EFI (Every eFFin’ Inch) was the mantra for the coast-to-coast ride. A regimented approach to completely crossing North America on two wheel, from a rear-wheel dip in the Pacific to a front-wheel victory in the Atlantic. In contrast, the motto for this ride is WIFFLI (Whenever I eFFin’ Feel Like It). Busy highways? Windy thunderstorms? Meh. Secluded park trails? Off-road bike paths? I’m in!

So rather than slog down Alberta Highway 22 for 50 miles, we instead loaded the bikes on the car rack and drove together to Chain Lakes Provincial Park for a peaceful morning paddle.

Working out the arms feels great, and giving the legs a break feels even better. We worked our way down Alberta 22 (aka the Cowboy Highway), over lush green rolling foothills, to a hidden gem suggested by our BnB hosts in Longview… Lundbreck Falls:

Then, some biking! The Crowsnest Community Trail is a sweet paved path that connects several small communities along the pass and river of the same name. Quite a bit of mining history in the area, with once-thriving towns trying to survive changing times.

A great day of water and wheels. Tomorrow we say goodbye to Alberta and cross the continental divide into British Columbia.

Another day of stunning views, starting just a few pedal strokes from our hotel in Kananaskis Village.

A chilly 2 degrees Celsius (36 F), but the morning sun made it feel warmer. Over 16 hours of daylight this time of year at this latitude – 5:30 sunrises and 10pm sunsets – so the jagged peaks are heavily bathed in sunshine.

A wonderful roll along the Evan Thomas bikeway took me to a small oasis called Wedge Pond, where Jax launched a paddle board. Absolutely pristine.

The pond gets its name from the wedge-shaped behemoth that casts winter shadows over the water. In summer, the shimmering pond reflects the surrounding splendor.

Down the road, more beauty and wildlife awaited us at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Our planned rendezvous at Lower Kananaskis Lake was waylaid by a bear closure… a Mom and cubs apparently decided to take over. Bears are quite active in these parts, and the local ranger encouraged me to equip my ride with bear spray, just in case. Thankfully, no bear sightings, at least not yet.

Today’s adventure wrapped up in a foothills town called Longview, where we enjoyed dinner at the local saloon. Good food and cold beer. In a small town like this, apparently massage therapy doubles as live entertainment.

Good night from Longview:

“One more photo”. That’s our catch phrase in Banff. Breathtaking views that literally take your breath away. The majestic Canadian Rockies rise straight up from the lush river valleys. Here’s the ‘last photo’ while biking out of Banff on this misty rainy morning:

Through wispy clouds, the mountains feel even more prominent, stretching into the atmosphere. The ‘Banff Legacy Trail’ is a spectacular down-valley ride to the town of Canmore where we enjoyed breakfast at a local coffee shop.

From Canmore, I hopped on highway 1A, the alternate to the high-speed 4-lane Trans-Canada Highway 1. Turns out 1A is on the ‘industrial’ side of the river… gravel quarries, landfills, and a large power plant were highlights. Hey, you need infrastructure to support those fancy resort towns. Eventually, I crossed the river and headed south up towards Kananaskis County and our stop for the night.

Here’s where I met up with Jax, paddle boarding on a mountain reservoir called Barrier Lake.

Our overnight stop in Kananaskis Village offers more breathtaking views of the Canadian Rockies. ‘One more photo’…