And so the chaos begins.

Red Streak Campground, Radium Hot Springs, BC (2 stars)

We started out by walking a short trail from the campground to well above Highway 93. The traffic, made up of many 18 wheelers was never ending due to the closure of the Trans Canada between Field and Golden, resulting in a 170 km detour for that traffic. While Lee was shooting photos from above the highway, Lez met a couple from Calgary and started up a nice chat about why we are so thankful to be living here instead of the Netherlands. They were originally from Drie Bergen.

We then drove down to the hot springs and saw the hot and cold pools. There is a pedestrian tunnel under highway 93 at that point so people could cross safely (and that was before highway 93 became highway 1A early this morning). While returning through the tunnel Lez picked up on some more Dutch being spoken and we soon spent some time in the parking lot talking to four people from Den Helder. As with the Brits we have met, they all love our country.

We then drove over to the Columbia River for a peek (it flows very slowly northwards). Heading back to the campground, the traffic was nuts. We sat outside for a while, enjoying the endless sun and no wind. And this is late September in the mountains.

After supper, we noticed our British neighbours out with their cameras. Lee grabbed a camera, went out and soon called Lez to come out. Right there in the campground were four male Bighorn Sheep. That turned into a lengthy conversation with the Brits who were as with the others, so impressed by our country. It gives us a good feeling.

Yesterday we crossed the Great Divide! In Canada it is the border between Alberta and British Columbia. Starting at the south end at Snow Dome mountain, on the edge of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, across Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories to finally reach Nunavut. There is, as expected, a lot of information on the internet - even info on doing the trail on a mountain bike. I would love to hear from someone who has done that - or kept and published a diary. What a story that would be!

We did a short walk up the Red Streak Trail - this one had stairs and steep paths, which I found a little unsteady. I should have brought my walking stick! I have quite forgotten to use it on the hikes which have been usually quite flat. Well of course these are more steep - we are deep in the mountains. And mountains were explored in weather that had us wearing our shorts and T-shirts! We wandered past the Radium Hot Springs pools, and found they were fairly busy. As we were returning to the truck, we heard some folks speaking Dutch, and just had to greet them. As we chatted, I was also able to practice a little Dutch, and had them laughing as I pointed out my favourite Dutch things - their fries with mayo (patat met) and their deep fried Kroketten.

Spectacular views today and again lots of photos taken. Today's nature theme for flora was tiny. For the fauna, it was the large Bighorn Sheep. There were 4 adults and 2 slightly smaller ones.

We enjoyed chatting with the Brits today, who have been to Jasper and Banff on more than one vacation. They had booked this trip 3 years ago, as had James and Roz, and finally now, with Covid related restrictions being rescinded, were able to come to Canada again. We shared our stories of our travels in England too.

As I have with others, I left them with a business card - with our contact information, and hope to hear from them on their travels and adventures back in England. We hope one day to be overseas at least once more. It would be great to connect on their turf.