God's Cathedral

The Canadian Rockies are timeless. They remain unchanged and as awe-inspiring as they were when humans first laid eyes on them. I first saw them as a teenager during a family summer vacation in the late 1970s. I remember thinking I had never encountered a place so beautiful. I still recall the hikes around Lake Louise and up to the Tea House, canoeing on Vermillion Lake in Banff, and visiting the two stunning historical hotels: Chateau Lake Louise and the Banff Springs Hotel. The pristine forests lining the highway along the Bow River corridor between Lake Louise and Banff are all still there and have hardly changed in the past 50 years.

The exact spot I canoed with my dad, brother and sister 50 years ago. I can almost see my brother tipping over the canoe he and my dad were in, while my sister, Anne, and I looked on laughing.

Riding among the aspens.

We rode from Lake Louise to Banff along the Bow River Parkway, which parallels the main Highway 1. This route was mostly devoid of cars and included an 11 km stretch that was completely closed to vehicles. The place felt holy. I found myself reflecting on how most cities and towns around the world have churches, mosques, and temples as centerpieces. Since humans began settling into communities and moved away from nomadic lifestyles, erecting something to honor the gods or God has always been a uniquely human endeavor. However, on this ride, I realized that we do not need to build anything, for God has created His own stunning cathedral: Nature.

I am forever grateful to my parents for ensuring we had opportunities to experience nature, taking us on family trips to see God's Cathedrals in so many places. I still seek them out, and on this gorgeous fall day, I drank my fill.

We have had the most amazing cycling trip so far -- a truly tremendous experience. The ride today was just the icing on the cake. Here is our route map and stats for cycling to date: