The Wheels on the Bike Go Round and Round

24/06/15

Yesterday we slept in and missed breakfast – I’m not one to let a free meal pass me by so today we set an alarm, had our continental breakfast and ventured in to Banff. Cycling was on the agenda for today, so after paying an extortionate fee ($42 each) we picked up our rental bikes and set a course for the Vermillion Lakes. I don’t know much about the lakes but the cycle was really beautiful. On the way there we were on a paved road but we ventured through the forest on the way back, always keeping an eye open for bears. Despite being hailed as a great place to see wildlife, we only saw some ground squirrels and whatever the little fellow below is – I think he’s a marmot but who knows!?

Following alongside the river we came to the Bow River Falls which were pretty impressive, particularly from below. Armed with a free Parks Canada map we set off to find the Fairmont Hotel. Instead we found a golf course and a beautiful but slightly scary cycle path. It ran right through the woods and would be an excellent place for a cougar or bear to pick off an unsuspecting, cycling tourist. With that in mind we got back on the main road, checked the map again, readjusted our path and finally found the hotel. It’s a really impressive place and we had looked at staying for a night or two but I’d rather not go bankrupt.

After all that cycling we were sweaty and tired so naturally, we went swimming. To be fair it was only in the hotel pool and most of the time was spend in the Jacuzzi so not very extreme but really enjoyable. We made one final trip in to Banff where we had Mexican food for dinner – how exactly this works out as a half portion of Nachos I will never know but I certainly wasn’t complaining!

We even stopped off at Cows, apparently it’s like, the best ice cream in Canada. Rory went for the standard mint choc chip but I threw caution to the wind and had some caramel, chocolate swirly thing. It was much nice than it sounds. We finished off the day by calling in to the Fudgery for another nicey and on the walk back to the hotel we saw an elk, chillin’ at the side of the road. FYI, elk are absolutely HUGE. This wasn’t even a daddy elk and it was still massive. I can’t get over how we could spend a day cycling around, nice and quiet, looking for wildlife and then as we walk back to the hotel, along a busy road, with tons of cars and tourists, we see an elk. Oh Canada, you crack me up.