JASPER

We've had a lovely day exploring around Jasper National Park - all for free because we didn't realise we had to buy a pass before we went into the Park and there was no gate stopping us.  Ian is obviously an old hand at this left hand drive and handled it today like a champion - I only put my foot on the imaginary brake a couple of times which is unusual on our first day out.

Our first stop was at Maligne Canyon.  This is quite amazing.  It is feed from Medicine Lake and flows underground for a while before surfacing at the top gorge which has been created over millions of years.  The force of water is incredible considering it is the end of summer and the snow has long ago melted.

We then drove around Medicine Lake and on to Maligne Lake.  The views here are spectacular with the mountains surrounding the lake. Some of the peaks still had snow on them and after lunch we went for a wander around the edge of the lake for a short while.

Back towards Jasper we went to the Tramway and did the 7 minute ascent up to Jasper's peak 2263 mtres to the end of the tramway).  Although the top is only 200 metres further on to the top it is a two and a half hour return walk and we were too late to do that thank heavens.  The views were amazing looking around the various peaks and then down to the many lakes and rivers.  The colours in some of the lakes are beautiful.

Jasper is much larger than we expected and quite a tourist mecca.  Lots of restaurants to chose from for dinner tonight and we chose  a Greek one and were not disappointed.