ALBERTA, CA

May 29, 2016  Sunday

Today was just a driving day.  The plains of Alberta heading to Calgary are much like the plains of Montana.  Cow, grassland, grain elevators, etc.  Still beautiful, but lots of it. 

The last few months I had been kind of marathon watching a program on Netflix.  It is set in Alberta, CA and it’s called Heartland.  We have been passing through the area where it is filmed, so that caught my interest.  Heartland is a great family series about a young girl with a gift for gentling troubled horses.  The characters are well developed and the acting is pretty good.  Lots of horses, cowboys, and good wholesome family entertainment.  Everyone knows I like that stuff. 

Here are some pictures of the approach to the Rockies.  The pictures can’t really give you the perspective of how awesome they look rising out of the grasslands.  It always is one of my favorite scenes. 

Entering Banff National Park was a learning experience also.  The entrance fee is $19.80 per day and the village of Banff is within the park.  We purchased 4 days, but I think we will have to purchase at least another day or two.  The annual pass is equal to 7 days, so it might have been smarter to just purchase that.  From Banff to Lake Louise to Jasper National Park, there is plenty to see an explore to spend at least that long. 

I took a hike after supper, and was stopped in my tracks by this cow elk ahead of me on the trail.  As she ambled on her way and I on mine, I then encountered a bull elk with the start of a rack in velvet.  I’m so glad I took the walk, I wish Ed would have been with me.