runs through Jasper and follows alongside the Icefield Pkwy. Notice how sleepy it flows. Wish I had an inner tube.

Eventually, the river is forced to merge into that narrow gorge. Similar to driving on the interstate when those orange cone barriers force 4 lanes of traffic into 2, the river is confined by the rock barriers and eagerly waits to flow freely again.

Uh oh, maybe I don’t want an inner tube. Whoosh, the narrow rock path widens and these tumultuous falls are created. The sound and fury of the falls is memorable. Hope you noticed the rainbow.

We were glad we found a parking space. The hike around the falls and the river was a good little exercise of ups and downs. We also learned about ferocious mother nature. When she decides to cut a new path, it’s going to happen.

We jumped back in our truck because it was time to go to camp and feed little Lucca. Lucca’s dinner is always in the equation of the day.

It was our turn to think about dinner. We returned to downtown Jasper and took Lucca with us. We walked around trying to find just the right meal. How about ice cream, that’s healthy!?!

We sat on a bench enjoyed our 2 scoop cones and watched the world pass by. But wait, there are our friends, Doug and John. They thought we left yesterday and we thought they left yesterday. What a coincidence and joy to see them again. We chatted for awhile and since we all had early mornings, we said our goodbyes and drove back to camp.

Do You Hear That?

The next morning, we pulled out of the campground and said another goodbye. This time we blew a kiss to Jasper and Whistler Campground. We will truly miss those mountains.

The same highway that brought us to Jasper was the one we needed to take to our next campground in Cochrane, Alberta. Although we had a long trip ahead of us, we decided to make one last Jasper stop, Peyto Lake.

Our friends, Sue and Becher said Peyto was their favorite lake in the Canadian Rockies. As you are well aware, we have seen a lot of lakes in Canada. You have been with us for all of those visits. How could we possibly move on without visiting the one lake Sue and Becher thought was the most beautiful? No Way.

Peyto Lake

It was another busy place and this time we had the travel trailer hitched to the truck. Front to back, that’s close to 50 feet of metal we’re pulling around. Finding available roadside parking can be a challenge. However, today we easily found a large parking space so Lucca could take Pam for a hike.

Yup, Peyto Lake was and is beautiful.

Look at the intense blue color of that water. The mountain view isn’t so bad either. We all have our own opinions. What do you think the shape of the lake looks like?

It was an easier hike back to the car than it was to the lake view. We came, we saw and it was time to hustle ourselves south to Cochrane. No more procrastination. Neither of us wanted to leave the Rockies. The weather was fabulous and the surrounding views were sensational. We highly recommend that you add the Canadian Rockies to your vacation list. Go before the glaciers melt.

The outstanding views continued as we drove south on the Icefields Parkway. We were happily motoring south when Pam said, “Do you hear that?” And sure enough I had. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw our trailer tire in shreds. We limped slowly across a bridge and luckily encountered a viewpoint with enough room for us to park.

I wanted to see Vermillion Lakes but not exactly like this.

We spent an hour on the phone with AAA and our warranty company. AAA couldn’t help us but they were able to track down someone who could. We appreciated that.

Can you believe I actually thought I might be able to change the tire myself. Happily, I didn’t have to. Just getting the spare out from under the camper would have been tough.

I didn’t have all the jacks he had to use to lift the camper. In about 3 hours from when our tire was assaulted we were back on the road. All in a day’s drive. Oh well.

We made it to Cochrane. Applause!!!

We enjoyed 2 restful days in Cochrane. I nursed a cold and Pam toured the town looking for a place for dinner. She brought me comfort food, shepherds pie. It was so good, I woke up feeling much better the next day.

Pam called an RV Service company while we were in Cochrane and Michael came right out to our camper to take a look at our slide that was still stuck in the “in” position. We could have lived like that but Lucca didn’t like the confined space. Michael pushed the “in” button, then the “out” button and then pulsated the “out” button and without a grind or a hesitation out went the slide. He was reluctant to charge us for this mystery of mechanics.

With room in the camper, we left Lucca behind to re-explore her surroundings and we drove into the town of Cochrane. I decided to get a haircut or was it a hair chop? I asked the hairdresser to take off an inch but she took a mile. You know how that goes. It will grow back.

Where shall we go for linner (in between lunch and dinner)? Let’s go back to the shepherds pie place, Potpourri Cafe.

That was a great choice, they have an outstanding chef. If you are ever in Cochrane, Alberta you must treat yourself. I had wonton soup like I have never eaten in my life. It had carrots and celery and shrimp and mushrooms. The veggies were so fresh and delicious, I could eat that soup everyday. Pam had the best eggs benny ever.

Still in Canada, we have Waterton National Park, Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump and a rodeo to explore. We’re going to go to Pincher Creek, Alberta next so put on your chaps and come along.