Banff and the Rockies!

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We left Calgary last night, got on the Greyhound at 7pm headed for Banff.  Driving through the Rockies at sunset was pretty stunning.  The last rays of sun created a yellowish halo, cutting out the dark silhouettes of the mountains against the sky.  The dark and seemingly misty mountains stood like giants above us.  Not being able to make out any detail, only the outline and general shape of them added to their magic.  Small bodies of water could be seen glittering in the dark, with the occasional eeriness of a factory in the middle of nowhere...

Banff was amazing.  Everything is gorgeous, from the buildings, to the garbage cans, to the mountains surrounding us.  We stayed with Katie's friend, Liam, who picked us up from the station and brought us to a beer bingo game and a few pubs with his friends.  In the morning Katie and I set out to walk around and explore a bit, mystified by the morning light on the mountains all around us.  We walked along Bow River on small foot paths and took in all the beauty.  Its incredible how amazing our planet is.  The mountains were so so so glorious and the water was clear and cold.  The trees were dark green and a peculiar golden-yellow... it almost makes you feel helpless being surrounded by the grandiose beauty.  

Her family met us in Banff and we all packed into the van to drive to Vernon, for the wedding.  I spotted a bald eagle perched in a pine right outside of Banff, and was amazed at the series of bridges going over the highway to allow animals to cross safely.  Driving west towards British Columbia, we got a fantastic display of the sun-bathed mountains around us, until it started raining and the air got heavy with moisture and clouds were hanging low over the road, hugging the sides of the cliffs.  Glaciers, waterfalls, light blue and turquoise streams curling around the tall and aged trees..... spectacular.