Building Memories (BM) uses personal experiences to explore topics of importance to building.
This BM reflects on a bike trip around Banff, Canada.
For years, I have admired stunning photos of Banff, Lake Louise, and the Canadian Rockies.
I’ve been fortunate to enjoy several memorable biking adventures. In 1980, a spring trip with fellow exchange student Bob from Toulouse to Marseille, about 250 miles, was beautiful and peaceful. In 1982, a solo ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco, roughly 500 miles, was equally scenic, tough biking, and filled with unpredictable experiences.
More recently, my wife and I have participated in organized bike trips in Vietnam, Napa, and Sonoma Valleys. Yet, the scenery that impressed me most was the Canadian Rockies, on our bike trip in August 2022.
We flew into Calgary, a modern city shaped by its energy economy, then traveled by bus to Banff, a picturesque mountain town surrounded by forests, rivers, and turquoise lakes.
Each day brought a new biking adventure. Some in our group rode entirely under their own power, others used electric-assisted bikes, and some opted for van support. We pedaled through forests, along rivers, and on paths meandering through towns and resorts, always with the majestic mountains as a backdrop.
The most thrilling road biking experience I’ve had (excluding mountain biking) was the day we were bused to the top of Highwood Pass in the Kananaskis Mountains. From there, we enjoyed a 30-mile predominately downhill ride back to Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, which hosted the skiing events for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Without a speedometer, I am not sure what speed was reached while racing down this mostly deserted highway, but I can say with certainty that I was rarely passed by an automobile. So, I know we were going close to the speed limit. It was a perfect mix of adventure, scenery, and sheer exhilaration.
Photo 1- Highwood Pass_20220811
Photo 2- Steve & Lisa on the Road_20220809
Photo 3- Bow River_20220807
Photo 4-Rest Stop Along Bow River_20220809
Photo- Moose on the bike path