USA and Canada 2013: Banff

Woke up this morning to look out the window and see the sun coming up behind us and shining on the snow covered Rocky Mountains. There was a fresh snow fall on the peaks last night so everything looks sparkling clean and cool.
Decided to have breakfast and get straight into activity before someone stole the sun.
First on the agenda - the Sulphur Mountain Gondola trip. In a gondola built for four people going up Sulphur Mountain.
Got there and there was no queue, straight in and into the gondola. As soon as we left the shed I sensed trouble, the capsule was rocking. Pam reached over and put her hands around my throat, she said some bad words I couldn't properly hear because I was gasping for breath. I said, it will only take a minute....Pam quickly retorted - I've done the research it is EIGHT MINUTES. It was a fight to the death for about 5 minutes until I was finally able to free myself. I think it was about that time we passed the fresh snow and everyone calmed down. About a minute later we were safely on solid ground again, not forgiven and never forgotten.
The views from here though soon overtook any thoughts of revenge by Pam and we marveled at the mountains, valleys, snow and river systems visible from this vantage point. We walked the kilometre to the weather station which is even higher than the visitors centre, watched a squirrel gathering pine nuts for winter, he was as busy as a squirrel gathering nuts. He was at the top of the tree and breaking/biting off pine cones about the size of a little finger and dropping them on the ground. He would obviously stay up the tree for hours doing this then go down to try and find the pine cones he'd dropped and store them away for winter. Very interesting lesson on alpine survival.
The weather was still sensational, so we headed for Minnewanka Lake (I promised Pam...no jokes). We booked a package with the glacier and gondola so got the cruise for free. It wasn't worth much more really. An hour cruise at top speed up the lake and back with stilted commentary on a boat full of tourists. Not our cup of tea but we thought we'd get a different perspective from the water. No wildlife and by the time we got back the wind had picked up and the rain was coming in.
We went back into Banff for lunch at 3.30 and sat at the window of the pub, had wine, beer, elk burger and watched the rain till about 5 (late lunch I know). Just as quickly as it started, the rain disappeared and we wandered the main street of Banff for an hour or so before heading home about 6.30. It is a clean new looking town purpose built for tourists and the tourist buses are three deep throughout the whole town. Loved the location and all the surrounding mountains, very picturesque.
Going to Calgary tomorrow, may have to get the cowboy hat out.