The 20-Minute Stop

Time for a random musing... I haven't done one of these for a while.
It has been interesting to see all the people jumping on and off the busses at the various locations in the Canadian National parks. They rush into a place like Emerald lake in Yoho, bus pulls up, they jump off, buzz around like a mass of bees, take pictures and back to the bus all in about 20 minutes.  The bus must also make them all very hard of hearing because they all talk very loudly and at the same time. The other thing we have become better at is dodging selfie-sticks... you never know what direction they will be coming from. So for 20 minutes the calm and peaceful place turns into an amusement attraction with no concern for the other people there or the rules and posted signs.  

 

We talked with a bus driver at one of the stops. He said that his was a 4-day tour. They start in Vancouver drive thru 5 of the Canadian National Parks, with 20 minute stops all along the way. And then back to Vancouver all in 4 days. We are on day 15 of enjoying these parks and have not yet seen all of the stops they make... 

 

We have found that it is best to sit back, watch, smile and get out of there way and just wait until they get back on the bus and the peace and quiet returns....until the next bus shows up.

Three Canadian Parks Down - Four More To Go!

Glacier National Park

Yoho National Park - Hoodoos

Mount Revelstoke National Park

We have made it through British Columbia and three National Parks so far.. Mount Revelstoke National Park, Glacier National Park, and Yoho National Park. They are each unique and make you feel like you are definitely in the mountains with glaciers, sub-alpine layers and alpine layers of rock.

Hidden lakes break up the scenery and if you are up for a little adventure, there are always hiking trails. Even the trails marked "easy" require shoes with a little grip. The altitude can also be a challenge on the trails as well as the roots, rocks, boulders and one of my favorite descriptions "relentless switchbacks."

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending how you look at it, the only wildlife we have seen so far are a variety of birds and small animals such as squirrels and chipmunks. But now we have entered Alberta and Banff National Park. Next we will head up to Jasper National Park and then slowly make our way south.

Check out the new videos on our You Tube page to see a bear bugler in Glacier National Park, sunrise on Emerald Lake, the Takakkaw Falls, and the spiral tunnels in Yoho National Park.