The majesty of nature........

The Canadian Rocky Mountains are a majestic experience.   And they are viewed in all of their natural beauty.    With the exception of that glass walkway over the canyon, the 5 hour drive from Banff to Jasper is unsullied by billboards and advertising and touristy buildings.   It is  au natural...as it was meant to be.    

 This ice field is on the tour bus route but aside from all the buses and cars in the parking lot,  the scenic beauty stands out.

This brown bear was scampering away once the photographers appeared. 

  

 This magnificent elk kept a close watch on his harem deeper in the woods.
 

 We wandered along a deep cleft in the landscape one drizzly afternoon.     Maligne Canyon is about a 5 mile walk along it's length and was very busy.    We opted not to go the distance as it was a one way trek and we didn't want to do 10 miles to see the waterfalls.     The gift shop ( and isn't there ALWAYS a gift shop ) at the parking lot had some very high end art.    There were many sculptures, most done by the aboriginal people of Canada......I think we would call them Eskimos but not sure if that is PC these days.      They had prices near $500,000 US dollars !!!!  

It was  a good trip.....it could have been perfect if the weather had cooperated.     We hustled back across the border and into Montana.    It was a luxury to come back to using all our electronics once again and to have the TV find a satellite ( too many trees up there) and full hook ups so water wasn't rationed in the showers.   Weather improved dramatically and we stopped wearing the long pants and long sleeves.  

We're enjoying September weather ..... aspens are just starting and the birches and cottonwoods are losing leaves.     The hummingbirds aren't at the feeder any more and the birds are quieter....or gone.  
I'm knitting with a luscious wool/silk/angora mix for a wrap...... like I need that in the winter in Florida but couldn't resist the loveliness of it.  
The social scene around Cobble Creek is busier than ever.      The Valley Symphony had a wonderful concert outside the clubhouse the other night.    It's a volunteer mix of all ages from the surrounding communities and the Pops Concert was a real winner.      A golf event is next week with a Margaritaville theme and you don't need to be able to play golf....but you do need your Hawaiian shirt and flip flops.     I'm always amazed at the depth of the Community calendar in the paper for the surrounding area.    Montrose is only about 20,000 but it is very dynamic.   ( The Villages is over 105,000 !!!!  )

We'll hitch up the horses to the covered wagon and head west next week.      That will probably guarantee rain and hail and snow in California.          Talk later....................