Turquoise Beauties

The generator of our neighbor wakes us up. The night was not as cold as expected. Darling got up at 5:30 today to take photos during the blue hour.

After a hearty breakfast and recording the video for grandma's 97th birthday, we set off to follow Highway 93 towards Lake Louise. The first stop on the program is Mistaya Canyon. 0.5 km downhill 

to the rapids.

After taking a few photos, we discovered a small hiking trail that Darling wanted to go on - uphill, of course. After a few meters, I noticed a path along the river below, and Darling agreed to follow my suggestion. So we turned back. Unfortunately, my path was paved with roots and stones, and since I am always overly cautious not to trip or sprain my ankle, Darling was already miles ahead of me when the path turned into a dead end. We quickly put our heads together and deliberated, then we went back to the camper.

Without previous endurance training, Canada is really tough.

Today, there are not many photos because I am driving and Darling is sleeping.

So on to the next stop, Peyto Lake Viewpoint.

Facts: Pronounced pee-toe. The lake is located at an altitude of 1880 m, is 5.3 km3 in size, and is fed by the Peyto Glacier. Its color comes from the fine rock particles that enter the lake with the meltwater.

Here, too, the same picture as everywhere - full parking lots and lots of people. 1.5 km to the viewpoint - uphill, of course, what else. Panting when we reached the top, we are greeted with a magnificent view of the lake and the surrounding mountains.

The lake with milky turquoise water (only when the sun is shining) - a beautiful sight.

Then we wander around a bit and go back to the camper. We still have to find a campground for the night. We find one near a little creek 

with a small grove and dancing mosquitoes. And fittingly, the name of the campground is Mosquito Creek Campground. Now we quickly make a fire, that also drives away the mosquitoes.

Also on this campground, no electricity, only water and an outhouse. No showers or other luxuries.

It's time to reflect on our camper. It is difficult to maneuver because it is so long and big, but it is wonderful to have a toilet and kitchen with us. In case of emergency, you can also use the 50x70 cm shower - Darling has already tried it. I find the bathroom more comparable to an airplane toilet - go in backwards, come out forwards, but it's not an outhouse.

It is also a plus that the bed is always ready. The slide-out in the dining area provides extra space. For those who don't know what that is:

That's where the area slides out. A large fridge and freezer are great. Although we have to open everything carefully after each journey, we almost always remember after losing a glass once. The generator is an absolute must-have because there are many campsites without electricity.

Of course, not everything is rosy. But after a week, we have gotten used to the dimensions, the sluggish steering, the large turning circle, and the fuel consumption. It is always a challenge to find a parking space and a campground. But so far, we are managing quite well.

Tomorrow we will go to Lake Louise.