Alberta – Day 9 Arriving Jasper

Today Mon and I said good-bye to Sarah for a couple of days and headed west again to the mountains – this time, destination Jasper. On the way, a quick stop in Red Deer to visit the Bower Ponds and the downtown central park. A beautiful morning for driving…not too hot.

We also stopped in Rocky Mountain House to see the national historic site where I got to see the bison up close. They look delicious.

Then on through the ice fields parkway. We stopped for a minute at Mount Michener on the shore of Abraham Lake, Bridal Veil Falls and the Athabasca Glacier. The air temperature dipped to about 13 degrees. It felt very refreshing. So beautiful driving through the mountains.

As we neared Jasper, Monica started to tingle. It has been 36 years since she worked the summer here when she was 19. And we were not disappointed! Jasper Park Lodge is spectacular. Our cabin faces Lac Beauvert and out our picture window, I can see the water through the trees. The Canada Geese are calling “welcome”.

Mon and I relaxed on the patio for a bit and then wandered over to the main lodge for supper at the Emerald Lounge. The view off the deck across the lake to Mount Edith Cavell is stunning. After supper, a stroll through the grounds offered a chance for a couple of memory photos…like the elk grazing right by the shore.

We watched the sun go down over the mountains as we enjoyed the night air on the patio. An embarrassment for me was when I shut the door and left the keys inside the room. So I had to walk over to the main lodge to get help. Everyone was just coming out of the dining room dressed to the nines and me in pyjamas and bare feet! Shawn, nice young fellow, came to the rescue with a key.

We are so fortunate to be here. Can’t wait for tomorrow.