The day will come when I will die. So the only matter of consequence before me is what I will do with my allotted time. I can remain on shore, paralyzed with fear, or I can raise my sails and dip and soar in the breeze.--Richard Bode



Saturday, June 16, 2012

Jasper, Alberta, Canada

Odysseus and I drove up the Icefield Parkway From Banff to Jasper. I lost track of how many glaciers we passed. There were a bunch. This one is the Athabasca Glacier (There will be a quiz later kids),

Just joking


The Canadian Rockies just take my breath away; so rugged and beautiful. There is a Kodak Moment around every curve in the highway.


There is still ice on the lakes, and snow on  the mountains. It is quite cold, but I dress warmly.


I camped last night beside a roaring stream. I thought it would make for peaceful sleeping, but it kept waking me up all night.

It was 40 degrees this morning, and it has been misting rain all day. These storms just keep coming from out of the Pacific Ocean. One every other day.  I should be north of them pretty soon. I hope.


The creeks come tumbling down out of the mountains, fed by melting snow. They are teeth-chattering cold. Some of them would be wonderful to kayak. Not this one though.


Here is a wildlife shot for you. These little ground squirrels are thieves. Gotta watch out for them. Even worse are the ravens. I turned around just in time to watch one fly off with my can of pringle chips off the picnic table last night. They also swiped the rolls I had bought for breakfast. How rude. Can't turn your  back a second around here.




I was buzzing down the road when I passed this guy. A grizzly bear!!! A ranger had told me not to get out of my vehicle if I saw one (Ha. Ha. Rangers are so funny). This bear was coming my way, so I snapped off a quick shot and got back on Odysseus really fast. That is why this shot is out of focus.

There are hundreds of bicycle riders along this highway, just puffing along, fully loaded with their camping gear. One rode right past this bear as I was standing there. Brave guy.


One final picture. Yep, its me. I am looking a little grizzly myself, don't you think. How do I look in a beard? (Don't answer that!)

Bye for now.  More later.
Ron