Day 9: Tues, Aug 7, in Waterton Park, AB CANADA

  Waterton Parks, Alberta, Canada
Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Day 9: Tuesday, August 7, in Waterton Park, AB Canada  
Miles: 32


SUMMARY
-Native Guest for Lunch
-No. No. Really. We Can Live Without It.
-Bette Bison for Prime Minister!
-We can give it up anytime...Really.


DETAILS
Native Guest for Lunch
The tent never did blow away and we had a good night's sleep.

 
We could not find a breakfast place open in Waterton until 8:00 AM
We ended up at Zum's with really tasty raspberry, huckleberry, blueberry pancakes.

 
Drove the scenic Akamina parkway with still more powerful views of the Canadian Rockies. 

Roadside Vistas

The Parkway ends at Cameron Lake and several trail heads. 

We walked to Summit Lake, about two and a half miles away in which you climb 900 feet.

Rory hiking up to Summit Lake

Pink Monkey flower along trail

Rocks carved by water along trail

Rewarding vista for making the climb

Summit Lake - our lunch spot

We were joined at lunch by a female moose. 

She walked to the lake for lunch just like us

Ms Moose was plenty close enough for us

She was unconcerned with us as she ate lake bottom vegetation on her side of the lake.

 

Cameron Lake

Back down at the trailhead we saw some seniors group enjoying the lower Lake.
We could totally identify with the attitude on their bus.

Woot!

We returned to Waterton in time for an early supper. 







No. No. Really. We Can Live Without It.
Pearl's offered actual WiFi with a $5.00 minimum purchase so we were glad to have Shepherd's Pie and Cappucinos. 

There was a bit of unpleasantness when the restaurant's servers would not give us IP addresses but eventually its DHCP server freed up some addresses that had been leased the day before. 

Rory tried to explain that they'd do better to change their lease period from 24 hours to one or two hours but gave up pretty quickly when it was clear that the restaurant was not interested in his free consultancy.

 
Bette Bison for Prime Minister!
We broke away from siren call of WiFi in time to attend another interpretive program.
Last night we learned that in Canada the Blackfeet are called Blackfoot.

This evening we realized that in Canada the Rangers are called Wardens. 
And, where the Ranger Interpreters in the states are all called Ranger, in Canada the Interpreters are never called Wardens.
The program was informative and delightful. 

Interpreter Carrie gave us the lowdown on Bison in the environment and their chances for reintroduction to the park.   
There was lots of audience participation.

Rory, in a bit of type casting because he really does wear loud shirts, played the questioning tourist. 

A couple of cute kids played little Bison who were delighted to deliver actual Bison poop to the Prairie Grasses played by their parents.
 

Bette Bison and Tourist Rory

Best for last, Interpreter Carrie channeled Bette Bison into the hall.
(hear the rocking music and dazzling lights as Bette Bison dances onto the stage....)

'Do we LOVE her? 

OF COURSE we do! 

She's a SUPERSTAR!' 

What's that you say, the Prairie lacks biological diversity? 

This looks like a job for Bette Bison!




We can give it up anytime...Really.
The presentation ended at nine. 

Pearl's did not close until eleven so we returned for dessert and more time online.
Yes, they DID have to tell us to leave.
So?  What is your point?

 
We went to bed with the alarm set. 

We needed to get up early enough to get breakfast,
pack a lunch and meet at 10:00 AM for the Peace Walk.