July 31, 2013: Icefields Parkway to Canmore, AB

Still worried about the batteries, we decided to try to get a campsite a few miles away in Lake Louise where there are electric sites so we could recharge the batteries.   The electric sites are usually reserved months in advance, but we wanted to try anyway.  We stopped at the check-in, and they said they expected four sites to open up and to return in a half hour. 

 We drove a few miles up to Lake Louise, one of the postcard places that IS the Canadian Rockies for many people.  The place was mobbed with folks, many from the multitude of bus tours trying to capture the morning sun on the mountain behind the lake.  We had been here before and the crowds were oppressive, so we did a short stroll around the base of the lake, took a couple of photos and returned to the campground to see if a spot had opened. No luck.  He said return in another half hour.  We drove down to the tiny shopping center, walked around a bit and returned to the check in.  Still nothing and return in 15 minutes.  We simply turned around and got at the back of the line of RVs waiting to check in.  Again, nothing.  Did it again, but nothing available yet, but the ranger was going out to do a spot check to see if there were any open sites.  Jack had enough, so we decided to drive south about an hour out of the park to get a site at a commercial campground in Canmore. 

We relaxed in the campground, letting the batteries recharge.  Late in the afternoon, we did some grocery shopping in the downtown and back to the campground for the evening.