ALBERTA

Day 12  June 7  Lake Louise   0km.
Today we woke up to snow and decided to take our first complete day off and rest. Had buffet breakfast included in room price and ate enough to last most of the day.

The weather for the next few days doesn't look too promising. It snowed most of the day today. We managed to get a ride up to the lake from a nice lady driving a shuttle bus. Lake Louise was spectacular.
One can rent a canoe there for only $50 per hour! We were surprised to see people who were actually fool enough to pay this price and canoe on the lake in this weather. It started snowing heavily so we decided to walk back to the hotel on a hiking path. We were a little nervous because we were told at the hotel that there had been bears sited in the area recently. As a defense we sang “Teddy Bears Picnic” at the top of our voices - no living thing would stay around to listen to that noise. Back at the hotel it we enjoyed a long soak in the hot tub before a Pizza supper.



Day 13  June 8  Lake Louise to Dead Man's Flat     93km.

Left Lake Louise Inn after another hardy breakfast. It was cold so we wore wet gear and booties. Took the 1A - Bow Valley Parkway which turned out to be a great choice. It was a beautiful ride the mountain views (Castle/Vermilon Pass/Storm/Pilot) were all very impressive.

Stopped at Johnson Creek Falls

 where Jean visited while Bob watched the bikes.

It was an impressive walk on a catwalk beside the fast flowing water. We would have liked to have taken more time on this beautiful stretch of road but the weather was too cold for us to stop for long.

We avoided the town of Banff but the Banff area was very pretty.

Stopped at Canmore Info Centre and the girl there recommended Dead Man's Flat as a good place to stop for the night. We checked in at Big Horn Motel where we got a room with kitchenette and had spaghetti for supper. Nice friendly place.

Day 14  June 9  Dead Man's Flat to Bragg Creek    87km.
Left motel in rain at 7:45

The day was cold and miserable. Highway 1 seemed never ending. We could see the road going on for miles without any sign of human life. Nearest stop for breakfast was a Petro Canada gas station 63km into the day. We decided to abandon highway 1 and head South by highway 22 to Bragg Creek . The cheapest accommodation in town turned out to be a Bed & Breakfast at $200 so we wilderness camped on the shore of the Elbow river. The skies cleared and it turned into a beautiful evening. Bob cooked a packet of something that was called chicken fried rice. Sat by the river watching the sun go down and had a very early night.

Day 15 june 10  Bragg Creek to Longview   74km.

Woke up to thick layer of frost on our tent. Packed up a very wet tent and went into village for a hot cup of coffee. Route 22 goes through cattle country. On our right we could see the snow-covered Rockies, and on our left green pastures. The road is rolling with stiff up hills but also some flat patches to rest legs.

Stopped in Black Diamond for lunch at Marv's Classic Soda Shop, a 50's style eatery with swivel stools and a Juke box selection box at every table. Great hamburgers.

Staying tonight at Tails and Trails campsite. The nice lady at the info centre recommended a restaurant she claimed was the best in Alberta. It could have been a slight exaggeration, but it was excellent, with AAA Alberta beef as its' main claim to fame. The clientele was very laid back, with the dress code being mainly T-shirts, jeans and cowboy hats. Beer served in bottles, glass provided on request. Two good meals in one day. We are now well charged for tomorrow's ride which promises to be tough.

Day 16 June 11 Longview to Lundbreck 115km.

Left camp at 8:00 and started immediately uphill. The roadside was littered with deer, both alive and dead. Voltures were feasting on one carcass. Route 22 is called the Cowboy Trail and the name is well suited. A lovely route lined by the Rockies to the right and green medows, littered with cattle and horses, as far as the eye can see. There were no services for the whole 115km. and we were very thankful that our tummies were full from the previous days feasting. We didn’t think we would make it to Lundbreck as the first 65km were pretty hilly and tough going, but then we hit a 7km downhill to renew our spirits.
Lundbreck is a small scruffy town with a rather rundown hotel, but the room was clean, the shower was hot and the beer was cold and cheap. Had a really good pizza at Lundbreck Pizza.



Day 17 June 12 Lundbreck to Fort MacLeod 70km.

Biked 15km before stopping at Pinchers Creek for breakfast. Arrived at Fort MacLeod at 12:30 and set up tent beside Old Man River at Daisy May campground. We visited the museum of the NWMP. The NWMP were formed  in 23/5/1873 to bring order to the canadian West.

Today the Rockies faded in the background and we are looking forward to flat roads for a change. There are a lot of wind farms in this area.

Day 18 June 13 Rest day 44km.

Got up early and had bagels and tea for breakfast and then went for a walk along the banks of Old Man River. Went for coffee at A and W  before setting off for Head-smashed-in-buffalo-jump, a very impressive tourist site dedicated to the plight of the buffalo and the Plains natives who counted on the buffalo for their survival. Returned to A and W for hamburgers then relaxed in the campground hottub.

Day 19 June 14 Fort MacLeod to Grassy Lake 136km.

The Rockies are no longer in site and the plains are flat and go on forever. The watering systems installed by the large corporate wheat farms are incredible. The towns on the route are all tiny and far apart so we have to plan our next few days carefully.

Grassy Lake was a great disappointment. There was no place to buy food so supper was a little sparse: soup, bananas and beagles.

The campground was very run down and definitely not recommendable.

Day 20 June 15 Grassy Lake to Medicine Hat 93km.

We left Grassy Lake campground without paying – the last straw was when we found the washrooms locked in the morning. Today was very warm with a strong crosswinds which made the going was much tougher than it should have been. We stopped at Bow Island for a much needed breakfast. Bobby's place was an interesting restuarant where men were playing cribbage at 8 oclock in the morning. Our campsite,  Wild Rose Campground, is good value ($15 including water, electricity and showers) and friendly. The camp super filled our depleted supply of camp fuel for free. Went to get groceries and treated ourselves to a beer (that may sound petty, but when you are used to being able to buy beer just about anywhere, wait ‘till you experience BC and the prairie provinces).



Day 21 June 16 Medicine Hat to Tompkins Saskatchewan 150km.

Left camp at 6:30. Had coffee 37km. down road at Irvine. Today we crossed the border into Saskatchewan. A favorable wind allowed us to make a  good distance. We followed the Trans Canada and were pleasantly surprised at how quiet it was. Stopped at Information centre for info and ice cream. Found out that Suzie was now only one day ahead of us.

We are the only campers at the campsite ($10 including showers). Went for a beer at the only bar in town.  Tompkins boasts a population of only 231. We retreated to our tent due to black skies and thunder but it did not rain much and we woke up to clear blue skies and another favorable wind.



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