Well not quite. I did spare the horses as I am a law abiding motorcycle rider. I was pleased but surprised to see a hot air balloon in the air this morning as I was getting ready to depart. In an effort to avoid I5 and Seattle traffic my route for the day was to follow WA 20 all the way to its end point at the Port Townsend ferry terminal at Fort Casey on Whidbey Island. This strategy worked pretty well as the route through the Cascade Mountains was picturesque, with a good entertaining road, little traffic and pleasant temperature. It was not until Sedro-Woolley that I finally got caught up in the traffic appropriate for a hot summers day in the Pacific Northwest.

The first town on my route out of Castlegar this morning was Trail, BC. It was clearly an old mining town built in and on the sides of a steep valley with small or narrow houses. Fortunately for the town some mining and or metallurgical facilities still operates; though also clearly tourism is now a substantial income source for the area. I was intrigued by the sign at the exit to the town I did not know Italian was one of the Canadian languages.

Today I was very much in the mood of "heading for home" which was remiss of me for there was a lot of great scenery along the way and I did not give it the photographic attention it deserved. From Radium this morning I made an early start and followed the Columbia River (and highway 95) north to the town of Golden a major rail head town and a watering hole on the Trans-Canada Highway (or Highway 1 as it is also called). For me it was also breakfast.

For a little while this morning the rest day gamble seemed like it might not pay off, as the mountains were all covered in cloud as I started out this morning. But by the time I got to the Columbia Icefield the cloud was broken and sun was showing through. I tried to capture a smattering of the sights along this really picturesque route. I have travelled this road a number of times but never failed to be awed by just how much spectacular mountain and lake scenery is packed into this single road.

I followed Nina's advice and decided to stay in Jasper for tonight, thus making today a bit of a rest day. The hope (and forecast) is that tomorrows weather along the Icefield Parkway will be better than today. Spent the day relaxing around Jasper and the campground.