What a difference a day makes. After I shed quite a few tears yesterday (both while he was in the hardware store and again when we finally got settled), today has been all smiles for both of us.
Of course, we didn’t have to drive anywhere. So that is a big part of it. We can’t do anything about the things that happen to us on the road. While frustrating, we have thankfully been able to keep going. And we enjoy the days where we don’t have to drive so very much.
But the driving is necessary to see all of this beauty, and good planning is what makes the ongoing journey so enjoyable.
So once again, credit to Rick because now that we are here, it is P E R F E C T !!!
A little bit about campground reservations here in a Canadian National Park. Rick studied both the campgrounds in the areas we wanted to visit, the specific sites he preferred as well as the launch dates for 2025 reservations. The morning that the sites launched, he was ready to go. Good thing since they fill up quickly in these prime spots. And this first campground is just ideal, especially after yesterday’s challenges.
Tunnel Mountain has several campgrounds, literally on the side of the mountain with incredible views surrounding us.
We have everything we need right here without needing to pack back up and drive. Today, we got in a 4 mile hike right from our doorstep, which is exactly what we came to Banff for. See for yourself..
Then it was time for a well-deserved picnic lunch before we headed into town. It’s the next great thing about this campground – a shuttle! The shuttle service was free to get into town, and cost us only $3 to get back. No hassle, with unhooking, worrying about (or bringing) the dog, traffic, parking, etc…. they have been smart in this tourist area to make it easy to bring people in to spend their $$$.
Banff is an adorable town, filled with everything that you can imagine in a ski/resort area. The smells were delightful from every restaurant, the shops were busy, and lots of cute bars and cafes. We did purchase a little Canadian whiskey and wine to replenish our stock while in town, since our supplies were minimal crossing the border. More importantly, Rick was able to get some wonderful pain reliever/muscle relaxers at the local pharmacy that aren’t available OTC in the US (thanks for the recommendation, friends!!). We were glad to have made the visit into town, but were quickly ready to get back to our campground after making our purchases and enjoying a pint.
We made a wonderful dinner and are relaxing enjoying this incredible view with cool, comfortable temps
Tomorrow, we are off to explore more of Banff!!
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