Saturday, June 13, 2026

Day 3 - More Lakes, Cave & Basin, and Banff Gondola

and only you know where you have been to
only you know what you have been through
there's better things you're gonna get into
and I wanna be there too, yes I do
Only You Know - Dion

I don't know who Mr. Dion is (I feel the need to add Mr), but I love this song and his voice in it. Sadly I'm not as positive as the song and sometimes when I hear it I feel Mr. Dion is being positive for me. Anyways, A lot of photos and words for this post; it's kinda indicative that I did do a lot on day 3. I over-exterted myself that by the end of it I had real concerns. It started early because of this silly thing that got in my head. When a thing gets in my head, it's almost impossible to get it out until I just see it through. Somehow I thought the day trip the day before would include Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake, but it didn't and so I thought why don't you go there on your own. So I did. I took the first bus to Lake Minnewanka and though I was alone waiting for that bus, there were already quite a number of other people in the bus. It didn't take long to get to the lake (less than 30 mins) and the lake was practically empty at 08:30 AM something. I walked to the shore, took out my camera, and was ready to take photo when I realized it cannot be switched on. First thought was did the cold ruin my camera and then second thought was please don't tell me there's no battery inside. Yep, your dumb dumb truly somehow didn't put the battery back in after it was charged the night before, arrrghhh!!! Very often when something didn't happen, I'd like to say to myself, okay God says no. I wanted to say this time too God said no because He wanted me to focus and we had a tight schedule to keep what with the bus schedule that comes hourly, but let's be honest and just say this was my stupid mistake. What to do, for this leg on Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake, the photos are from my phone. Here's a few of Lake Minnewanka.

I have to admit when it's quiet like that, it's actually really nice to just enjoy the lake and explore the surrounding. I however didn't do any hike around or even explore the lake in its entirety. I was the typical annoying tourist who tries to cram so much, ticking off list, that one doesn't really fully appreciate the place. What I wanted to do was to see Two Jack Lake too and take the bus back to town from there which would come just after 09:35 AM. That gave me around 1 hour to get from Lake Minnewanka to Two Jack Lake. Google Maps' direction was to take the main road where the traffic is and it would take around 40 mins walking. Google itself indicated that there's a walking trail and its AI was telling me to get off the road, but I couldn't find it even with its direction. I even asked a lady, but the lady herself didn't know if such a trail exists and was more like follow the road as what Google Maps also showed on her phone. I could perhaps have walked along the shore, but I worried that the path might be blocked or there's actually no path that would get me to Two Jack Lake, so the safer option to me was to really walk on the road. Luckily while there's cars, it wasn't a lot. All the while I tried to keep a good pace trying not to stop to take photo often though I did take some photos of the mountains and very often I checked the map to make sure my direction was still correct and to get an updated time on how long more the walk would be. It was the case of me looking down at my phone that when I finally looked up, there's these sheeps in front of me, like just one metre away. They were sitting down and as I approached they stood up and started to move a bit, but it's like they're unsure. I was pleasantly surprised and in that moment what I thought was these sheeps must think that I'm so so silly. I took their photos and since there's no car, I even stood in the middle of the road to take more photos. Look at them, they might be thinking, girl what are we doing? I can't help grinning and laughing because girl, we're so so ridiculous. I thank God for this moment on unexpectedness that's truly beyond my imagination.

Not long after the sheep, I arrived at Two Jack Lake. I stopped where there's a bus stop nearby. The bus stop I chose was Two Jack Day Use and the lake around this area at that time was also quiet. There was a youth group who were going canoeing it seemed. The view was pretty and though I didn't have a lot of time, it was really good that I made it.

Not wanting to waste my effort by missing the bus, I went to the bus stop earlier and double checked that I was waiting at the correct place. When the bus came, the bus driver was surprised; he was like how, did you walk here? I nodded and chuckled. It was perhaps rather odd to get passengers and he wasn't expecting any, at least at that time of the day, that I was the only passenger all the way back to town. Back in town, I quickly got back to my room to get the battery for the camera and contemplated on the original plan for the day. The original plan for the day was to cycle around and then to end the day with Banff Gondola. That's why I was so unprepared for Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake; I didn't study them. I supposed I may have contemplated of just spending more time in the lakes which looking at what I know now was perhaps a better choice and I would still have enough time for all, but I didn't, oh well. Anyways, first order of business after getting my battery was getting to town and eat. The morning breakfast was a brownie which was good, but now I needed more food if I was going to cycle. I found the place which I had googled beforehand and ordered omelette with crab and asparagus which wasn't as amazing as I thought it would be. It was okay good and I managed to finish it, but not mind-blowing.

