_D7A3431 We left springtime in the Okanagan on Monday. We took the highway north to Sicamous where we connected with the Trans-Canada Highway and headed east. _D7A3472 We made a short stop at the site of the ceremonial last spike of the CPR, at Craigellachie.

Then our drive took us past Revelstoke, over Rogers Pass, and on to Golden. The next day the section of the highway east of Golden would be closed for the incredible four-laning construction through Kicking Horse Canyon. This 4.4 km length will cost more than six million dollars. This cost reflects the difficulty of its design and building.

The highway passes through four National Parks: Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Yoho, and Banff.

It was a good drive, a bit busy, but the roads were bare and dry, to our stop in Canmore.

The next morning we awoke to fresh snow on the ground. The overcast skies ruled out any landscape photography.

_D7A3523 Near Two Jack Lake in Banff we encountered a large herd of Bighorn sheep, females and juveniles.

_D7A3816 The next morning we experienced a brief interlude of sunshine before the clouds rolled in.

_D7A3659 So it was time for some more Bighorn photography in the same area.

On the drive down Minnewanka Road, we came upon this foraging grizzly.

_D7A3791 Even with a 500mm lens and cropping my photos, the bear was small in the frame.

Take many photos to increase the odds of getting something decent.

_I7A3133 Here Veda is walking Heidi outside our hotel in Canmore.

This morning we bade adieu to the mountains and hello to a few days on the prairies.

_D7A3821 This is the grand prairie landscape, near Bassano.

Tonight we are in Medicine Hat. Must report that our room at the Comfort Inn Suites is sweet.