Banff - Day 1

Monday 20th May 2013
Alarm set for 7.30am breakfast in our appartment and leave for town at 9.20am only 6C. Cold and cloudy start to the day. First stop visitor information centre to help plan our visit here in Banff. Decided to purchase discounted multi ticket pass for the Banff Lake Cruise on Lake Minnewanka, Banff Gondala Ride and the Icefields Glazier Adventure which we will do on Wednesday on our way to Jasper. A little retail therapy and Pete found a new jacket Debbie still on the lookout for hers. Starbucks for Coffee, seems to be much like home. We headed up to Lake Minnewanka for our 12noon departure. The Lake has just thawed out and this is the first day of the Cruises for the Season and luckily we had booked as it was very busy, and as we have found out it is Victoria weekend here in Canada and so today is a public holiday, the Canadians are all out enjoying the great spring weather. Great cruise very informative commentary, we saw 2 Bald Eagles from a distance back into dock at 1ish. Drove around to Two Jacks Lake for lunch with a view, sunny and 16C.

Lake Minnewanka - Banff

After lunch we drove up to the Banff Gondala car park still very busy but we found a  park and rode the Gondala to the top. The sun has come out and once up the top we walked to Sulphur Mountain the views are just breath taking from every direction. Camera's going wild today it is going to be a big photo count! Gondala ride back to the bottom.

Banff Gondala - Sulphur Mountain

Following advice from a regular visitor to Banff - every May long weekend for 10 years, (he took the above photo for us) we drove the Gold Course road in search of Elk. We found them and took some photos. Then back across town and out to Lake Minnewanka to see if we could find Deb's prescription sunglasses which she lost/dropped on the baot this morning. Yep found them at the Cruise office -  that was lucky may well be needing them later in the trip! While there we saw some Big Horn Sheep - Rams near the car park and you guessed it yet more photo's with Betty taking a great one on Geoff's camera must be sure to get that one for the collection. Back into town for dinner at Meat Balls great meals once again. Arriving back home at 7.45pm. Time for some weekly domestic duties the washing so over to the Guest Laundry and back to the appartment by 10.30pm.
Tomorrow we head off to Lake Louise to explore the area.