We slept really well last night and did not get up until 7 am. Of course that is Mountain Time so it really was our usual 6 am lol. We will be on Mountain Time for probably the rest of winter.
A leisurely get up and then on the road at 9:30 am. The clouds were clearing as we started towards Lake Louise and no smoke! Had a few sprinkles and that was it. Once we crossed over the Continental Divide the clouds were far less. I took the following pictures out the motorhome window, not great but here they are. The scenery is beautiful none the less. We did see some Bighorn Sheep on the side of the road in two areas but of course going way too fast to be able to get the shot and nowhere to pull over.
Stopped at the Visitor Centre in Field, BC and unhitched the car to drive the short distance back to Emerald Lake and the Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park. Fantastic as you will see in the next few pictures.
"Emerald Lake is one of the most admired destinations in Yoho National Park, with an unmatched diversity of both activities and landscapes suited to the enthusiastic traveler. It was discovered in 1882, when famed mountain guide Tom Wilson was led lakeside while rounding up a group of horses that had gone astray, and was immediately taken by the vivid Emerald-coloured waters. (Google)" When we arrived at 10:30, the parking lot was really full so we snagged a handicapped one for Ray so he did not have to walk 1 km to the attraction. By the time we left it was even worse. Good thing we came on the early side.
Below is the walkway over to the lodge. Quite a few cabins as well for rent. In front is the restaurant that was just setting up for lunch.
Beside the walkway you can rent a canoe for 3 people for $60/hr. What a way to see the lake.
Paddle down the lake to view the waterfall.
View from the lodge.
A lovely place to have lunch but we were too early.
Next it was back to the car and drive down the road to the Natural Bridge attraction we passed on the way up to Emerald Lake. That was timed well too. As we were leaving 2 tour buses stopped and the place became crowded instantly. The people on the tour buses out of country just do not give a damn if you are there first. They just push you out of the way or purposely go in front all the time and won't get out of the way for other's to have a chance at the view. It is better to get there well before the buses arrive.
"Yoho's Natural Bridge is an impressive natural rock formation that spans the flow of the Kicking Horse River west of Field, where the slower-moving waters from the Field valley flats begin their descent through a canyon to be joined by the Amiskwi River.
The Natural Bridge lookout presents visitors with the opportunity to view the formation from a variety of different vantage points, with interpretive displays explaining the physical processes at work. The bridge can easily be reached by car just 3km (1.9 miles) from Field on Emerald Lake Road.
Sculpted by the erosive forces of rushing water over what had once been a waterfall, the Natural Bridge is a powerful reminder of how much influence water has in shaping the landscape. Softer rock found below the Natural Bridge's hard limestone band eroded more quickly, and fissures in the rock widened until the flow of water was diverted below the outcrop. (Google)"
Ray's video of the Natural Bridge on the Kicking Horse River.
Back to the coach at 11:30 am we carried on to our reserved campsite at Lake Louise. Once the dog had been walked and we were semi setup. Off Ray and I went to Lake Louise and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise to hopefully grab a bite to eat with a fantastic view. Well ..... if you were not a hotel guest you could not eat at any of the main restaurant facing the lake. They tried to send you to the basement with no view or another with a patio but a 20 minute wait for a table! They can keep their food. We will not spend $$$ there treated like second class citizens. We were quite prepared to spend $30/plate per person for lunch for the view.
The tour bus passengers again took up all the space and did not care who else was waiting for their chance for pictures..... After a quick view of the lake it was back into the car to go to the Station Restaurant in the village. We had great service and good food, but not eating until 3 pm was a little much. Oh well hopefully tomorrow goes better. Ray and I are going to have a buffet breakfast at the Lake Louise Ski Resort and then and up the ot the top to the mountain for early sunrise pictures.
The original train station in Lake Louise and the oldest building. We actually sat close to the fireplace. Absolutesly gorgeous. (picture from google)
DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE
The Canadian Pacific Railway Station at Lake Louise is a small, log, railway station built in 1910 to serve tourist traffic. It is located in the Rocky Mountains adjacent to the Château Lake Louise hotel. The formal recognition is confined to the railway station building itself.
HERITAGE VALUE
The Lake Louise railway station reflects the prominent role played by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in developing tourism in the Canadian Rockies. The present station was built to serve tourists to Lake Louise, and especially guests of the CPR-owned Château Lake Louise. The hotel and railway station formed the geographical and economic core of Lake Louise.
The Lake Louise railway station is one of the few remaining examples of the railway stations built by the CPR to serve tourists. Its small scale, simple design and log construction reflect the Rustic vocabulary that was integral to CPR and federal government marketing of the Canadian Rockies as a tourist destination. The generous fenestration, designed for visual appreciation of the scenery, is unique to mountain stations. The Lake Louise station was the first of a group of six mountain stations built by the CPR after 1909, and illustrates the continuing regional success of the application of the Rustic motif in station architecture.
The fireplace and floors are all original.
Old ticket master window
Here are some of the old rail cars on display outside.
You can rent this dining car for special functions.
Next to the parking lot is a bridge over the Bow River to access trails on the other side, mostly used in the winter as nordic cross country skiing.
Other than walking the dog along the river we spent the rest of the afternoon outside in our chairs before being chased in around 5 pm as it was cooling down substantially. We did quite a bit of walking today and with no TV back in bed early in preparation for tomorrow.
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