Part Two of 'Saturday with Superwoman'. -the Journey as far as Golding.

It's a challenge but three big suitcases, and three passengers, fit into Sandra's Accura,which is like the deluxe form of a Honda Accord. We also accommodate things that were already in the car, and I am in the front, with my feet in a green 'supermarket box', which is their snazzy way of super market 

shopping, and the others have a suitcase perpendicular between them. And we are away. In the sunshine !.

We will detour to Lake Louise, Sandra apologetically explains to the others, who are actually delighted.

It is fast and smooth and I am clicking photos frantically. and I might say,

they make no sense to me now. It's like being able to see after temporary blindness.

Here is how I talk to  Cheryl, diagonally opposite, and beside her suitcase.

Look how much water in this stream /river, and very fast flowing.

This is  road maintenance truck. Dramatic scenery.

Pines and conifers grow naturally here.

We soon turn off for Lake Louise which is where the others were to have stayed.

But before we do,  we see the first of the animal bridges across the motorways. These are grassed causeways, for wild life to cross back and forth without encountering a vehicle. Moose, black bears beaver, deer. The crossings  are  every so often.

Anyway, Lake Louise is a treat, which renders all my other photos accessories. Anyway it's a bit of a Mecca with a fabulous hotel incorporated.

Here we are walking up from car park

The three rescued  kiwis at Lake Louise

And Sandra and I meeting after twenty three years. Can you see the green of that water, there are minerals in it that cause the colour I believe.

And again for the scenery, oh I am not fond of planting myself in front of beautiful scenes.

It isbtruely a spectacle and the sight comes without warning, as you walk up the hill.

I could stay here a week. And people are canoeing, as I believe Pat did with her chargesvwhen they came on camping tours with her posh school.

And the hotel which lends in, behind the conifers. Big hotel.Chris and Cheryl had to cancel a night in this, but at least they got to look at it.u

There are canoes on the water. It is quite hot. A few tourists are about.

But isn't it majestic .

But we are off, as its a journey ahead of us.

The Rockies in the sunshine, and how vast they  are.

There's no pattern to my photos and We are talking about lots of photos out the window of a moving car. So I will be brief.

Sandra is a tour guide as well. she has explanations for questions  and points out ski runs and places Gary skied. He is your hard out sports person Guy. All of the kiwis are  enjoying the sights, and this motley  assortment of snaps, do not touch the random beauty of waterfalls and snowy mountain. it was not repetitive, and the trees were not the same . Clusters of Douglas Fir, Silver Birch various Pine and Cedar.I did not see a bear but, Sandra saw a cub this morning on her way up.

Snow clad mountain sides

Flooded rivers, some of which would be due to the melt, but then the rain is on top.

Swirling rivers with wild mountain flowers everywhere.

Expensive strategies to protect rock fall onto the highway, we copped a rock in a gap hereabouts.

And this is how to deal with a potential avalanche, or at least places where recurring avalanches have caused havoc. It's usually on the prominent point or a knoll. This was the avalanche just slides on over and down the gulley, with traffic as usual.

No vehicles, please note, just us, it seemed. So we were unhampered. A clear way ahead.

Tunnels to avoid rock fall, drilled through rock.

Lovely vistas.

Straight roads and big cuttings to make them.  . .and ..  .  .

  .  .  .massive bridges to span the valleys and keep it smooth.

The former 'cutting' photo is in the background here. mountainous it may be but it is an Engineers feat.

And Uncle Stuart Coles would be so impressed. we get to Golden which actually is a junction of four highways,  and nothing much else and we stop for soup, at a hilarious family restaurant,where you have a sheet of brown paper as table cloth and plenty of crayons to doodle.Our waitress is the ultimate host and it is a good break , and here are Chris from Clive, and his wife Cheryl.

Cheryl 

Chris Holder from Clive NZ. We are co- escapees from Banff, and the floods and he treats us all to the meal. Thanks Chris. Really enjoyable company.

Wte agree that adverse circumstances often bring great outcomes and this has certainly been a bonus getting to know this couple, who are actually related to my friend Linda from Napier Oh how small New Zealandi is. But they have had amazing travel already, been up to Iceland on a cruise, and a Canadian train trip.

I am going o stop here, and carry on the rest of this long da, in the next exciting episode.

Well, yawn you may, but I am on a mission, now to get this all recorded. it's actually helping me sort out a complicated, condensed travel experience, so there's nothing  altruistic about my intentions. Stalwart travellers join me if you dare, in the next instalment, as I cover many miles before we get home, and Sandra clocks up 1100 kms  -in one day of driving. That is big, even by Canadian standards. True, and I am there (passively, but talkatively), for over half of that, so vicariously, I am famous too. 

The expression in this restaurant, thatI photographed, but can not find now, said, (quote),  "come back quicker than spit in the wind" and was graphically illustrated. Observation/opinion :The Canadians are so ready to laugh. I love it. Not doubting Thomas's at all.