Day 316. June 18, 2014. Majestic Icefields Parkway!

LOCATION:  Jasper National Park in Western Alberta

WEATHER:  Couldn't be better! Sunny, highs in 70s

We packed up in Lake Louise and hit the Icefields Parkway.  It is named the most beautiful highway in the world.  We had a sunny day for the drive, too, making the mountains popping in the foreground.

This is a typical scene, with mountains, river,  snow and glaciers.

 We stopped for a picnic where a bear was running through the grounds.  We also stopped at the Columbia Icefields, but it was overrun by tourists.

We are giddy about the lack of rain here in Jasper with warmth  and sunshine.  We are staying outside of town in a nice, woodsy campground.  After getting set up, we put our damp clothes out to dry.  Probably look like country bumpkins!

We drove into town.  It was bustling with tourists and sporty-looking locals.  Several Canadian passenger trains arrive and depart here, with tourists connecting with tour buses.  I would love to take this train one day.  It has a roof dome to see the sites.

We went to the Jasper Brewpub for a beer and to watch the World Cup.  (At least that is what everyone else was doing!)

The hanging baskets throughout the town are pretty

We took another scenic drive in the evening, seeing bears, this caribou,

..and this elk

The days are so long that we didn't eat dinner until 9:00.  

DINNER:  Before this trip, I never bought too many canned meat-type products, but now I frequently buy canned tuna, chicken, sardines, corned beef, etc to have on hand. I invented this recipe that turned out well:  Pasta with clams.....I sautéed onions, leftover red bell pepper, and the rest of the frozen spinach.  I stirred it into a garlic/butter sauce.  At the end, I topped with a can of smoked clams and some diced smoked Gouda.  Smokin'!  

We went to bed about 10:30, and it was still light