On leaving the cruise ship in Vancouver, we flew directly to Calgary, home of the Calgary Stampede each July. It’s quite a sizeable city with a population of 1.3 million. The city has had rapid growth due to its status as the centre of Canada’s oil industry. After checking in to our hotel we went exploring. We found the historic Stephen Avenue mall. It’s a historic landmark of buildings from the early 1900’s. The Nova Scotia Bank was our choice for happy hour. The building had been transformed into a bar and restaurant (as many of the old buildings have) and retained all the characteristics of the old building. We also found the Calgary tower but Ruthie was kind to me and didn’t ask to go up it!

We still had a day to kill before the start of our overland Rocky Mountains bus tour. The Bow River in Calgary gets it water from the Bow glacier all the way from North Lake Louise. It’s prone to flooding and in parts it’s so rough that you can actually surf it. So we enjoyed a long walk along it followed by coffee on Prince’s Island which was in the middle of the river. There were so many people out walking and jogging along the river path that I was beginning to wonder if anyone worked in this town. The average age of the population in Calgary is 37, really young, which explains all the condominiums and joggers. Another walk down Stephen Avenue to our favourite bar for happy hour and the day was just about done.

The next day the bus tour was ready to begin. We weren’t sure what to expect. Were we going to be the oldies on a youngish party bus? Did we have to get up each morning at the crack of dawn, luggage ready. Our fears were soon allayed. The times were quite civilised and the passengers were mostly around our age. As we left Cow Town, (Calgary) we detoured to the Saddledome where the Calgary stampede is held, a huge event for the city. Next stop was the Olympic Park Village where the 1988 Winter Olympics were held. These games were made famous by Eddie the Eagle and the Jamaican bobsled team.

It wasn’t long before we saw the Rocky Mountain peaks. Most of the snow has melted and the shale and limestone mountains veered high into the sky. And then there was the town of Banff! Set in a valley surrounded by the Rockies, it instantly created a wow factor vibe. Before dropping us off at our hotel, the bus took us on an orientation of the town. We stopped at various locations but the highlights were the spectacular Banff Springs Hotel and the cascading Bow River falls.

Two of Ruthie’s children had worked here in the snowfields. A few memories were relived when she FaceTimed them from the middle of town. It also brought to life some of the stories they had told from the past and we were walking in their footsteps.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Banff is the gondola up Sulphur Mountain. It didn’t disappoint. The 360 degree views of 6 mountain ranges were amazing no matter which way you turned. We hiked further and higher along the boardwalk to the old weather station which is the highest point. Being the supreme athletes we are haha, we certainly noticed the thinner air at higher altitude.

We finished up with a mineral. soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs. The springs are 1500 metres above sea level surrounded by stunning scenery and the water temperature ranges between 37 and 40 degrees Celsius. So nice on those aching muscles and bones.

An early start and luck was with us again as the sunny weather provided perfect reflections onto the turquoise waters of Lake Louise. Flanked by mountain peaks and the impressive Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, it was picture perfect and hard to believe it was totally frozen a couple of weeks ago! Next stop was Bow glacier, Bow Falls and Lake. The lake feeds Bow River which goes all the way to Calgary. Again magical!

So far we had travelled the Trans Canada Highway but we were now leaving that to take the Colombian Icefields Parkway on our way to Jasper. We crossed the pass and were now alongside the North Saskatchewan River and into Jasper National Park. Everybody was focused on the mountains and glaciers. I had my eyes down and excitedly yelled bear! There in a clearing not far from the road was a black bear. My first sighting! The National Park tried using fences to protect the animals from being road kill but this created another problem. The predatory animals could then bail up their pray against these fences. They have now built these very cool animal crossings over the roadway at a cost of CAD$1,000,000 each. A very good use of park fees in my opinion.

Next stop a ride on the 6 wheel drive Ice Explorer. We had to negotiate a 20 degree slope before we drove onto the ice-fields of the Athabasca Glacier where the ice is 200 metres thick. We alighted the vehicle and it was hard to believe, we were walking on a glacier that started forming over 200,000 years ago. It was ironic that we were being lectured that climate change was melting this glacier faster than ever, yet all these 20 tonne plus vehicles and graders were driving on it. All the while burning diesel and lubricant as well as wear and tear on the glacier. What was interesting was that the location is at the intercontinental divide which meant the melted ice water could either go to the Pacific, Atlantic or Arctic oceans. Upon leaving there were further stops at the Athabascan lake and waterfall, both stunning.

It had been an early start and a long day but there was more to come. A raft float down the Athabascan river was next. We were told we may get a wet bum. I think they lied! It was only grade 2 rapids but with 17 of us sitting around the edge of the raft, the skipper certainly found enough splash to get all of us soaked. He said it was just a smooch from the river and how could we be mad with the river? No one minded. It was so exhilarating (and freezing cold) yet peaceful at the same time as we took time to soak in the surroundings. The bus picked us up at the other end of our raft float and dropped us at our hotel in Jasper.

Our wildlife count for the day was bears, elk, geese, chipmunks and big horned sheep. Even though it had been a long tiring day, it had been a living postcard and we were starring in it.