My sister Janice and her husband Kirk (they just retired so I’m kind of pissed at them) popped out for a quick visit with us over the Canada Day long weekend. We did a bit of sightseeing with them before they headed off south into Montana. I have decided to name this the Great Calgary Wildlife Tour.
We did an afternoon in downtown Calgary. You can get a nice drink and a stupendous view of Calgary’s downtown wildlife from this perch on Stephen Avenue. A great place for people watching.
We did a run out to Banff and Lake Louise. On the way we saw a moose, but could not stop to take a picture.
As we pulled out of Lake Louise and onto the Bow Valley Parkway, I spotted something in the ditch, a flipping bear. I pulled over to the shoulder to try to get a picture. Please note the car to the right. This is a panic-stricken idiot of a tourist who decided to stop in the middle of the freaking highway. Also note the oncoming car moving at 60 miles per hour. Also note that the fool was blocking our view and could only shoot out the rear window.
As we continued on, we came up on a line up of traffic. It was like the drive through at Tim Horton’s on a weekday morning. As we inched our way along, I soon saw what the hold up was. A Bighorn Sheep on the side of the road. Once we got up to it, I literally stuck my phone out the window and took a picture. The pavement edge is in the bottom right corner.
Our next stop up the road was at a spot where about 30 vehicles were pulled over. We looked, couldn’t see anything and then noticed the elk, way back in the forest. Kirk hopped out and headed for them. He got the shot from afar. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that they wander the streets in parts of Banff.
To sum up the day, we got pictures of 2 elk, 1 bear, 1 bighorn sheep and 3 beer drinkers. We didn’t get shots of 1 moose, a bald eagle and many gophers. A pretty good day.
Related articles
- Lake Louise – The List (joebeans2002.wordpress.com)
- Notice a piano sitting on Stephen Avenue? That’s Calgary’s latest tool to fight crime (with poll) (calgaryherald.com)
Love the animals! Great trip, and yes, I’m slightly jealous. One of these days I plan to visit.
Never seen so many animals on one trip. And the last time I saw a bear that close was in La Ronge, Saskatchewan. We were on a boat and it was swimming in the bay.
So let me get this straight: the long traffic hold up was because all the people wanted to take their time to gawp at a (big horn) sheep?
Second, is the little photo of you that always appears next to your name, your display image I guess, also shot at Lake Louise?
Yes. Just like a drive thru and yes us at Louise
Okay then! and good to know =)
Alrighty then! and good to know =)
thanks for posting!
You are welcome. Thanks fir coming