Get off my cloud - Waterton 2nd September 2011 I have never stayed in a Motel before. My expectations were influenced by watching 'Crossroads' (the original with Miss Diane and Benny - oh dear showing my age now) and more recently 'My name is Earl'. I am happy to say that the experience was not that bad and although very basic the Westcastle Motel was clean, comfortable and no encounters with a crazy men with moustaches trying to rectify their past mistake...

The last full day based at Banff involved a small car journey to some sights in a neighbouring National Park before we headed down to Waterton Park, our final destination in the Canadian Rockies. The Canyons of your mind Kootanay National Park - 31 August 2011 The day was miserable so we headed north on Highway 1 and after 35 minutes turned west down highway 93 into Kootenay National Park Our aim was to stop at Marble Canyon, an interesting feature formed ...

As I write this blog the weather has taken a dramatic turn - having enjoyed temperatures of 27 degrees for most of the week, it has now dropped to 7 degrees and has been raining for two days. This is not dampening our spirits and we are still getting out and about but perhaps not scaling the heights we were a couple of days back. I think Stuart is secretly relieved as it means that he will probably get out of going up in the Gondola, in Banff at least! ...

Karen got the exciting bit to talk about - leaving me with the walks and everything else here in Banff Park except the YWCA which she has bagged for her next blog. All I will say is that I fail the YWCA test on all levels: I am not young; am not a woman; whilst moral I am not Christian and I don't know anyone that would publicly associate with me. Feelings From my point of view the bear incident was exhilarating but not frightening. After all I was armed....

As has now become the norm when we arrive in a new place we decided to explore the town trails on our first day in Banff. We started out on what looked to be a fairly uneventful walk along the bow river and around the Fenland Trail. We were both tired and subdued after our long drive the day before and I even commented to Stuart that this walk was unlikely to make it into the blog. The one thing I love about travelling is that it is un-predictable a...