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<p>We left on Saturday morning, brought our bikes with us this time, partially because we hadn't done any bike riding, partially because we wanted an excuse to check out a new Provincial Park.<br><br>
We live on the flanks of Nose Hill, but Nose Hill is really an immense glacial feature that stretches back into the foothills, some 30 miles or more, and along that length it has spots where the Bow River is right beside it. The family of a rather wealthy land owner (and philanthropist), donated a huge swath of land along the banks of the Bow and up the escaprment, land that had bee once give over to cattle. The Province has turned it into a park, and we biked its pathways Saturday morning.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Encounter 1:<br><br>
We've parked in a remote corner of the parking lot, I am in the front seat changing into my biking shorts as I hadn't wanted to drive in them. The missus is at the sliding door of the van, when I hear a very loud very friendly voice:<br><br>
"HI! Well, I see you've changed your van into a camper just like we have!" At that moment I am naked from the waste down. The missus gives a startled "Yawp" and turns to say "You startled me!" </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I grab my pants and place them strategically in my lap. The missus guides the interloper away from the van and I continue my mad dash to get the shorts on, when not 20 seconds later the husband arrives to see what we'd done to our van. I reach for a pillow.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Friendly woman says in a loud voice: "Well, you guys are our kind of people." At that point I just want this bad dream to end.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyway, I did get the shorts on and the missus and I had a laugh or two about it. Heavens, we chose a distant corner, they must have hunted us down.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here are some pics. As always, by clicking on one you get a larger version that you can then "Next" through.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>One trail from about halfway down the hill.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/94171/width/350/height/700/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="P1110897.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17806" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17806/width/350/height/263" style="; width: 350px; height: 263px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The area (Glenbow Ranch) has had a long and storied history, once an adjunct to the storied Cochrane Ranche (twice the size of Connecticut), it had a small town and other communities. There are some ruins in "protected areas" of the park:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/94174/width/350/height/700/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="P1110889.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17807" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17807/width/350/height/263" style="; width: 350px; height: 263px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>We biked about 22 km, and called it an afternoon after running in to our loud and friendly Peeping Toms a few times. We're convinced they saw nothing, not that there wasn't anything to see, but the sight lines weren't conducive to a view. Still...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We camped at a site on the Bow River, unfortunately it was also about 100 metres away from the highway. Pretty site, with noise. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/94177/width/350/height/700/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Bow River from 3 Sisters Camp.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17808" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17808/width/350/height/78" style="; width: 350px; height: 78px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Once assured of a spot to camp for the night we went for another bike ride on a paved trail in Bow Valley Provincial Park, a part of K-Country. When Kananaskis Country was created it was with the express intent that the region was to be for the enjoyment of ALL Albertans, and since its creation in the early 70's, every attempt has been made to make things as accessible as possible. There are a few paved bike paths for families with small children, seniors and those with challenges getting around. Since we have hybrid bikes that are not greatly suited for the mountain biking trails we enjoyed ourselves on that trail and on one we rode today.</p>
<p><br>
Today's ride was from near the site of the Downhill runs for the 88 Olympics, out past Mt. Kidd to Wedge Pond where we found a nice bench overlooking the lake and settled in for lunch.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The bench was dedicated to the memory of a gentleman who had died in 2008, and it was inscribed "With the blue sky above me and mountains surrounding me, I am home". I had just commented on how nice a spot it was and how much I agreed with the sentiment when we were approached by two elderly ladies and a gentleman. The man pointed to one of the women and said "She is the person who donated the funds for that bench." </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well my first inclination was to get up and give her a hug, because she looked rather teary-eyed, but instead I asked her to tell us a bit about her husband. She couldn't and so her brother (the gent) did. Then we spoke a bit about ourselves and our love of the outdoors and how beautiful a spot it was, how touched we were by the sentiment expressed... and THEN I gave her a hug. They mosied on and we finished our lunch only to have them return to talk some more. We took their pictures and then this one from the bench. It really is a nice spot:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/94184/width/350/height/700/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Mt Kidd from Wedge Pond.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17811" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17811/width/350/height/110" style="; width: 350px; height: 110px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then we drove back along the same trail and I tried my hand at distracted driving. Here's a movie of a bit of the trail, after we've left the lodgepole forest and come out into the Aspen parkland. At about 2 minutes in you can see some mountain scenery. No need to have the sound on, there's nothing but the wind in the mike.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>
</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We hiked for a bit in the afternoon, the 12 straight gorgeous day, and then we headed home to darkening skies. I guess autumn really has caught up with us. Although - you'll note that the leaves have started to change colour in that video.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Next week: I get a chance to ride a heritage train to Lake Louise, meet up with the missus on Friday afternoon and bike the Great Divide trail.</p>
