SATURDAY | We left the falling snow behind in Banff and headed off for the short journey to Lake Louise. As we steered up the snow laced road leading to the lake it dawned on me that this trip wouldn’t provide me to the see the lake unfrozen in all its turquoise glory. Instead, I would once again be treated to a frozen nirvana just as I’d been 15 years prior. We parked alongside the hordes of other tourist’s vehicles and made the short, but icy, walk down to the lake. A make-shift information booth had been set up to inform everyone that due to landslides you were unable to walk around the lake, instead only one side was open to the public. After a visit, down to the fore-shore for a photo op we made the decision to walk the lake despite the snowy conditions. The initial part of the walk was paved but as we headed away from the main sightseer area they path become snow covered and in some parts (where the sun hit) slushy mud. Unlike everyone who passed us in a hurry we took slow and mostly steady steps until finally we reached the frozen waterfall. By the time we decided to return to the fore-shore the clouds had set in and we could no longer see back around the lake to the Fairmont hotel that sat on the shore. As we slushed our way back along the path the snow set in. Heavy and icy it fell around us, coating everything in a pure white sheet. We had the walk mostly to ourselves making it feel like we’d stumbled into a winter fairy-tale, at least until Ash face planted into the snow. Then the reality of it being wet and slippery crashed back in. Mostly unharmed we arrived back at the hotel and headed inside to the lounge bar for lunch. Seated in front of a magnificently large window we sipped on our drinks and indulged in our lunch whilst overlooking the majestic lake. After lunch, a 5 minute drive had us arriving our wooden lodge accommodation for the night. Checking in earlier meant we had the place to ourselves so we took the opportunity to head up to rooftop where I proceeded to splash around in the Jacuzzi and Ash ready her book. The snow continued to fall and whilst the logical course of action wold have been to head inside and chill by the fire we stayed outside enjoying the regal mountain backdrop. Before dinner we went down to the lounge where we attempted to do a puzzle but the scenic terrain outside contained to distract us up until it came time to call home for Mother’s Day. Ash spoke to her family first before it was my turn to get on skype and chat to mine. Our conversations wrapped up just as we were required to be downstairs for dinner. Next to us at dinner was a couple enjoying their first dating anniversary together. She made statements such as “I never thought I’d end up with a guy like you, if we were to break up tomorrow I’d be sad but I’d also be a pro at tinder, which of your ex-girlfriends do you still think about, I still think about Ben (her ex) a lot”. He boyfriend didn’t seem to be loving the conversation and by the time our meal had wrapped they were both sitting in silence sipping their drinks.
Our room for the night was tiny, it barely fit our two single beds. So with no TV and no room to hang out once our meal had wrapped we took ourselves off to bed for a low key night of reading and eventually a glorious night’s sleep as the snow continued to tumble down outside. SUNDAY | The hotel hosted breakfast in the morning so after our meal we rolled ourselves and our bags out to the car ready to head off on a day of driving that awaited us.
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