Drive to Jasper

Left Edmonton after having (and enjoying) 3 or 4 days where we didn't do much at all, a little relaxing time before we get into the final 10 days.  Calgary and Edmonton are big cities, Edmonton about 1 million, Calgary 800,000, so they really have a big city feel.  I thought they'd both be about the same size as Toowoomba so we were surprised with the amount of freeways and traffic around the Downtown area. 
Driving west away from the praire country and into the Rockies again.  They are just more beautiful everytime we see them.  It was a fine, sunny day today but even in the rain and heavy cloud they are so appealing with the light on tall rock mountains, blue and green water and white, white snow.
We had about 300 kilometre drive today but added about 100 to that with a detour into Maligne Canyon and Lake.  We are now following the Athabasca River and valley, the detour to the south just near Jasper took us along the Maligne River and to the lake.  The canyon is about 50 metres deep in places and 10 metres wide.  The water rushes through the limestone walls and creates whirlpools and a soothing noise.  The walk was all downhill to start, which meant it was torture coming back to the car, could hardly talk when we got back.
On to the Maligne Lake.  
Forty-four kilometres into the lake and all at 60 km/h due to the danger of caribou presence.  No such luck, didn't see any.  Got to the lake and it is surrounded by snow capped mountains and as usual is a postcard picture from every angle.
We just wish we could capture the whole scene, the cold, fresh, clean wind against our faces; the squirrels zipping across the forest floor; the sound of small waves lapping the lake shore after a pleasure craft berths; the Canadian geese feeding on the waters edge as they try to avoid the children chasing them into the water; the smell of the pine trees and the standout yellowing birch trees breaking between the constant pine landscape while we drink hot coffee on the verandah watching the sun reflect off the fresh snow on the mountains.  I think I'm going to cry....excuse me for a minute.
This is what we would like to remember when we take one of those one dimensional photos that don't even come close to what we have experienced in the Rockies.....I think I'm going to cry again.
On to Jasper and book into our accommodation...you wouldn't believe it...a basement flat, Pams' favourite.  It is the best room we've had but there is one small window.....we will have to venture outside in the morning to find out the temperature is as predicted - minus 6 degrees; or whether it is warmer than that, like about minus 1.  I'll keep you posted.

Selfie - Pam style, she always was more creative than me.

Bridge across Maligne Canyon.

Another look at that bridge with the top of a waterfall at the bottom of the picture.

The waterfall I couldn't fit in the picture above.

Larger section of the canyon.

Water carved the rocks into beautiful rounded caves.

Pam looking as though she could do the walk all over again.

On one of the bridges.

Long way down to the water.

You'll never guess where we took this photo....

I couldn't decide which picture to delete (out of the 150 we took).

So I kept a few.

Last one.

Boats and geese at the lake.

More boats and geese.

From the lookout.

Our view whilst having coffee

They finally evaded those pesky kids.

Sadly, we have to leave, the view from the car park.

Pam wanted to stop just before we got to Jasper for one last photo of the Athabasca River.  You can see the bridge we crossed to go to the Maligne Lake.