Day 11 - Marble Canyon to Banff - ~ Heavy Rescue 2024 - Canada ~ - CycleBlaze

August 5, 2024

Day 11 - Marble Canyon to Banff

Extended Stay to plan around wildfires

Day 12 - To the beautiful mountain town of Banff (YWCA overnight)

Marble Canyon Campground was a perfect fit for yesterday's route.  The facility sits just off the highway on a gravel road.  The wooded sites are separated nicely.  I didn't make a reservation because I couldn't find it online, so I just pulled in and found an open spot (marked by a green label.) I'd recommend finding that reservation site; the campground was FULL the sign said!

Heart 2 Comment 0

The right turn out of Marble Canyon stopped me in my tracks. 

Heart 4 Comment 0
Heart 2 Comment 0

I'll keep this short because you have to ride the route to get the full affect.  What I will say is, always look behind you.  Today storm clouds over took me as I climbed the Vermillion Pass.  Ahead looked so nice, but that would change.  The rains came and lowered the temps to the point that I had to add a upper layer.

This climb went up and down and then dropped like a rock.   STEEP DOWNHILL is what the signs read.  Wet and shivering I fell descended to the Bow Valley Parkway.  Before the turn off for the Bow, I stopped and glanced to my left to see this amazing view.

Heart 4 Comment 3
Keith A. SpanglerBrandon this is an image that might be nice to work with in Lightroom. The Rockies were hazy everyday so clear crisp images were lacking Thanks for looking at my atuff
Reply to this comment
2 months ago
Daniel SpanglerGreat image.
Reply to this comment
2 months ago

The next GEM was this conveniently placed stop - for coffee x2 and a place to change cloths and warm up.

Heart 5 Comment 0

The final 18 miles to Banff was sunny and scenic.  

The Canadian Rockies
Heart 7 Comment 0
Heart 4 Comment 2
Keith A. SpanglerIt was too. It was not flat like I was expected, but it was beautiful
Reply to this comment
2 months ago
The Legacy Trail into Banff
Heart 6 Comment 1
Daniel Spanglerwow man- great image here. I can really feel the trail.
Reply to this comment
2 months ago
The magic of nature!
Heart 8 Comment 5
Keith A. SpanglerThank you so much
Reply to this comment
2 months ago
Daniel SpanglerImage of the trip, so far. In my opinion.
Reply to this comment
2 months ago
Keith A. SpanglerTo brandon spanglerThank you Brandon
Reply to this comment
2 months ago
Keith A. SpanglerTo Daniel SpanglerOne of them ...
Hehehe
Reply to this comment
2 months ago

In Banff I found my room at the YWCA right across the river from downtown.   Rain came back and guess what - I didn't care!!!

Banff
Heart 4 Comment 0
YWCA
Heart 6 Comment 0
My View .... and my travel partner
Heart 6 Comment 0

PLANS:   Here in Banff for three nights and then onto Canmore.  Besides seeing the sights, enjoying good food, I'll be planning my detour around closed roads and wildfires that line my original route.

It is an adventure - all is still good!!!  Epic in fact!

Today's ride: 32 miles (51 km)
Total: 393 miles (632 km)

Rate this entry's writing Heart 8
Comment on this entry Comment 3
Tamora StumPictures are beautiful. Glad you made it to your mini-vacation in Banff. Love "T"
Reply to this comment
2 months ago
Keith A. SpanglerTamora, qwauk is such a trooper, I hope it continues on this journey with me. I look down at him and he is alway smiling like you!
Reply to this comment
2 months ago
Daniel SpanglerOnto Kanloops*** (not Canmore***) :) Love you man.
Reply to this comment
2 months ago