p2

WELCOME TO CAMP KIDD p2

Most of the roads are fairly smooth, which allows me to run along at 75-85 MPH.  I drive to Wolf Point Monday and stop at a campsite around 9.  Around 2 AM I get up and drive a few more hours.  I stop some place near Malta and stop at a place I think is called Buffalo Hot Springs campground.  Around 9:30 I shower, have a sandwich, and hit the road once more.  Route 2 has intermittent construction, which slows me down some, and route 15 is rough.  I stay under 70 when it gets rough rather than beat up the truck.   My mileage has been an unspectacular 17, which is the only complaint it has made so far about my speed. Get into Calgary around 5:30 and stop at a bar that has a R1100gs parked in front.  I order a beer, then run outside just in time to catch Markus & Anita Rytz from Switzerland as they're leaving.  They have just driven the GS down from Anchorage.  They also rode an r80 across Asia.  Sounds like they are pretty heavy-duty tourers.  When I get home I'm to check out their site - www.bcprod.ch.  They are returning to Switzerland tomorrow, leaving their bike here for the winter and next year taking it to Mexico. I suggested they join BMWMOA thinking the ANONYMOUS directory might come in handy.  Returning to the bar I get into conversation with the bartender and some of the waitresses.  They tell me there are great bike trails in and around Calgary.  One suggests I go to Canadian Tire (like a Wal-Mart) and pick up a 1998-99Calgary Pathway and Bikeway Map. That done I navigate to the Calgary KOA and book a site for the evening ($24 Cndn).  I'm sitting at my picnic table, site 401, looking ENE over Calgary.  The Sun is setting behind me, moon is shining in front, and lights of the city are coming on to my left.  The mosquitoes are starting to get at me and I beginning to have difficulty seeing the keyboard - so that's all for now. Tuesday August 25, 1999 I decided to sleep in the truck bed.  Thank God for the sleeping bag's Dad bought - got the DeWalt out and unscrewed my storage platform where I had it packed.  (Nice to sleep stretched out for a change.) I awoke around 8, showered, and after getting my bearings decided that the KOA was too far out of town to head back for a bike tour.  This turned out to be a good decision as Canmore (Tim's mountain bike destination) is a great place!  It's a nice little town about 25 minutes before Banff.   Hunter and I drove up to the alpine center - not dog friendly, so we drove back down to town and parked near the river.  There are great trails all along the river.  Ran into some fellows from Holland NOT having any luck fly-fishing.  Said they had done well yesterday down near Calgary. After giving Hunter a respectable exercise we went into town.  Parking with my rear wheel on the curb, an EMT told me in good humor;  "a few inches forward and you'd have been off."  A whole crew of them was coming out of a sandwich shop and I was again falling into conversation.  They were on some type of training excursion, and I eventually asked if there was some place I could get a smoothie.  My parking buddy didn't know what a smoothie was said he was from out of town.  The pretty brunette was a local, but didn't have any idea either.  A half block further I spied a health food/supplement store.  The brunnette should be ashamed.  Somehow I got into conversation with the woman in the health food store also.  She gave me the lowdown on Canmore and Banff.  I'm meeting all kinds of pleasant, interesting people.  Her one pearl that I found particularly humorous was "don't drink the water or your end up being a parent, something about the water in Canmore - all the young women end up pregnant."  Her daughter starts kindergarten next week.  Leaving Canmore I feel a sense of disappointment.  It would be a nice place to loiter.  The drive to Banff is spectacular. I exit and, instead of heading to Banff I turn right.  Suffice to say the Minnewanka Loop is well worth it. Banff is a huge tourist trap.  After giving it the once over I eventually find a place to park and walk down "the strip."  I see a "BAR/PUB" sign, cross the street, and enter Tommy's.  After hitting the head I order a Guinness and strike up a conversation with the bartender (they're my best resources!).   One of the waiters, overhearing my question about places to stay, mentions the YWCA.  $20 bucks for a bunk, and a place to park the truck!  It's right in town, and cheaper than the Tunnel Mountain campground (which is about 3 clicks away)!  I cross the bridge and wander in.  Nice place!  Incredible facilities!  There is a library with a gas fireplace for quiet contemplation.  Internet terminals for surfing the web @ $6 per hour.  A job resource terminal for finding employment, and a nice bistro with a deck looking out at the endless flow of people going between town and the Banff Springs Hotel. This is where I sit, having my forth Kokanee, as I type this somewhat windy recollection of the past two days. Talk to the nice fellow running the Bistro.  Went to Cornell.  He's lived in Mexico, Colorado, Toronto, Calgary, etc.  Didn't like Calgary but has kids there so wanted to stay in the vicinity. He helps low on cash travelers by giving them room in exchange for 4 hours of servitude.  Seems like a really cool job.  Also, seems like everybody I meet on this trip is more interested in following their bliss than chasing the buck.  I love hearing about their travels!  Tonight I am going to rock the town - tomorrow I'll eat lots of aspirin and sleep in! Thursday August 26, 1999 After sleeping in an uncomfortable bunk, in a room with 24 other travelers (the nearest of whom hadn't washed his socks in months) I left Banff early and drove towards Lake Louise.  Exiting the highway I learn the Lake is another 5 km up the mountain from the town.  I decide to take the detour.  Boy was it well worth it!  Feels like a different planet!  I took some video, when I get home I'll download stills and send them.

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Markus and Anita on a previous bike The glacier above Lake Louise (note the lakes color) below: on the road to Vancouver To see fullsize picture on any of these pages, left click the picture then click "view image."

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