Niagara Falls

We can hear the roar from a distance. The first thing we see is the mist rising like a cloud, we can't see the drop-off because of all the tourists and as you get closer, the width of the Niagara River is enormous, the colour, that gorgeous emerald green of a glacial flow. The sun is shining and the colour of the water of the Niagara River is spectacular. We are so close to the edge of the Horseshoe Falls that we feel like we can lean over the railing and touch it. It is only a couple of metres away and the footpath has been built at the same level as the water's drop-off. The cliff edge of the falls, curves around in front of us to create the perfect horseshoe.
The American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are further down the river. If you hadn't seen Horseshoe Falls first, you would think these natural wonders would be awesome, but, we have been spoilt by the sheer strength, power and grandeur of the larger falls.

Niagara Falls

One of the seven wonders of the world, certainly didn't disappoint.

Horseshoe Falls Niagara River

American Falls Niagara River

Niagara Falls Horseshoe Falls

We took a tour under the falls. We were 200 metres below the escarpment and the tour took us to two tunnels, which opened up with the falls pounding down to the bed below.  If you wanted you could get as close as two metres to the water falling at the opening of each tunnel. The lookout was on the downstream edge of the  falls at the same level.  From this perspective we could see the fury of the water as it crashed past you to the bed of the rocks below.

Horseshoe Falls Niagara

We stayed in Niagara Falls a couple of days and each day, we would wander down just to check if this magnificence was still there, the sheer power and strength and volume was awsome

Helicopter Ride over Kananaskis River Valley

Our trip from Lake Louise and Banff to Calgary included a helicopter ride over Kananaskis River Valley and its junction with the Bow River Valley. I made a fool of myself begging for the front seat in the helicopter, but I managed to throw out embarrassment and got the best view.
This magnificent scenery of mountains, the emerald green of the glacial waters of the two rivers also included two man made lakes, which were used for power generation.

Canoeing Lake Louise Fairmont Hotel

The bus turns into Lake Louise and the view is spectacular. The Chateau stands in front of the most beautiful scenery, majestic mountains surround the beautiful building. But wait there's more. Our room overlooks the most magnificent Lake Louise, with its emerald green water, which is fed from the glacier we can see on the mountain behind.  The water is perfectly still, on this afternoon, there is no breeze, and the mountains are reflected in a mirror image in the lake water.

We spent the afternoon, walking around the lake, at the waters edge with the mountain rising above us on the other side. We walked as far as we could and found a stream which was running off the glacier blocking our way, but it was a spectacular walk and gave us an appetite for dinner.

It looked so beautiful, relaxing and what a perfect way to see the Fairmont Chateau, canoeing Lake Louise with the backdrop of snow capped mountains.

Dinner on the patio - feeling very spoilt

Banff

Beautiful Banff, with its location in the Bow River Valley it is surrounded by rugged Mountains, with their towering peaks reaching for the sky. We have had temperatures of at least 30C for four days and the locals tells us it is unseasonally warm.  In early August, there is very little snow, or ice on the peaks   in stark contrast to the valley of green below them.We spent the morning strolling through downtown Banff, found the river with a beautiful park beside it and continued on the Bow River Falls track which follows the river east and is situated in a dry Montane forest of fir,  cypress,spruce and wildflowers. The trees are providing welcome shade and have created a cooling breeze. On either side of the river, there are sheer cliff walls and on the opposite side are cyclists riding through forest and stopping to take photos and then continuing on their morning ride.
The river is a gorgeous emerald green colour, which flows from glacier water and it is wide at this point, approximately ten metres. The river is full and the water is fast and furious. There is one large set of falls, dropping about four metres and two other sets of falls , dropping approximately one metre each.  In a space of approximately fifty metres there are numerous other smaller falls.  The track has a timber and stone railing, which follows the falls and  there are numerous high vantage points, until we reach the end of the drop-off and the river flows to a sandy beach and curves away out of sight.
On the sandy beach are kayaks and white water rafting boats, having negotiated the falls and waiting to be packed onto their trailer and taken back up to the start of their journey for their next adventurers to experience the exhilaration of the Bow River Falls and the intriguing "hoodoos"

Bow River bridge

 The Fox Hotel, built from Rundle Rock, which is limestone and is mined locally from Rundle Mountain

 The Caribou Lodge - where we stayed in Banff

The base of Bow River Falls

Canoeing Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park

Canoeing on Emerald Lake, the scenery was stunning. A backdrop of mountain peaks with the last vestiges of ice clinging to the valleys. In the foreground a stand of Douglas Fir trees and a meadow of green grass.  The gentle splash of the oars as the trio of Japanese tourists glide past us in their canoe. Stunning

Canoeing Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake - so beautiful and would be peaceful if I could send all the other tourists home

Kicking Horse River

Natural Bridge on Kicking Horse River. Originally a water fall, the force of the water over time has cut through the rock and is now only flowing over the top of the bridge when the water level is quite high

 Golden Squirrel - a cheeky little fellow. As soon as he realised we didn't have any food, he was off to find another source.