Jasper and Edmonton, Alberta

Saturday in Jasper found us traveling up yet another road with stupendous views, and beautiful Lake Maligne as our destination. En route, we stopped at a view outlook where a naturalist pointed out an eagle's nest at the top of a dark spruce near the shore, and we watched as the papa eagle flew in with food for mama and babies. After letting Sascha get her feet wet in the lake (tentatively!) we drove back down and at the same outlook, a group of people were gathered with their cameras, and sure enough, there was a mama bear and her two cubs!
Back at our campsite, we were just starting our campfire and along came a small herd of young elk (or maybe a caribou, we're not quite sure), munching their way through the campground.
Yesterday (Sunday) we drove out of the mountains and arrived in Edmonton to a big family dinner with cousins at the beautiful home of Bill's cousin Dave and his sweet wife Helga. It was great to see them, some of whom we hadn't seen in decades. Sadly, Dave is in hospital with a severe bacterial infection, so we'll visit him there today, catch up with another cousin, and head south to Medicine Hat for a visit with cousins who have some good resource material on my ancestors. So off to the prairies we go!