6/21/22

Since it's too expensive to stay anywhere near Banff, I looked into lodging at two nearby towns, Golden and Radium Hot Springs. There is a scenic loop called the Golden Triangle between Banff, Radium Hot Springs and Golden. So I figured I couldn't go wrong with either Radium or Golden.

I traded in some points and got two nights stay in Radium Hot Springs for a very good price. It's almost a two hour ride to Banff from Radium but given the good deal and it's part of the Golden Triangle Loop, I figured it would be worth being that far away.

My first night riding 93 from Banff to Radium was cold and gloomy. It was mid 40s and heated grips was on high.

https://goo.gl/maps/xWBHBSMhGMHNothr6

Once I turned left from the exit from the Trans Canada onto 93, I had no idea what was in store for me. I started to climb up 93 ascending into the mountains. I could feel the temperature drop. Up and up I went, the snowy capped mountains coming into view. I cross the Continental Divide, leaving Alberta and now entering British Columbia. After crossing the border, you eventually descending from the mountain. You come around a turn and the next thing you see is another mountain in the distance, tall spears of trees on your left, and this intense turquoise blue lake rushing by you.

93 also known as Banff-Windermere Highway goes on for 83 miles until it reaches Radium Hot Springs. These were the most amazing 83 miles that I've ever ridden. Better than Going to the Sun Road in Glacier, better than riding thru Yosemite, better than NM104 from Tucumcari to Santa Fe - my first real experience of riding thru a desert. The Banff-Windermere Highway will take you by these turquoise lakes, take you into gentle curves where you are surrounded by mountains in all four sides, take you up and down the mountains and thru straightaways where I saw a moose and numerous black and brown bears. I rode this road three times during my two nights stay in Radium. Twice in the direction of Banff to Radium as I return to my motel and once from Radium to Banff. Each time was a wonder. There were moments when I was so overwhelmed by the sights I was seeing that I thought this must be what being touched by God must feel like.

Words can not adequately describe what I witnessed here. I was constantly bombarded by sights of mountains, trees, and rivers placed together in such unbridled beauty and vastness that I was emotionally overwhelmed over and over again. It was if someone creator said "I'm not holding back on this one." If I have to give up riding all together, the Banff-Windermere Highway would be the road that I would play back in my head to relive the sensation of being on a motorcycle seeing such great beauty.

I recorded a lot of this ride and will uploading a montage here whenever I have time to cut it together.