So I am not remiss – I did mention the wine and cheese party, which I did not attend, but Gloria and Georgia did. According to them Chan our tour director, did one heck of a job setting this up, doing the shopping, etc. He apparently knows his wines.
Sorry for the delay in this post, but I am struggling with internet connections. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I gave up last night, so no post for that day until now.
First let me start out by saying we have had extremely warm weather. Other than the day we arrived and the morning after when it rained, we have had temps in the 70s and sunshine. Today was no different when we went for a tour of the town of Banff. But before we get to Banff, the Three Sisters Peaks are right behind Canmore and our hotel. And so are the tracks for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Here was shortly after sunrise the range behind our hotel and the train making its way west. 
Banff is a resort town in the province of Alberta, located within Banff National Park. The peaks of Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade, part of the Rocky Mountains, dominate its skyline. On Banff Avenue, the main thoroughfare, boutiques and restaurants mix with château-style hotels and souvenir shops. The surrounding 4,039 square miles of parkland are home to wildlife including elk, big horn sheep, and grizzly bears.
I did say that we are in the Canadian Rockies – 
Our first stop was to drive by the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
The Fairmont Banff Springs, formerly and commonly known as the Banff Springs Hotel, is a historic hotel. The entire town including the hotel, is situated in Banff National Park. The hotel overlooks a valley towards Mount Rundle, both of which are situated within the Rocky Mountain mountain range. The hotel is located at an altitude of 4,639 ft.
The hotel opened in 1888 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, as one of the earliest of Canada’s grand railway hotels. The hotel property has undergone several stages of growth and redevelopment. The original hotel structure was designed by Bruce Price, with another structure completed in 1914. In 1926, a fire destroyed the original structure on the hotel property, although a replacement structure was later completed in 1928. The building was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1988. The hotel property is presently managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.
The Banff Springs Hotel is located on Spray Avenue near the southern boundary of Banff, a resort town within Banff National Park. The hotel property is bounded by roadways and natural waterways. Two roadways bound the hotel to the north, Bow River Avenue, and Rundle River Avenue, while Spray Avenue bounds the hotel from the west. To the east, the hotel property is bounded by the Spray River. The river serves as a tributary for the Bow River, a waterway north of the hotel property. The hotel property sits near the confluence of the two rivers.
Photos to follow from other vantage points.
We then headed over to see Bow Falls. Not like your typical waterfalls, the Bow Falls is wide and short. You might feel some mist from the waterfalls during the mid-summer due to the high water levels. You can also see the valley that was eroded by glacier activity and the Bow river over the years.
We then took a short drive to Surprise Corner Viewpoint. 
We then took a very short ride to see the Hoodoos. Hoodoos are basically weather beaten pillars of sandstone and limestone.They are formed by the effects of erosion caused by wind,water and frost.The striking geological formations are popular icons of Alberta’s badlands.The group of stone columns are very beautiful to watch.
And if you look real close you will see a paddle boarder on the Bow River. Notice the color of the water. The silt is created when rocks underneath the surface of the ice are grinding from the movement of the glacier. The rock flour is very light and stays suspended in the lake water for a long time. The sunlight that reflects off this rock flour is what gives the lakes their spectacular turquoise blue or green color.
Next stop was to Lake Minnewanka.
Lake Minnewanka is a large glacial lake three miles from the town of Banff. The lake is 13 miles long and 466 feet deep. It is a beautiful spot, popular for picnicking, mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, diving, and snowshoeing.
For over 100 centuries, people have camped and hunted along the original shores of Lake Minnewanka. The indigenous Stoney Nakoda First Nations people called it Minn-waki (Lake of the Spirits) because they respected and feared the lake for its resident spirits. Early European settlers later named it Devil’s Lake.
from the flower boxes on the way to the dock – 
Very, very tall birch trees.
We then drove around the town of Banff and stopped for lunch. 
Then it was off to the Gondola, for a bird’s eye view of the area.
And there is more….bear claws.
And wildlife – yes, wildlife. Chipmunks – 
and a little bigger – Big Horn Sheep and ewes – 
A final look down at Tunnel Mountain and Banff, before heading down the mountain. We spent the rest of our time walking around Banff.
And back to our hotel for dinner and some much needed rest. Carol chose to rest and for me – this was the first time I had time to go swim (at the hotel). It felt great. Meanwhile most everyone else went to the wine and cheese party.
Postcards from Sue and friends 