Jasper Park Lodge*Whitewater Rafting

August 30
Jasper Park Lodge***Jasper***Whitewater Rafting
After a nice breakfast I took a nice walk around the lake and saw a lot of ducks and deer on my way to the town of Jasper. Then I had a very exciting experience whitewater rafting with Jasper Rafting Adventures on the Athabasca River. Click here for a video from the JRA. Got a little wet even with the wet suit we had to wear. Back in the Lodge, I had another really nice dinner with Dick, Adele, Barbara and Bob.

August 31
Jasper Park Lodge***Columbia Icefields***On the Road to Banff***Banff Springs Hotel
After another nice breakfast we boarded the bus to go to the Columbia Icefields. The massive Ice Explorers, its tires are almost taller than me, took us on a remarkable excursion onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier.

Seta and Jasmine; Molly, Bill and Karlein.

On the road to Banff.

Arriving in Banff we got off at the Cascade Gardens and enjoyed the beautiful flowers and the great view of the city.

Checked in at the imposing Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, built during the nineteenth century as one of Canada's grand railway hotels, constructed in Scottish Baronial style. The hotel was opened to the public on June 1, 1888. Starting in 1911, a wholly new structure was built in stages to replace the 1888 hotel. The huge hotel is like a maze. Walked around inside and then went out and met a couple of pretty girls from the Philippines. Later had a nice dinner at the Bow Valley Grill.

September 1
Banff
Waking up I looked out the window to see the meandering Bow Falls which was featured in the 1953 Marilyn Monroe film "River of No Return". After breakfast I walked to the town of Banff and checked out their main street.

The Whyte Museum, opened on June 16, 1968 by the Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation, acquires and exhibits art and artifacts from the Canadian Rockies, aiming to showcase the culture and history of the Rocky Mountains of Canada.

Went next to the Banff Park Museum which has a lot of stuffed wildlife from the region.

Had lunch with Dick and Adele at a local restaurant then headed back to the hotel via along the Bow River to see the Bow Waterfalls. Saw the nice view of the hotel from the banks of the river.

Heading back to the hotel, I passed by a herd of elks in the meadow just below the Waldhaus Restaurant. After taking pictures of the wildlife, I had a Campari and soda at the Waldhaus bar.

Back at the hotel I joined the group for cocktails with a talk from a Canadian Mountie then later for the Farewell Dinner which was a great ending to a fabulous trip!

September 2
Banff Springs Hotel***Calgary***New York
After a nice breakfast, I took the shuttle bus to the Calgary airport and flew back to New York.