As I had brunch, I tried to stop the pressing question in my head, we're doing this - cycling? At least let me enjoy the food in peace, please. I had to get to an answer though. People may not understand or expect this from me - going to a country you've never been before alone is scary for some people and I've been doing that and yet the thing that put a lot of doubt and fear in myself are things like this one small component, cycling alone. Up to that point, I thought this was the biggest hurdle I needed to conquer, but just you wait. The last time I cycled was in 2019 in Gili Trawangan with the family. I wasn't so much scared about me losing my ability to cycle - thank God this is one of those skill that doesn't leave you - what I was scared about was direction and having to navigate traffic. Cycling in Banff was like a later thought that came about. I planned to cycle in Vancouver, but Banff ... is it doable? I studied the map, the PDF I found online, the recommendation and what not, but still it seemed at one point I had to cycle on the road and this scared me. As I paid the bill for my brunch, the answer was clear - come on, you cannot be defeated by fear - so off I went to the bicycle rental place that I had googled. I chose that because I think that would reduce the amount of time I had to spend on road. The guys there took a long time to process me renting their bicycle that I quickly departed after one of the guy gave me the helmet and showed me how to lock the bicycle. I just wanted to leave fast that I didn't really make sure the seat was okay that as soon as I crossed the road, I stopped and adjusted the seat.

My first stop was to get to Vermilion Lakes. As I left town, I might have been too consumed on making sure that I was okay - I might have been repeating to myself, you're fine, you're fine - that I missed some signs for the bicycle / walking trail (which there are a few), that I did cycle on the road for some time (stay on the right, stay on the right). Thank God traffic wasn't heavy. My eyes eventually found it and when I got to the trail that's when I got more relaxed. It was a quiet trail, not many people were walking or cycling and it wasn't a very long ride to get to the lake.

I think I went to two different viewpoints and it was great finding oneself totally alone there. The weather wasn't all sunshine though and there's a bit of a drizzle that I decided to get to the next part, visiting the Cave and Basin. On the way back, this was when I found out I missed some signs earlier and how the cycling / walking trail is connected nicely into town. It's actually all very convenient. It made for a very comfortable ride and the view was interesting.

Cave and Basin National Historic Site was something that I wasn't sure if it's worth the time or money, but time was all I had so I thought why not. There's a bit of nervousness on the part of the direction to get there but I made it and I even found the bicycle rack where I parked the bicycle. By the way, Banff is inside Banff National Park and you actually need a Banff Park Pass when you enter and spend time in this national park. The blogs talk about it for all the people who drive, that they need to place the pass visibily on the car dashboard. How about people like me though who do not drive? The official answer is I need a pass too but no one in the Internet can point out that a walking person has been asked for a pass. I didn't get one for the day I arrived. For the next two days I took day tours that took care of it. So then how about this day when I was exploring on my own? I decided to be good and got one day pass at 12.25 CAD. There's a blog that mentioned the staff in Cave and Basin did ask them to show the pass when they got the ticket, but I wasn't asked. It's okay though. One thing I like about Canada (or at least the places I visited so far), they have many clean free public toilets. So if this money goes towards maintenance such as that, then I'm for it. Anyways, the Cave and Basin wasn't very crowded with visitors. I actually didn't spend a long time there. The cave with its sulphur / eggy is small. Outside there's a pond where the ranger explained to visitors about Banff Springs snails which is critically endangered. You cannot touch the water in this small pond for the sake of the snails. They're quite small and look like rocks and if the ranger didn't tell me which ones they were, I wouldn't know. Other than that, there's some exhibits and artworks indoor and outdoor.

After the Cave and Basin, I thought I should explore the Sundance trail which the cycling leaflet I found categorized it as a family friendly ride. I thought that means it would be easy, but I was so wrong, but this could be because I'm not physically fit. The Cave and Basin entrance is actually on a slope from where I parked my bicycle, so first I went down to get the bicycle. Then as I consulted the map, turns out the trail actually starts from behind the entrance which means I had to cycle up the slope which I couldn't remember if I really did, I may have walked the bicycle instead because it was hard. The trail did level up and it became more manageable. There's the Bow river and mountains view. Again there's not many people here, though there were some people walking.

