when in banff

At 2100h on a Tuesday, I was preparing for three days off. I wanted to hike but a four persom group is four stongly cautioned at this time of year.
 I stumbled upon a website mentioning a 9:00 am departure tomorrow. It didn't mention where from or where to. Hmm, I did have the address of the Banff Life website. I decided to try my luck. I left at 630 and was in Banff by 815, by the time I found the office it was 830 and sure enough the group was meeting there.
It was such a nice hike along the tunnel mountain path, and the guide stopped along the way to tell us about the area,



She told stories of the Dave White Co, the original outfitters in Banff, and trips Europeans took by train headed west. It reminded me of my first journey here.

 She told us about the people's belief in the healing powers of the hot springs, for the hot springs were at that time just a hole in the ground, and loved ones were lowered into the pool by hide slings made for them.



 I happened to come on the day of the farmer's market and there was nice breads from Canmore's bakeries which I gnawed on as I explored around town. I bought cards with pictures taken of griz and bighorn sheep and heard the story of the pictures from the photographers.

 I went to the Cascade Gardens and thought to myself, I thought I had a flower problem?
This garden hosts a whopping 50,000 annuals a year.

I went to the Banff park museum Natural Historic site and chuckled- as this picture means both museums in Banff have images of people having to pee

.

Luckily this was not a forewarning, I sat in the library and read old books about the CP rail and the Hudson's Bay company, while the rain thinned out the crowd in the town,
 it was a lovely day. 10/10 as Rhonda would say.