Glen and I decide to add golf to the our weekend trip. We usually camp in Johnston Canyon about a half hour west of Banff so we figured we'd do the Tunnel Mountain course of the Banff Springs Golf Club. We'd played the course three years ago so it was time to tackle it again.
We arrived at the campground at checkout time and got a site with smoke still rising in the firepit. Obviously, the last occupants had just left. We set up the tent, had lunch then headed back to Banff. We don't usually visit Banff in the peak summer season but we used the back roads so missed most of the traffic. We weren't prepared for the line-up at the clubhouse. By the time we finished paying our fees, we could tee off. One funny thing was the guy assumed we'd want a power cart but we rented pull-carts instead. Walking a nine hole course isn't strenuous exercise.
We had a great round as we learned to use our our new clubs (our 40th anniversary gift). Glen fell in love with his A wedge and I was glad to again have a 5 iron in my bag. We did the round in about an hour and 45 minutes so didn't let the grass ground under our feet. We had to remember to stop and enjoy the mountains as we were so focussed on playing the game we forgot we did so in a spectacular locale.
It was my night to provide dinner as Meg and Mike didn't arrive until after six. Meg had requested burgers so I got off easy but fried up some mushrooms to make it tasty (Meg added bacon). I had also made a pound cake which is a traditional camping dessert for our family. The one problem we encountered was the mosquitos. I've never seen so many in the mountains and they were voracious. We set up a mosquito coil then lathered on Deep Woods Off. That and the smoky fire kept them at bay while we enjoyed our meal.
Saturday morning, we were up early to tackle two walks. The first was around Lake Minnewanka (name means Water of the Spirits) in search of a letterbox planted there. Meg and Mike also indulge in this hobby and it's a good excuse to see new places. In the 35 years we've lived in Alberta, we've never gone around the lake to view Stewart Canyon created by the Cascade River. It is a pleasant walk and the views were incredible (see photo).
Arriving early turned out to be fortuitous as Saturday was the first day of the Dragon boat Festival in Banff. The parking lot was almost full as dragon boat paddlers mingled with the spectators. It was fun to share some of the excitement and see a few races but we soon left the crowds behind.
The letterbox was beyond the bridge over Stewart Canyon, hidden in a mossy area covered in mushrooms. I had to have photos of them all so did that while Meg and Mike stamped in. We decided to walk further along the trail until we came to a sign saying to hike beyond this point one must be in a group of four and carry bear spray (we didn't). So we took a few photos of the canyon and made our way back. We reached our camp site in time for lunch.
After eating, we headed up Johnston Canyon. I've written several times about this hike -- Mountain Adventure, Photo Shoot, A Weekend in the Mountains and thought I had said all there was to say. Not so. Saturday afternoon on a nice day in August, the place was crawling with hikers, walkers, wheelchairs, strollers, dogs (on and off leash), kids, parents, and grandparents. There was so much traffic, that you had to wait to pass the slower walkers. When we reached the Lower Falls, there was a line up to get into the cave! Having seen it before, we continued on to the Upper Falls. We never reached them because the letterbox we were hunting was just before the falls and ice cream beckoned us back to the trail head.
Usually the little ice cream shack is closed when we hike this trail but on a hot summer day, it was doing a brisk business. We treated ourselves to a cone then walked back to the camp site. There was talk of napping but hot tents are not conducive to sleeping. We all guzzled water (except me who should have) as we'd forgotten to bring water bottles on the hike.
Meg created a feast of filet mignon steaks, curried potatoes, and braised leeks. Glen had a few roasted marshmallows before we tumbled into bed.
It's always sad to say goodbye to a camp site but we were looking forward to lunch at the Grizzly Paw. Glen ordered Rutting Elk Red beer while Meg, Mike, and I had the Grumpy Bear Wheat Ale. Meg ordered a personal plate of nachos from which we all ate then Mike and Glen had burgers while Meg had a pulled pork sandwich and I had a grilled veggie panini with my favourite Granny Bee's Roughage salad.
After lunch we walked to Safeway so Meg could get some relief from the hundreds of mosquito bites on her feet and I could find a letterbox that she and Mike had already found. We then parted company and headed home. Unpacking is easier than packing as all the clothes go into the laundry basket. We then spread our tent and sleeping bags around the deck and back lawn to allow them to dry (condensation has always been a problem with our tent).
It was a great camping weekend and for once, it did not rain!
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