Calgary to Banff
Epic Day! All uphill and into a wind that was often 30 km/hr. A little rain at Cochrane after our morning coffee break. Buffet lunch with amazing planked salmon at Nakoda Lodge (83 km). Wind eased some as we left our afternoon snack stop in Canmore. The ride along the wide shoulder once we entered Banff National Park was nice.
The way the foothills scenery developed over the course of the day was very cool. As we started out of Calgary we could see the mountains to the south but ahead we could only see the foothills. Slowly (everything happens slowly at 20 km/hr) we started top see mountain tops ahead on the flatter section, loosing them on the steeper bits. We stopped to take photos on the Morley Flats when we could first really see the Rockies ahead of us. Then we worked on making them bigger. By Nakoda Lodge we were into the mountains - truly awesome - an honour to ride up the Bow Valley among such magnificent giants.
No shoulder on Hwy 1A, but drivers were very good.
Saw deer, magpies, birds of prey, and ground squirrels (lots - especially in one spot as we were leaving Canmore).
Stayed at Irwin’s Mountain Inn in Banff and had dinner at Coyotes Deli & Grill - the same places that Doug stayed and ate on his 2002 Golden Triangle tour.