Oh I have been thinking about this ride for a year now.... I had the bright idea that this would be the "weekend" for it. I finished my shift on Monday and didn't really feel like driving for 4 hours not certain if I had a campsite to crash at or not. So Tuesday I got my but out of bed a bit later than I planned, guess 4 days of alarms going off at unholy hours has it's toll.
I packed up the car and headed south. I stopped in Naton to check out the air museum. I know I have drove past it a few times and the Lancaster wasn't visible like it had before so I was worried. but nope they have made room in the hanger for the old aircraft. I made my $5 donation and spent a few hours checking out displays.
I grabbed a slurpy in the next town and kept on moving. I kept looking out the window and just in awe of the rolling fields trying to take photos as I drove. I finally made it to the border the guys wished me luck when I told him my plan to ride the highway. I kept hoping for a car to be in front of me because I was paranoid that I was speeding. Those Mph numbers are hard to read when your looking at mountains:)
I payed my $25 park fee, which is good for 7 days.... why????? all I wanted was a two day pass!!!!! So I drove right past the campground I wanted to stay at... the lake was nice so I kept on driving. Thought to myself that I should drive this thing and then ride it tomorrow when the sun isn't so hot. So I keep pulling over at the spots and took photos like a crazy tourist. Keeping track of how long I had been climbing till the top.
Ok if I had problems with the last hill on the Sylvan Course.... WHAT MADE ME THINK I COULD DO THIS MOUNTAIN PASS???????????????????
This is an alpine road, no shoulder, WINDY, and it has metal grates across the road to keep the water from going down the road. All I saw was an easy way to DIE trying to go down this road on my bike..... So I drove to the west end and got a campsite. I sat and read some of the magazines I brought along. I just chilled out and relaxed. I realized late in the day that I all I had to eat was a baggett, slurpy, and 3 granola bars. So I went to the camp store got an ice cream and a bag of chips. Then I realized there was a restaurant.... oops I thought I would eat breakfast there.
Slept like crap! couldn't get comfortable sliding down my mattress, I found that what I thought was level when I set up the tent wasn't even close!
Got up and packed up the tent, thought about breakfast... didn't have any. Drove to Whitefish and kept on going. Got to the boarder and waited. I always get nervous trying to get back into my own country.... every time I have crossed in a car it was always a great big pain in my ass compared with entering the states. I guess they have to balance the hatred in the airports the US customs creates.
I got onto highway #3 and recognized places I had camped as I biked it a few years ago.... man I have to do that again! Anyway I got to Kimberly and walked around and again thought to myself" this is it?" hope back in the car and keep going. I was thinking about camping at Wasa Lake but ...... keep on driving. Thought about stopping in Farmount to go to the hot springs but blew past the corner.... thought about the the Radium Hot springs and you guessed it went past that corner too. Guess I was in the mood to just drive and listen to the podcasts I had on my Ipod. Well blow past Banff and finally stop for some food in Canmore.
I got home and went to the gym for a swim and a jog on a treadmill. How stupid am I! I could have swam in a lake and ran in some nature.... oh well it was a good road trip.
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