Hardly slept at all last night – party in hostel went on all night. A guy dressed as a penguin was still drinking beer downstairs when I went for breakfast (all included again).
All set to go at 8pm but the bus wouldn’t start. Seriously broken down so we have to get a replacement bus.
In the meantime some of us go to explore the town. Some stop off for a coffee (I have never seen so many Starbucks as I have since being in this country. Perhaps they don’t have to pay their taxes here!) Cherry, who is from Hong Kong, and I seek out a church nearby and arrive just in time for their service. We were made most welcome but had to leave early for an update on the bus situation. 
However, in the conversation that ensued between Cherry and myself I discovered what a fascinating person she is and what an amazing journey she has had in her young life to become a Christian.
We learnt that a replacement bus would not arrive until at least 3pm and it’s a long journey to Banff so we won’t arrive til the early hours. So we head off to the mountains for a hike, picking up some provisions for a picnic en route. We found a lovely beach location by the lake for lunch. It was a glorious day. Natalie (from Switzerland) and I chose to stay by the lake and left the others to hike up the mountain.
We watched some kayaking. I spotted a pair of Cranes fly up into a nearby tree then one flew across to a nearby boat loaded with wood. Someone was throwing a ball into the lake for his Labrador and then we saw the funniest sight and couldn’t stop laughing: the tiniest of Chihuahuas in a specially designed wetsuit/buoyancy suit was swimming for all its worth to retrieve a ball.
Back to the hostel and still no sign of the replacement bus….
Finally left at 4pm in a tiny mini bus. Had to cram all luggage in the back. Only just enough room to squeeze the 12 of us in. 6 hours drive past beautiful lake and mountain scenery.
Loo stop at Vernon, the oldest town in Interior BC. Passed through Revelstone which is being developed into great ski resort.
Arrived Banff Hostel HI at 11pm but was really midnight because of the time zone. Banff looked like a Christmas wonderland because of all the lights on the Trees. But it was too dark to take any pictures.