June 21 Lake Louise to Saskatchewan Crossing

June 21 Lake Louise to Saskatchewan Crossing

Although we woke early this morning we didn't get away from the bakery until 9:30. The first two kilometers back to the Parkway were downhill and the wind had not started blowing yet. Our first stop was at the Park Pass Check where we paid up for the next couple of days. We plan on being in Jasper before it expires. It was a pretty consistent uphill for most of the day as we traveled towards the Bow Summitt. We stopped at all the vistas to read the signs about the different glaciers. When we got to the summitt we chose to bike up to the exhibit so we could have a look at Lake Peyto. The highway is at 2067 metres while the parking lot is 2135 - why not do extra climbing. We had our lunch that we had purchased yesterday at the Lake Louise Market. Rob was slicing the cheese but before he could slice the second piece a bird* swooped in and stole the first piece. *We still don't know what kind - guesses are Whisky Jack, Clark's Nut Cracker or Grey Jay. I'm putting my money on the Grey Jay.

From lunch we coasted for awhile and rode undulating road past Waterfowl lake and Mistaya Canyon. From the Canyon we got another steep downhill to the river and then had to climb a couple of steep uphill kilometers to Saskatchewan Crossing where highway 11 heads to Rocky Mountain House. We were out of water so we stopped for refills and some ice cream. Before long, we had talked ourselves into staying in the motel at the Crossing . The other choice was a campground 11 kms away where we knew they have no showers. This is the most expensive shower we've ever had but they throw in a bed for the night as well. Today's total is 84.3