Our photo blogging challenge theme for May 2025 = Explore the World. I did a lot of internet exploring to plan an upcoming vacation. I also delved into a couple of new recipes, including a variant of raspberry jam (last year’s crop) and a very rich chocolate dessert. In my opinion, spring is one of the best times to be out and about in nature. So we headed outdoors to explore our little part of the globe on two wheels and two feet. Here are some highlights:

1. Salamander Crossing

We first bicycle toured the Bow Valley Parkway back in 2020, when Parks Canada closed the road to motorized vehicles in the interest of social distancing. After a couple of years of COVID-related closures, Parks moved on to a 3-year pilot project to evaluate closing the road to motorized vehicles for 3 months of the year. This year, they’ve started another 5-year pilot project along the same lines. All of which means we’ve been riding that road during the month of May for 6 years running. And in all those years, this year was the first time we spotted a four-toed salamander in the salamander crossing zone!!!

Now that we know what to look for (kind of like a black stick about 10 cm / 4 inches long), I hope we’ll see more during next year’s migration season, when salamanders cross the road to reach their breeding ponds. For a start-to-finish overview of that bike ride, including more salamander photos, watch Mr GeoK’s Relive video recap.

Side note: when I shared this experience with my parents, my Mom shared that four-toed salamanders also live in the area where I grew up. I clearly had other interests in those days!!!

2. Lake Minnewanka Road

Once upon a time, Parks Canada also ran a pilot project that closed motorized vehicle access to Lake Minnewanka Road for a month. Enthusiastic cyclists took full advantage. We never heard anything about that pilot project, but the fact that it’s never been car-free again says it all, I suppose. Anyhow, we enjoyed that route enough that we try to ride it at least a couple of times each year, the earlier in the spring and later in the fall the better, to minimize the number of cars, trucks and campers whizzing past.

On this year’s first pedal along Lake Minnewanka Road, I investigated whether my selfie skills are improving. That’s Mt Rundle, just outside of Banff, in the background.

3. Double Header Ride #1

We’ve cycled Moraine Lake Road in the past. But it’s a lot of driving there and back for a 25 km (15 mile) ride. So this year, we opted to make this ride to one of Banff National Park’s most popular destinations ride #1 in a bicycling double header. In this photo, Mr GeoK stopped to photograph the Valley of the Ten Peaks that surrounds Moraine Lake.

4. Double Header Ride #2

A top sightseeing stop in Yoho National Park is Takkakaw Falls, Canada’s second highest waterfall (373 meters / 1,224 ft). It’s at the end of a long and somewhat winding road. In fact, the turns on a switchback section are so tight that trailers and RVs aren’t permitted on the road. And any vehicle longer than 7 meters has to back up one of the switchbacks because the turning radius is too tight!

After riding Moraine Lake Road, we loaded our bikes back into our car and drove another 25 km to just outside Field, BC, where we parked at the gates closing off Yoho Valley Road. From there, we pedaled up to Takkakaw Falls. Here’s Mr GeoK admiring the thundering waterfall from a distance.

We walked to withing about 100 meters of the base of the falls after lunch. It didn’t take long to get misted. And after one shot, our camera lenses were so covered in water there was no sense taking any more! 🙂

Total driving distance for our cycling double-header = 220 km. Riding distance totaled 47 km with about 750 meters elevation gain. We’d definitely consider doing a “two rides in one longer drive” again in the future years, but probably not every year.

5. Cubs Exploring Under Mom’s Watchful Gaze

Our first and only ride up Highwood Pass this year, we pedaled past a grizzly sow and three cubs. Fortunately, we knew in advance they were there. And an Alberta Parks pickup truck escorted us past the foursome, pausing long enough for us to grab a couple of photos with our telephoto lenses. For more grizzly pictures, plus a recap of our 72 km (50 mile) ride, watch Mr GeoK’s Relive, here.

Those are our five photos capturing various aspects of the theme Explore the World. I look forward to reconnoitering what everyone else in the Photo Blogging Challenge did with this theme, so I’ll be watching the link up at the bottom of host PJ’s post over at A ‘lil HooHaa.

If you enjoy photography and low-key “challenges” please consider joining the Photo Blogging Challenge. We are a small and welcoming blogging community. All you need each month are 5 photos and a blogging platform. There are several free options out there. I’ll post the theme for June here as soon as it’s released.