Banff, Jasper and Kootenay National Parks, Canada - Take Two

 Take one was a planned camping trip to this area which was unfortunately canceled by smoke and fires.  I have since been told to NEVER plan to visit in August - their fire season.  Learned that the hard way but here I am a month later and flying instead of camping - which is good because it was 35 degrees this morning!  Brrrr.  All that being said, I'm very happy to be here and have seen so many beautiful, awesome, jaw-dropping scenes. The photos don't do justice to the size of these mountains or the denseness of the forests.  Canada's openness to visitors from other countries impressed me.  Most of the places I've stayed have young people from all over the world who come for a year or so and help run the hostel/B&B which is a positive for all concerned.  How cool is that?  Opportunities, employment, education sharing of cultures and travel all rolled into one!

I won't go on and on about the beauty of this place, the amount of trees, the landscapes and the people.  Well, a bit about the people.  They are SO nice and the travelers I've met have just been extraordinary!!   I've seen some wildlife but hoped to see more - Beavers, where are you?  I spent two nights in Banff in a B&B, one night in East Jasper NP at a hostel and the rest of the time in a motel in Radium Hot Springs which I have come to really like.  It's much more laid back and has bighorn sheep and deer wandering around town and (mostly) crossing at the crosswalks (or zebra crossings).  But enough words.  I'll share some of the photos of this incredible area of the world.  Let the photos speak for themselves.

Bow Falls

View from Sunshine Village Hike

Another View from Sunshine Village Hike

Bow River from town of Banff

Bow River

Along the Ice Fields Parkway

Athabasca Glacier

Along the Ice Fields Parkway

Mistaya Canyon

Peyto Lake

Maligne Lake

Spirit Island on Maligne Lake - a Sacred Place

Another View of Spirit Island

Athabasca Falls

Mount Assiniboine

Bow Lake - two views

Along the Road

Lake Louise from Fairview Looikout

Lake Louise

L

Moraine Lake

Entrance to Radium Hot Springs Town Currently being worked on 

Paint Pots Hike

Marble Canyon

Marble Canyon

Tokumm Creek

Olive Lake

And some of the wildlife I've seen . . . 

 

Bighorn Sheep in town

Deer from my balcony

Deer in the middle of town

More of South Africa and a Bit of Lesotho

Continuing on from my previous post from the Drakensberg I think I need to add just a thing or two. On the rainy day hike I hadn't gotten far when I encountered a group of baboons - not my favorite creature to encounter in the wild alone. I decided to backtrack and found a couple sticks which I ended up using as trekking poles. When I returned to the baboons, I'm not sure if it was the sticks or seeing a giant looking person in a bright yellow poncho, but they decided not to bother me at all. I had a great day in a beautiful spot unthreatened by creatures! (I truthfully think they were more threatened by me!) Onward to Underberg in the Southern Drakensberg. I described the road in my previous post and thanks to my host, Ese, was able to avoid the rock detour by going about 20 minutes out of my way and worth every moment! It had rained and I might still be there had I not taken her advice. ` The place in Underberg was just amazing, especially for the price! It was more a one bedroom cottage completely equipped and even with a bottle of sherry, compliments of the hosts. I had some interesting dreams there and I atribute that to the sherry! There was a short walk to a pond and great birds in the area as well as a beautiful garden. Once again, I could easily have stayed longer. However, my main reason for visiting Underberg was to take a tour to Lesotho (pronounced Lesutu), a small country within South Africa. I was not disappointed! The photos will give you an idea. The road is very long, very rocky and winding. It is not for the faint of heart! We were in the clouds for a part of the trip and then emerged into the sunshine and saw a totally different way of life! The people who inhabit the top of this mountain are called the blanket people by some as they raise sheep (merino and angora I believe) and make the most beautiful blankets that they wear as it is cold and windy there. They don't drive and travel most places by horseback or walking and are mainly shepherds. They can't grow vegetables there as it's too high and too cold but food is sometimes delivered and they also take taxis to the closest town for supplies occasionally. What a trip! Here are some pics. 

Dussie

Long Crested Eagle

Part of the road

Proteus growing wild

Another part of the road

Along the way

After a long and arduous drive by our very competent guide Somandla we reached the top of Sani Pass and entered Losotho - a different world!

 

I wanted this blanket!

I am now in Hout Bay near Cape Town, a truly beautiful place.  I am fortunate to have friends here who are generous with their time and their space and it has been just wonderful.  We are almost at the bottom of the world and the winds outside currently validate that.  They are fierce but will subside during the night and tomorrow will be another great day with the bluest of skies, a gorgeous beach and surrounded on all sides by unbelievable mountains that change color depending on the time of day.       My trip is drawing to a close and I'm sad to leave and happy to see my family and friends - and to find a flight home!  The trip has not been without its hitches from identity theft, a ding in my rental car which I'm still not sure of how it happened and a flight that went though the middle east.  All has been resolved thank goodness and if all goes well I'll be home in about 10 days.  I still have things to do, penguins to see (again) and new things to discover as well as having fun and enjoying my time with  time with Sue and Vince.   That being said, how lucky to have been able to see and touch and help capture wild elephants and rhinos for conservation, to see incredible sights and to hike in beautiful wilderness.  I have gotten to love Africa. I have met the kindest people everywhere I've been and will leave a bit of my heart here.  

Above and following 2 photos are parts of the 12 apostles 

On the way to Cape Town

Hout Bay Harbor and the Sentinel  

Hout Bay 

 And last (but certainly not least) here is a project done by Sue, Vince and me.  This will be mounted in a spot above their pool.  It's been great fun.  Tomorrow we will get it on the wall . . . fingers crossed!

 

A Trip to Camp's Bay

Finished and Hung