Leaving Jasper National Park we traveled south to Banff National Park and Emerald Lake Lodge for a stint of hiking in Yoho National Park.. Arriving in early afternoon the site, a popular stop for motor coach tours, was swamped with day-trippers renting boats and walking the 5k loop around the lake. When the busses left around 6:00 p.m. the lodge and surrounding area became quiet and serene, until 8:00 a.m. when the day visitors arrived again. If there was ever a place to spend a romantic weekend this was it. The rooms included wood burning fireplaces and porches with lake views. A welcome plate of cookies was left in each room. With no roommate I had them all to myself, though a poor substitute for that romantic weekend.

We tried the loop ourselves one evening after dinner. Expecting a short walk to settle our meals we ended up circling the lake, returning to our cottages as dusk was settling in. Busman's holiday for hikers?