TUESDAY, JULY 22

TUESDAY, JULY 22:

     The morning did welcome us again with mostly blue skies.  And the temperature was predicted to be a little warmer than yesterday.  So we thought that boded well for a kayaking day.  So after breakfast headed towards the town of Jasper; from there, we’d take a short road which leads to two primo lakes:  Patricia and Pyramid.  However, only Pyramid has boat launching accessibility. 

     After checking out a couple of things in the Visitors Center in town, and picking up sandwiches at the highly recommended Patricia Street Deli (thanks, Loretta!), it was still a tad cool, so we took the opportunity to just stroll around town while we waited for the air to warm a little more.  The Jasper townsite is, as we knew, MUCH smaller than Banff;  probably only 10-20% as big.  So we could leisurely poke around it and pretty much see most of the offerings (restaurants, shops, etc.).  Very enjoyable, especially since every other time we’d been in town, it had been raining.  Now we were just savoring the ambience and quickly warming air.

     So on we drove to Pyramid Lake.  We chose what looked like the less busy of the two boat launches.  It was actually a good-sized beach, complete with several families enjoying what all families do with a day at the beach . . . swimming, splashing, building sand castles, relaxing  . . . the only difference between this and Malibu is that instead of palm trees, there are Northern firs!  Well, and no surfers. 

                                                            

      We paddled around the lake for nearly 2 hours, passing Pyramid Island and reaching the far end of the lake.   Just enjoyed the calm water, the peace, the birds calling, the majestic mountains encircling us.
                                                                      

                                                                     

                                                                       

 

                                                                

 

      Then the afternoon clouds began making their appearance, along with some wind.  So decided to return to shore.   

     We drove the couple of miles out to the island to eat our picnic lunch.  There is a small footbridge giving access, which was built during the Depression by something akin to our CCC. 

 

 

Since that time, countless families, couples, and friends have enjoyed this charming little piece of  terra firma which was made of harder rock than all of the earth surrounding it, and so when the forces of erosion cut away at all of the surrounding rock, and then filled it with the glacial melt to form the lake, this formidable piece of rock stood firm.

     After our lunch, which was delish, we walked the little pathway around the island.  At the end, across the lake, is Pyramid Mountain.  In the right light, you can see the purplish tones of the rock there.

 

 

      On our way home, we made a detour to Miette Hot Springs, on the National Park’s eastern edge.  A lovely forested road off of Hwy 16 led about 12 miles to an outdoor pool which is fed by the legendary hot springs close by.  The Natives no doubt soaked their weary muscles in the hot springs, as we did ours, while simultaneously soaking up the rugged mountain views.  Ahhhhh!!!

 

             More soothing mountain views in the dusky drive home.                                

                                                           

 

        And home.  As soon as we opened the door, Pappy bounded out.  He knows he’s not allowed to do that, so we were very surprised.  Bill spoke sharply to him to get back inside, but Pappy ignored him, and walked over close to where I was.  So I was getting ready to lead him back in, when he ignored me as well, lifted his leg in the grass, and let loose.  He must have pee’d for an entire minute.  He obviously really needed to go, and was being such a good boy to hold it til we got home, but could not wait one more minute!  He knew what he was doing when he rushed out of the door!

        We had leftover chicken for dinner.  I re-heated rice in the microwave with Saran Wrap over the bowl, and as I was unwrapping the wrap, the steam escaped with a vengeance and got my thumb.  It was very, very painful the rest of the evening, and I had to keep it soaked in cool water, or else I couldn’t stand it.  Bill got me one of his Rx pain pills, and that finally knocked it out so that I could go to sleep.