The common shelter came in handy this morning as we dried our gear and cooked breakfast, leftover buffalo sausage, bread and fruit. We packed our camping gear away, happy we brought it, even though we have used it less often than we had intended.

Highway 93, the Icefields Parkway, took us through some remote, high altitude terrain. There were spectacular views of snowcapped mountains, waterfalls, lakes, and rivers, not to mention the glaciers, the closest to the road being Athabasca. The clouds and rains offered drama to the view of the mountains. Although we were hoping for clearer views, we feel blessed to have seen this beautiful country.

Jasper seems to be a smaller version of Banff. Just as lovely. Raining, of course. We returned to our motel after a walk around town and a quick late afternoon lunch to find our parking lot full of BMW motorcycles. As we spoke to the riders, we learned they were a group of friends, mostly from England, who are traveling from the "top to the bottom." They started their journey high up in Alaska and will end, around Christmas, in Tierra del Fuego, at the bottom of South America. They will travel south through Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Arizona, then to Mexico and points south.

Again, we go to bed with the sound of rain outside. The locals here say they have had 6 days of good weather this summer. We didn't make it here on one of those six days, the odds just weren't with us. Tomorrow we cross the great divide into British Columbia. We'll be heading west and south. The weatherman promises dryer and warmer days ahead -- here's hoping this time he is right!