Beautiful British Columbia (tourism slogan is Super Natural British Columbia)

Bears what bears! Have you seen any? Everyone says yes but it was either yesterday or they come out at night but their not around tonight. At Canyon Hot springs their was one in the campground but not when we were there, at the Eco Campground in Golden there was a mother and two cubs but they were too shy to come out and I did look around at dusk the first night and later on the following night. Sarah's first question to anyone is - Are there any bears? They always answer yes and then we are lectured on how to cook and store our food. Well yesterday (that's yesterday as I write this post, probably not when you see it - wifi permitting) we were royaly treated. In the morning driving along Highway 1 towards Banff Sarah caught sight of an animal darting out of the undergrowth in front of us while we were traveling at 97km/hr, I put my foot on the brake and stopped as it trotted across the near empty 4 lane highway, grey with a little motteling of black and looking like a very trim german shepherd dog was a real wolf. A real wolf in the wild not more than 10 feet away from us, I know we were in a car but it is very very rare to see a wolf in the wild and so close. I needn't add that we were in the middle of nowhere and thankfully Sarah spotted it otherwise it would have made for an uncomfortable situation, damaged car, air bags shooting off and theirs no RAC out here I'm afraid or mobile signal to call 911. 

Anyway still not a bear. So the rest of the day was amazing landscapes in the Banff and Jasper National Parks on Route 93. It is a cleverly disguised toll road if you want to travel it you have to buy a 24 hour National Park pass - $20!  Still it was either that or a 3 day detour through Calgary and Edmonton. However, as you know we have been lucky enough to have traveled through some outstanding scenery so far on our trip, this one on Route 93 is right up at the top. Snow capped mountains, glaciers, deep rich blue glacial lakes, interesting walks, beautiful scenery everywhere you look for over 150km and finally plodding along by the side of the road a black bear. The car in front saw it first and stopped.  As we pulled up behind, the bear was just ready to walk past us on the right. So we both had a good look then scrambled for a camera but we only got his or her bum I am afraid. Sarah said that's two ticks today off her list and she was happy to have seen both from the confines of the car ,and that was fine now I don't need to see another bear, anywhere! I did get a little telling off as I slowly walked after the bear down the road but didn't want to get to close to cause it any angish or I guess I could have been tea. 

A Bear Behind

This blog originally had Dave looking for and photographing beer( never good at spelling) but that was really poor!!!!

Images from Route 93

In the evening we camped near Jasper and once again we had elk walking around nearby I saw one peeking through the bushes not more than 5 meters away. 

Close encounter with Elk

Oh, forgot to mention Sarah stepped next to a snake while hiking in the Paul Lake area one day. Anyone that knows her will now have a broad smile as, yes she did jump about 10 feet in the air and run off down the path. Olympic record for the high jump!

Also, took a "leisure drive" whilst in the same area as advised by the local tourist centre. Turned out to be a 200km drive on a dirt road through the mountains, single track no turning, never saw another car or human being all day. This was a definite 4x4 off road drive and our little sedan was not really made for it, inclines like you wouldn't believe. So why didn't we turn back you ask, because I'm daft I guess and by the time it got so bad we decided it would be as bad to go back as forward. It made for an eventful FULL day. 

We have seen loads more wildlife as well. Here are a few; -

Mountain goats

Baby coyotes (mother out searching for food)

Goats On The Roof general store, Coombs, Vancouver Island