Banff Day 2

friday, may 15

woke up with some red eyes. from the start i knew i didn't rest well.
after Amy made us breakfast, we left for the Columbia Icefield tour.
the pick up point was in Jasper, so we had to drive 3.5 hrs each way.
first thing we did was stopped and took a picture of a nearby mountain in town.
i also spotted this bird which flew overhead. nice white belly with all other parts in black feathers.
later i found out this bird is the Black-billed Magpie, which is a western north american bird, part of the crow family.

we left town at around 8:45am and i was worried all the way that we'll be late for the pick up.
we got there early and was able to do some washrooming before boarding the tour bus to the Icefield Centre.
from then on, i started having this splitting headache all the way down my neck and shoulders.

our bus driver was Marianne.
she's a very nice and knowledgeable guide originally from Quebec.
we had a super time with her!
we first stopped at the Athabasca Falls, which is AWESOME.
looks soooo beautiful and just stunning.
we were with Marianne, who was explaining to us how things come to shape before time and showed us around the planned trails.
Amy and i went down to the bottom of the lower river bank and we had some nice pictures there. we also touched the icy cold water, which was sourced from the Columbia Glacier.
very clean, very cold.

second stop was the Icefield Centre.
there, i ran into the washroom and threw up. now i'm starving and not feeling good.
we had to change to another bus that gets us to where the monster trucks are. and then go to the actual glacier with those monster trucks.
having threw up just before that, needless to say, it wasn't a pleasant ride to me.
when we got up to the glacier, it was SOOOOOO windy!
not only windy, but also FREEZING cold windy.
but it looks amazing!
i quickly took some pictures and went back into the monster truck.
after which i couldn't open my eyes because that made my headache worst.
the monster truck had glass windowed roof so the sun was not treating me well.
when we got back to the Icefield Centre, i threw up the second time and that made things a little bit better.
bought some souvenirs and then off we go, end of the tour.

for dinner we went into town in Jasper and had Earl's.
which is sort of like a mix and match multicultural typed restaurant.
the food was alright.
o, did i mention food was expensive?
i had a grilled chicken clubhouse which i find a bit salty from the bacon.
it also came with a tomato soup which i had to decline and gave to the other 3 to eat.
it was too sour for me.
$20 per person for this dinner.
i went back to the car myself to sleep off the headache while they went grocery shopping.
Eric drove the way back to the hostel in Banff and we got back at around 12:30am.

now i'm doing this double dated update and it's already 3:20am.
we're gonna wake up early tomorrow to go to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake with a detour to Johnston Canyon.
hopefully it's not the same trail (Johnston Canyon Trail to the Ink Pots) that i had planned for monday (18th).
supposedly it's gonna rain/snow on monday, and nice sunny weather for sat/sun.
we still have to get on the Banff Gondola.... too little time for too many sights!
until then, i better bid good night.