<p> </p>
We live on the flanks of Nose Hill, but Nose Hill is really an immense glacial feature that stretches back into the foothills, some 30 miles or more, and along that length it has spots where the Bow River is right beside it. The family of a rather wealthy land owner (and philanthropist), donated a huge swath of land along the banks of the Bow and up the escaprment, land that had bee once give over to cattle. The Province has turned it into a park, and we biked its pathways Saturday morning.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Encounter 1:<br><br>
We've parked in a remote corner of the parking lot, I am in the front seat changing into my biking shorts as I hadn't wanted to drive in them. The missus is at the sliding door of the van, when I hear a very loud very friendly voice:<br><br>
"HI! Well, I see you've changed your van into a camper just like we have!" At that moment I am naked from the waste down. The missus gives a startled "Yawp" and turns to say "You startled me!" </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I grab my pants and place them strategically in my lap. The missus guides the interloper away from the van and I continue my mad dash to get the shorts on, when not 20 seconds later the husband arrives to see what we'd done to our van. I reach for a pillow.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Friendly woman says in a loud voice: "Well, you guys are our kind of people." At that point I just want this bad dream to end.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyway, I did get the shorts on and the missus and I had a laugh or two about it. Heavens, we chose a distant corner, they must have hunted us down.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here are some pics. As always, by clicking on one you get a larger version that you can then "Next" through.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>One trail from about halfway down the hill.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/94171/width/350/height/700/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="P1110897.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17806" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17806/width/350/height/263" style="; width: 350px; height: 263px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The area (Glenbow Ranch) has had a long and storied history, once an adjunct to the storied Cochrane Ranche (twice the size of Connecticut), it had a small town and other communities. There are some ruins in "protected areas" of the park:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/94174/width/350/height/700/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="P1110889.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17807" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17807/width/350/height/263" style="; width: 350px; height: 263px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>We biked about 22 km, and called it an afternoon after running in to our loud and friendly Peeping Toms a few times. We're convinced they saw nothing, not that there wasn't anything to see, but the sight lines weren't conducive to a view. Still...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We camped at a site on the Bow River, unfortunately it was also about 100 metres away from the highway. Pretty site, with noise. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/94177/width/350/height/700/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Bow River from 3 Sisters Camp.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17808" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17808/width/350/height/78" style="; width: 350px; height: 78px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Once assured of a spot to camp for the night we went for another bike ride on a paved trail in Bow Valley Provincial Park, a part of K-Country. When Kananaskis Country was created it was with the express intent that the region was to be for the enjoyment of ALL Albertans, and since its creation in the early 70's, every attempt has been made to make things as accessible as possible. There are a few paved bike paths for families with small children, seniors and those with challenges getting around. Since we have hybrid bikes that are not greatly suited for the mountain biking trails we enjoyed ourselves on that trail and on one we rode today.</p>
<p><br>
Today's ride was from near the site of the Downhill runs for the 88 Olympics, out past Mt. Kidd to Wedge Pond where we found a nice bench overlooking the lake and settled in for lunch.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The bench was dedicated to the memory of a gentleman who had died in 2008, and it was inscribed "With the blue sky above me and mountains surrounding me, I am home". I had just commented on how nice a spot it was and how much I agreed with the sentiment when we were approached by two elderly ladies and a gentleman. The man pointed to one of the women and said "She is the person who donated the funds for that bench." </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well my first inclination was to get up and give her a hug, because she looked rather teary-eyed, but instead I asked her to tell us a bit about her husband. She couldn't and so her brother (the gent) did. Then we spoke a bit about ourselves and our love of the outdoors and how beautiful a spot it was, how touched we were by the sentiment expressed... and THEN I gave her a hug. They mosied on and we finished our lunch only to have them return to talk some more. We took their pictures and then this one from the bench. It really is a nice spot:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/94184/width/350/height/700/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Mt Kidd from Wedge Pond.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17811" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17811/width/350/height/110" style="; width: 350px; height: 110px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then we drove back along the same trail and I tried my hand at distracted driving. Here's a movie of a bit of the trail, after we've left the lodgepole forest and come out into the Aspen parkland. At about 2 minutes in you can see some mountain scenery. No need to have the sound on, there's nothing but the wind in the mike.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>
<p> </p>
<p>We hiked for a bit in the afternoon, the 12 straight gorgeous day, and then we headed home to darkening skies. I guess autumn really has caught up with us. Although - you'll note that the leaves have started to change colour in that video.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Next week: I get a chance to ride a heritage train to Lake Louise, meet up with the missus on Friday afternoon and bike the Great Divide trail.</p>
<p> </p>