After a while, the river is no longer visible and it's a trail with trees all around. This trail was hard because it's going up and up. The elevation may not be so visible, but I definitely felt it. There's no other people coming or going so there wasn't anyone watching me stopping multiple times. I had to tell myself, okay you need to get going.

Going where though? Is it stubbornness? Is it me having to see things through that there's no point in this whole thing where I was like stop, what are you doing, go back? During my stops, I may have checked the map multiple times and I guess I was just going to the end. The end I did arrive. There's still a path to hike through if you want to I suppose, but for the bicycle it's kinda hard. In the end there's like a shed (was it toilet, I wasn't sure), there's also a picnic table and bench. There I was at the end, it was slightly drizzling, I was all alone, no one on earth knew exactly where I was. It's kinda weird to be feeling that alone, but comforting in a sense. I was okay and feeling safe. At that moment there's nothing that was expected from me. There's no shit that I need to deal with. It's perhaps silly at the same time because what am I doing? But I just had to stand for a moment and feel all these feelings. I looked at the path I came from, the path ahead, the trees all around me; felt the drizzles and the air. It's like feeling your existence. Then I went to the little stream in front of me and to memorialize this thing that I did for what I don't know, I took video of this stream. Sometimes we do things without an objective and I cannot say I'm not glad that I did this trail.

I had to eventually go back. This time because it was going down, I was gliding - I like the Indonesian word to describe this better, meluncur. It was so so fun. The chicken me of course got nervous that I had to pull the brakes a bit so that I wasn't going too fast. Back to where I could see the river and mountains, I stopped longer to take photos.

As I was leaving this trail, I saw some people riding horses. This was actually something that I really considered doing. I've never been on one and I thought it's a good time to get it off my life list. In the end the bicycle won though, I guess because it's cheaper. The next part that I thought of doing was cycling the Golf Course Road loop which the leaflet said was an easy ride. I needed to get on the either side of the Bow river. After I did, I was following the trail in front of me not really actively looking for the start of this golf course loop, then some things became familiar to me. I was in the area which I explored on the day I arrived. This time, I saw some deers in the woods.

I saw the Bow Falls again and I also reached the beach area I was alone in in the snow. This time the weather was better, there were more tourists, and you could see all the many mountains that were hidden on my day 0.

After that I put more effort to find the start of the Golf Course loop. I think I found it. I reached a road where on either side there's people golfing. The road seems not dedicated for walking or cycling though, like cars could also use it though I didn't really any see car coming or going. I cycled in it for a little bit then I decided no, I think it's enough. I was getting tired. It was never something that interest me cycling around a golf course and though I saw an interesting view of a mountain, I thought it's enough cycling for the day.

Now it's time to get back and return this bicycle. I remember at leaving this golf course trail there was a slope that I just couldn't get up on that I was walking the bicyle and I remember thinking at least no one sees this embarrassement. After that slope was done with, the way back to the bicycle shop was uneventful. There's a part where I knew I needed to deal with traffic and that made me rather nervous. Google Maps was giving me direction which I ignored and luckily I did because my way was correct and I got back pretty smoothly. Sometimes my sense of direction is not so bad. By the time I returned the bicycle, there was a heavier drizzle happening.

The last thing to do in Banff was the Banff Gondola. I haven't bought the ticket beforehand and I may have bought it while I was on the bus to get there. The thing with booking Banff Gondola is that it asks you for the timing you're going there and I thought that would be very strict and I couldn't commit beforehand and as such I was buying it just as I was about to go. I do recommend not buying on the day though because it is more expensive :( Anyways I waited for the bus in a rather heavy drizzle and that wasn't ideal, but Google was saying it's only for that hour and it was so correct. By the time I arrived at the bottom station, the rain had stopped and it was looking rather okay. It turned out there's not many people. I got a gondola all for myself! I don't have any fear of height, but I wonder if it's forming. Somehow being on the gondola alone, there were moments where I was like this is kinda scary. The gondola is going up Sulphur Mountain and on its top quite a lot of snow was still covering it and I could see instead of rain there was a light snow falling. You can walk up and down the mountain without the gondola if you're so inclined but that would never be me. I saw someone walking down with their dog and maybe walking down is easier but the trail was kinda covered in snow so thinking about how it could be wet and slippery, I think it's rather scary.

