Family Ride Ends and another Begins

We managed to break camp very early from Lake Louise and head out on the road.  Before we left for the Icefields, we headed up to Chateau Lake Louise and Moraine Lake to check out the views before the tourists hit the vistas.

 View from the parking lot as the sun hits the peak

We managed to arrive at Lake Louise before the first busload of tourists, and had an unubstructed view of  the lake.  The view is iconic and certainly breathtaking.

There is something memorable about  a father , son, and mom riding together.

We toured the lobby of the Chateu Lake Louise

 From Lake Louise, we rode about 11 km to Moraine Lake.  The Internet Chipmunk immediately  accosted us. Unfortunately he was too fat to get in any of our pictures and thus missed his second chance at Internet fame.

Lake Moraine was formed by a huge slide, or a combination of a slide and a glacier.  Either way, it is as beautiful as Lake Louise.

We headed out on the road north towards Jasper, stopping along the way to take some deep breaths because of the idiots driving without any regard for anyone else on the highway.

 Our crew rolled into Jasper for a late afternoon lunch, and some hugs as we headed east and west.  I have really enjoyed riding with my nephew, brother-in-law, and my sister.  While this is another activity from my bucket list, the satisfaction and pleasure that comes from the riding experience and being with family members is something that I will always treasure.  My family has been extremely generous with me and I am very lucky and grateful for the wonderful relationship that I have with them.

I have a great deal of difficulty in letting go in my life, and it seems that much of my life has been about people leaving.  Consequently, I do not do parting well.  After I left my family in Jasper, I rode south towards Clearwater.

Mount Robson towers over the highway.

I stopped for a burger in a bike friendly bar and grill, and after a good burger, I felt a little better about being on the road again, and without my riding partners.  The posters in the bar provided a bit of comic relief for me.

I had decided not to stretch my tires by riding to Whitecourt to see my son, and when I was able to check my email, I found out that my daughter-in-law was accepted at the University of Alberta, so it looks like I will be heading to Alberta in the next couple of weeks.