Leaving Banff

Here are some pics from the begining of the return trip, from Banff to Great Falls, Montana:

After saying goodbyes at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge, I hit downtown Banff for some OnManeuvers and then wound up at the train station because I had seen a snowplow I wanted to photograph.

Said snowplow.

A Canadian Pacific freight consist came rolling through.

Part of the large blackboard to post train arrivals.

The CP workers were working on a section of track. One guy came over and said "Excuse me sir, we are going to set off an explosive charge so you might want to back away." I did.

But not before capturing this coyote crossing the tracks.

Too short of a stay, but I left with a long list of things to do when I come back.

After leaving Banff and the Park, I took a detour instead of going back through Calgary. I took Rt. 40 through Kanasakis Country. It was a really scenic drive and I highly recommend it.

Just be careful. I came around a corner at a good clip and found these guys in the middle of the road.

I was a visitor in his home so I let him take his time. Also he was giving me the stink eye.

Yet another high mountain pass with snow still on it.

After coming out of the mountains, I emerged on to the Canadian plains where it was rolling hills and cattle as far as you could see.

I passed what looked like a wreck in the clearing stages just north of Nanton, Alberta. In attendance were the provincial police and the Nanton FD. They had at least four small brush truck/rescues on the call that looked more like a disabled vehicle.

One of the four small trucks.

The biggest one.

I found the Nanton FD as they were backing in. Yes, they had a backer.

Apparently there is a connection with Nanton and the WWII Lancaster bombers. They have what looks like a cool museum there. They have a working Lancaster that they fly occasionally. I'll have to go back because I was in a hurry to get the border.

More grain elevators.

Yep, it's a combine mowing the median.

These are the blades for wind turbine propellers. Later I saw what looked like a staging area for other blades and the towers.

Milk River.

Still weird to see signs like this. I missed the one that said Great Falls, USA.

Back in the States!

Yay! They let me back in.

While OnManeuvers in Great Falls and looking for a place to stay, I ran in to the Great Falls Emergency Services station.

It was nice to get back in to the States. As I think I've said before, I knew I was back when the clerk took forever to ring up people in front of me.

Thanks to smart phones I found Dick's RV park to camp for the night. I've described that previously, so I'll get on to the rest of the pictures.