Day 41 - Wednesday June 28/17

A day for touring based out of Lake Louise Campground. and more visiting with the Scottish clan members, The day started out cloudy & cool. 

We were up early by plan (and alarm!) to go up to Morraine Lake before the crowds. Left the campground at about 7:30 and arrived at Morraine lake at 8. Had a lovely time despite a breezy chill in the air walking the path around the lake as far as it went. (photos)

We had a more peaceful experience than we’d had at Lake Louise, with fewer people and a different time of day. But by the time we left around 9:30, the parking area was already full, the road way in was lined with cars, and they were beginning to restrict traffic entry!

Got “home” (back to our trailer, Rocinante II) and had oatmeal for breakfast. Did a huge load of dishes, which took a while! Then wrote some blog posts; the photos wouldn’t load, due to poor internet service, so we abandoned that task.

Our plan for the day was to go hiking at Johnston Canyon on the way to Banff; then some shopping in Banff; then hike and picnic at Johnson Lake; then to Canmore for supper with 'the Scots'.

We revised the plan as we had used up so much time with dishes and trying to blog, and decided to bypass Johnston Canyon, going straight to Banff for some grocery shopping and then our picnic lunch at Johnson Lake (Michael couldn't pass up the chance to visit that location); Canmore for supper with the Scottish Clan members.

Got the shopping done in Banff and then went to Johnson Lake. 

When we got there, discovered that the road into Johnson Lake was closed due to remedial work that Parks Canada is doing to combat “whirling disease parasite”, including electro-fishing & gill-netting, to save the Westslope Cutthroat Trout, a threatened species.

We drove further on to Two Jack lake and had our picnic lunch on a very windy and quite chilly lakeshore. But it was lovely and we got to sit in more red chairs! (photo)

We the went on to Canmore; got gas and did some banking, and went to have supper with Hilary, John, Cal and Scott at the condo where they have been staying. It was a fabulous feast of roasted red peppers, bbq'd sausage, broccoli salad and corn on the cob, with great company (photo). 

It has been so great to be able to connect with these folks from Scotland. What a treat that their visit to this part of Canada just happened to coincide with our travels here. We couldn’t have planned that if we had tried!

Nancy saw black bears on the way back to Lake Louise. We got home at 10 pm and went straight to bed after a very full and satisfying day!