Day 7 – Jasper, B.C

Last night was a bit chilly. Thank goodness we have a heater.

This morning Mike made toast in the oven. I told him the oven doesn’t have a timer to remind you that you’re cooking but….. anyway it was very toasty toast.

It’s day 2 of dry docking in Wabasso, just outside of Jasper. Tank numbers for the day for those who are interested: Fresh 63%, Grey 44%, and Black 20%. We still have to find our groove drydocking so we are keeping close track of tank numbers and trying a variety of methods to maximize our tank situation.

It was cool and damp today. We started off with a hike on a trail from our campground that followed along the Athabasca River. That river flows FAST. My sweet Braxton is a water boy and always has to feel the water and I was pretty nervous about him getting close enough to feel this one as not only was the water swift, the banks were damp and slippery. He was able to find a bank that wasn’t super steep and we were all able to feel the chill of the glacier water on our fingers.

It looked like the weather was going to continue to be on the wet side so we figured it would be a great day to go to town to visit a couple shops and have lunch at Jasper Brewing Co.

Lunch was great. I had the Elk Meatloaf – delicious, Mike had the Pappardelle Bison Bolognese – also delicious, and Braxton had the Pork Tacos and the S’mores Crème Brulee – both of which were gone in an instant because they were so tasty. The beer was really good as well, and a Canadian pint at this place is much larger than an American pint.

After lunch we went to the shops and the Farmer’s Market where we bought nice hot cups of local coffee and a bag of coffee beans for the road. We also bought some deliciously sweet cherries. Now off to Athabasca Falls!

Athabasca Falls are incredible. The power is intense. The sound, like a freight train. A sight to not be missed if you come this way.

On the way back from town, we saw some some elk grazing along the roadside.

I also had a chance to get some photos of some local flowers for my lovely little flower pitcher gifted to us by our even lovelier neighbors. We aren’t allowed to disturb the flora here, but I got my picks anyway – just had to be creative.

“There is a way that nature speaks, the land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, not quiet enough to pay attention to the story.” – Linda Hogan