Arriving on top, I didn't immediately go outside. There's a short film being shown and I went to watch it first. Outside it's colder and snow was still all around. The winter wonderland vibe was still going on here. Now, I'm not one who gets excited about going up high places to see the view and I have done many and many have made me feel just ... okay. This was rather different though. It was way way more captivating. My expectation was low, but my mind was rather blown. I didn't get the perfect weather, many mountains were covered by cloud, but it was still so breathtaking. The snow may have added to the wonderful impression I was having. It was really something else and I do recommend this. Going outside, the goal was to get to the weather observatory on Sanson's Peak. There's a nice wooden boardwalk which makes the walk up there not so bad but I was already tired because of all the things I already did that day that I was taking it very slowly. Along the way you see stunning view. There's a plaque indicating the mountains you see but I couldn't remember any. I could see Lake Minnewanka where I was that morning and it was great to see it from this view with the mountains surrounding it.

When I got to Sanson's Peak, I noticed a older Chinese uncle / grandpa walking about. I don't know if he's local or from China. His travelling companions were some ladies who were excitedly taking photos on an area where there's ice that I didn't bother to explore because I thought I was gonna slip and fall. Anyways so seeing that uncle, I thought of my dad, how he never had a chance to see anything like this and if he's gonna be mesmerized as well. I'm sure he would because it was so beautiful. Then I thought if he was there with me which would make him have the chance to see all this. Then I also thought if he were there, were all my dead aunts, uncles, cousins there too and if they were, that's very nice. I tried to spent a bit more time here to absorb everything, but as the snow was falling I thought it's time to go back. It's the tiny snowball and I realized because they don't melt instantly on touch, that's why the boardwalk wasn't wet.

Back at the visitor center, I explored the different floors. There was a place where the staff was distributing marshmallow that you could roast outside. I think it was free but I was too shy to ask - despite of all the things I managed to do on my own, there's still the childlike of not being brave enough to ask people. When I had built up the courage to do so, the staff was no longer there :( Oh well. I'm not that fond of marshmallow and if it had been the full on ingredients for s'more, I may have built the courage faster. Anyways, so after that I went down and again I was alone in the gondola. I needed to wait a little while for the bus back to town but it's all good.

Back in town, I went to BeaverTails to gather things for dinner. Got the hot dog poutine and cherry lemonade, but the real reason of me going there was for the BeaverTail. I chose the one with banana and hazelnut on account that I thought I didn't have enough fruits during my trip. I got all to go and the staff gave me an unnecessarily big bag, but perhaps because they didn't have anything smaller. Cherry lemonade wasn't good. The poutine, well you already got me when you doused french fries in gravy, but I don't care much for the sausage and cheese curd. Portion was rather big that I couldn't finish it and I still had the big BeaverTail to tackle. I had some imagination of what it would be like eating this fried dough. Since I didn't eat it immediately and the cold may have affected it, I acknowledge that I didn't eat it when it's in its perfect state, but man there were still parts of it where I was like damn this is good, but it's easy to get me to like this kind of things. The BeaverTail, big as it was and they were generous with the topping, I managed to finish it all. I wish I have had more time to try the different flavours. Some of it would be way too much sugar though even for someone like me.

After that I got cleaned up and was ready to just relax and I realized I was in a lot of pain. Oh my God! My legs were just like ... it's hard to even stand, I had to hold on to things. AI was telling me it's Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) or acute muscle fatigue - maybe it's right. It's telling me to hydrate and elevate my legs. It's so painful that I was very concerned. Then I realized I had Aleve and so I took it and AI was telling me good. I was still very concerned though, what if I couldn't walk the next day where I would be leaving Banff for Vancouver. There was still pain when I was going to sleep. Luckily the sleepiness won and I could sleep quite okay. I'll leave what happened in the next post and end this very long post. For photos from all the lakes and canyon in Banff National Park go here. For the things in Banff the town, go here. For Banff Gondola, go here.

:) eKa @ 8:15:00 PM •