Tuesday September 1st, Park Yoho National Park Campground, Field BC

We couldn’t possible leave Calgary this morning before we had one of Jeff’s amazing brunches…burritas wth smoked salmon, just divine. It has been so good spending time with them and renewing the friendship that we started with Joanie 25 years ago. Hopefully NZ will be in their plans again!

Left Calgary about midday and stopped and collected supplies and fuel before heading west to Banff and the Rockies. We took the alternative route, 1A and although it was a bit undulating, there wasn’t a lot of traffic.

There are a lot of fires in the forests of BC so the Rockies were extremely hazy as we headed towards them, such a shame as they rise so majestically out of the prairies. It wasn’t long before we got a taste of the area,…the colour of the rivers completely surprised us, they are just like turquoise. Evidently this is just a taste of what is to come!

The children are now back in school and the roads are less busy.

We drove through Banff but didn’t stop, although it looked a very nice place, reminding us very much of Queenstown with the majestic mountains surrounding it…and the Japanese tourists!

It was getting later in the afternoon so thought we would stop in the campground in Lake Louise, but after joining a queue of about 15 campers, waiting to sign in, we did a U turn and left, just not our sort of place.

As we were driving down through the canyon to Field in the Yoho National Park, we could see a storm building towards the west, with some fabulous light….had to pull over for a photo. Thanks Peter for the tip about the campground, a great little open spot just before Field, with views upwards,….forever! Amazing to see mine entrances so high up in the mountains, not in use now but hard to think how they ever managed to dig into the rock.

It wasn’t long after setting up camp than the lightning and thunder started and we had quite a heavy rain storm.