Sufferfest Day 5 - HI Mosquito Creek to HI Banff

 The day began with another misty morning, thankfully not raining, but quite cool for the riding. Riding was mostly downhill, with a surprising number of short climbs. When we got to Lake Louise, we were still both chilled, grabbing hot chocolates to warm up, and some sandwiches for lunch.

All packed up and doing the final prep to head out from the hostel.

Riding down to Lake Louise

Misty mountains seen riding into Lake Louise.

 

Heading into Lake Louise, we had not paid enough attention to the directions given by some of the cycle-tour riders we had met at Beauty Creek, who advised about the bike path into Lake Louise being on the left when you got onto the Trans-Canada highway, meaning that we crossed the cattle guards/Texas Gates getting onto the Trans-Canada, rode the shoulder of this with transports flying by, and then crossed another cattle guard getting into Lake Louise.

Heading across the overpass again to the Bow Valley Parkway meant crossing 2 more cattle guards, rattling us pretty good both times.

Skies are starting to clear.

 

We learned that the Southern half of the Bow Valley parkway, below Castle Junction, was closed to motor vehicles, which meant that the Northern half also had very little in the way of traffic on it. We really enjoyed the reduction of riding with cars, and, South of Castle Junction, that this effectively turned the whole road into a giant bike lane.

Heading onto the Bow Valley Parkway

The Northern Gate of the Bow Valley Parkway

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Stoked about the road being closed to motorized vehicles.

 

We had a nice easy walk at Johnston Canyon, which apparently had reduced numbers to the crowds, although it was still tight to squeeze past people and maintain physical distancing on the walkways up the canyon.

Johnston Canyon trailhead

I saw the sign and knew she needed to pose under it.

Walkway along the canyon

Johnston Canyon lower falls.

Johnston Canyon

More falls in Johnston Canyon

For Anthony: Demotivational Poster:
Stubbornness - Just because you're holding on doesn't mean you're not dead.

Johnston Canyon: Abstract art flowing rock face.

Johnston Canyon rock face

Johnston Canyon upper falls.

Johnston Canyon beggar

Heading up a hill on the Bow Valley Parkway

One big bike lane on the Bow Valley Parkway

More Bow Valley Parkway

Heading down the Bow Valley Parkway

 

We eventually got into Banff, being shown the linking bike trail from the Bow Valley Parkway by a couple of local cyclists, who also showed us how to operate the bizarre mechanism on the elk gates. Once in Banff itself, I relied on Google Maps to give directions to the hostel. As we began to climb Tunnel Mountain road, rising far above the main town of Banff, I began to question whether it was taking us the right way, but this proved to be the best way to the hostel, which was on top of the hill above the main town.

We made it to Banff!

View from the hostel entrance.

 

After checking in and enjoying a shower we walked downtown for a late dinner, eating our first fresh salad in a week (while I enjoyed some elk and boar meatballs).

Today was a long day of riding, as we covered over 88km and we didn't have time to check out the climbing in Lake Louise, although we've heard really good things about it.

Tomorrow is riding down to Canmore and climbing at Grassi Lakes. I'm hoping the hostel will be alright - I'm expecting this to be the first time on the trip that we'll be sharing a dorm room with someone else, so am a bit worried about getting exposed to COVID.