Day 33 - Adventures in Banff
Trip Start
Jun 26, 2005
1
34
51
Trip End
Aug 14, 2005
Banff NP, Alberta, Canada
Friday, July 29, 2005
This morning wake up call was at 7:00 A.M. for an 8:00 A.M. departure time. An energetic group woke up at 6:30 A.M. for a scenic run around the camp site with the early sun shining on the mighty mountains of Banff. Before having oatmeal or cereal for breakfast, everyone rolled up their sleeping bags and sleeping pads to secure in tents for the following night. At 8:00 A.M. we were all set for the full day of fun events lying before us.
First, we drove to the horse ranch in Banff for a two-hour trail ride. Upon arriving, we lined up along the inside of the corral to be paired with a suitable horse according to our size. Each horse had a number branded onto their back as well as a name tag. Our guides, easily distinguished with their cowboy and cowgirl hats, reminded us to be gentle with the horses. Throughout the trail, we attempted to remain in a single file line; although, many of the horses had their own agenda so we did our best to preserve the order. The serene trail was outlined with spruces through which we saw an emerald tinted lake at the base of the prominent mountains. The slow and steady line of horses picked up speed and momentum into a trot every once and a while, which caught some of us by surprise. We were instructed to lean forward when riding uphill and backward when riding downhill. Brother Nigel was taken for a spin when he pulled his horse aside to videotape the end of the ride. His horse ran with him off the path, all of which was caught on film. Don't worry, that clip will make the final edit! Thankfully, he was all right.
After horseback riding, we headed into Banff for free time to explore the city and eat lunch. The quaint town of Banff was lined with small shops and restaurants which were across from a grassy high school field where people were playing Frisbee. The entire group met at 3:00 P.M. for a mountain biking tour of Banff. We split up because there weren't enough bikes for everyone to ride at once. The first group included twenty people and the second group enjoyed a movie while awaiting their turn. All of us adjusted our bikes and were given helmets. The gorgeous day set a perfect mood for mountain biking throughout Banff. It started to drizzle shortly after we began the ten mile route; however, nothing could hinder us from continuing. It especially felt refreshing on the grueling uphills. We ventured along longing for the lengthy, smooth downhill stretches. Along the paved path, we saw a spectacular overview of Banff. The final part of the path went through town, which was useful because we spotted shops and restaurants that we hadn't visited the previous night, and would end up coming in handy later. The first group arrived back at the rental shop early at which point seven of them bravely decided to find a dirt trail before it was the second group's turn. Those who opted to stop before a second ride had free time until everyone met at the shop at 6:00 P.M. At this point, the second group started their ride while the first group had free time until 9:00 P.M. During free time, everyone split into groups to eat dinner and dessert, shop for souvenirs, call home, and use the internet cafe.
The action packed day came to an end when we met at 9:00 P.M. at the bike shop. Our sore and tired group drove back to the camp site for our last night in Banff. We showered, set up camp, and stayed warm by the roaring fire. We made sure everything unnecessary for the night was packed in the buses since it was bear country. The exciting day was a wonderful way to spend our last full day in Canada. We truly made the most of today, which was filled with incredible highlights of the trip, by taking advantage of what Banff offered by seeing many parts of it in varied aspects.
Journal Crew
Link to today's photos
