We first pulled of the Parkway at Herbert Lake. This quiet little spot is used by canoeists and kayaker primarily because the surface is so calm, and the lake is so shallow. Beautiful.
A little further north we began to see the high mountains and glacial lakes.
Aptly named Crowfoot Glacier is one of the largest and best viewed of the many glaciers near the high points of the Icefield Parkway. Even though these glaciers are slowly retreating, they are still one of natures best works!
At every turnout, we had to stop and gasp at the scenery! And yes, the water in the lake is really that color!
Every one of these mountains has a name, of course, and is beautiful and awe-inspiring in it's own way. We quit trying to remember the names because we became overwhelmed by their beauty.
In several places, multiple glaciers came together!
The lakes, fed by crystal clear and icy cold glacier water, are unsurpassed for their color and setting.
The weather was warm and clear, and wildflowers were taking advantage!
As we retraced our steps, we had to stop for one more glimpse of Crowfoot Glacier.
It was a short, eventful, 199 mile drive, but oh, the things we saw!
In the evening (it continues to be light until well after 10:30pm) we decided to take Sasha for a short 3/4 mile walk to a nearby A&W. Sasha enjoyed the time out, and got a drink of water while D and I enjoyed an ice-cold mug!
Which led to our "Surprise o' the Day".
While drinking her root beer, Donna mentioned that the vision in her left eye was deteriorating. Fuzzy, with "cobwebs" and flashes of light made us very concerned, and so off to the local emergency room we went. Now, what kind of service would you expect from a small hospital on a Friday night? As it turned out, the answer is pretty good service. We had to wait an hour or so for the doctor on call to arrive, but he did a relatively thorough exam, including an ultrasound, and announced that he found something suspicious in her eye, but couldn't define it. The Dr. referred us to Rockview General Hospital in Calgary, where they have a renowned emergency eye clinic. So, early this morning we headed east toward the big city, about 65 miles away. As it turns out, Canadian health care is somewhat different that we've come to enjoy in the US. Here, the 10:00 appointment that we thought we had means that that was our suggested "arrival" time, and we had to check in and sit down, and wait our turn.
Two plus hours later we were called for triage. The Dr. soon arrived, and the process went very smoothly, including a more sophisticated ultrasound, and very close examination of the interior of Donna's eye. The diagnosis? Vitreous Syneresis, where the fluid inside her eye is liquefying due to age, and pulling away from the retina. Sounds scary. Treatment is not called for, but constant monitoring is, and regular exams by an ophthalmologist. As it happens, a very dear friend of ours has been aware of this condition in her eye for some time, and while everyone is different, it's comforting to know that others have and are dealing with this condition. So, on we go, limping a little more, squinting a little more, and groaning a lot more. But on we will go!
We were so happy (?) with the diagnosis, that we treated ourselves to a nice lunch at The National restaurant. If you're ever in Calgary, check it out! We shared a bowl of Seafood Chowder (smoked cod, lobster, mussels, mesquite bacon, and Yukon gold potato in a traditional white chowder base), and a Smoked Brisket sandwich (cherry wood smoked, stout mustard, sauerkraut, pickles and rye). Outstanding!
We turned on the Calgary news this evening and heard that the wildfires in British Columbia continue to burn out of control near an area we visited just a couple of weeks ago. Wind conditions are horrible, and smoke is pouring over the very high Canadian Rocky Mountains.
We feel sorry for the hundreds of people who have lost their homes and valuables, and sincerely hope that no one has been injured. Which brings me to my last thought for this post: On the way home this afternoon, traffic slowed to a crawl. Miles and miles we crept along, until we suddenly saw the reason for the delay. A motorhome had caught fire and burned completely. There was not a single piece of it higher than 3' off the ground...the tires were gone and a small wisp of smoke rose from the rear engine area. I wish I had been able to snap a photo as a reminder of what can happen in a heartbeat. All you RV'ers out there....Take Care!
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