experiencing the canadian rockies...

Spending a long-weekend holiday in the Canadian Rockies was a good choice!

We just returned home last night...

and I am unpacking pictures.

So I will share a few.

 There was a cousin reunion planned in the foothills of the Rockies...

on the Alberta side.

It's a long drive for a weekend...

but after some debate...

we decided a trek through the national parks along highway 93 would be a good thing.

And it was!

From big-horned sheep...

...to glacial lakes

 ...mountain birds

 ...wildflowers

...and massive glaciers

...it all made for a most pleasurable drive.

We followed the North Saskatchewan River down the mountain...

...and into the foothills of Alberta.

And that is where we spent the weekend...

camping with cousins we don't see too often.

We brought our bikes...

and did a little exploring.

We hit dead-ends on most trails though.

Dead-ends in the form of water. 

(Did you know Alberta has had more water than they can handle in the recent past?)

It seems most campers brought quads along.

No dead-ends for them!

I prefer the quietness of the bicycle.

We had a fine time in the foothills...

 

...and then bade farewell to Alberta... 

and  made our way back across the Rockies.

This time we passed through Canmore and Banff...

and saw some of the devastation caused by the recent floods.

We had lunch in Banff...

where it was sizzling hot. 

Who knew it could be over 30°C in Banff?

It was a good trip!

We even managed to take in some Canada Day fireworks while in Alberta.

I'll share a red-white-and-blue one with you...

for all of you who are celebrating tomorrow!

Happy July 4th!