Monday 10

Well here we are on English soil with typical English weather, rain!!! We have forgotten what it is, supposed we will have to get used to it. Slightly over weight (not personally just our luggage). After re packing and wearing our walking books we managed to get the weight down to an acceptable level. The flight home was great arriving an hour early.
Canada was just great, as you have probably guessed from the previous blogs. We completed 2600 Km in a Mazda 6 (a great car). Driving was very easy, no traffic jams or hold ups. We had a very busy 3 weeks and certainly packed a lot of sight seeing in whilst in British Columbia and Alberta.
We would recommend a visit to Vancouver Island and if any one is passing through the Rockies then a trip up to Mount Edith Cavell to the glacier is well worth a trip.
Loads of photos so will get them sorted and posted up in due course.

Saturday 8

Well we reached our last day so we decided to have an easier day. We took the Roamer bus down to Banff gondolas. It was the first time we had to queue for anything and it wasn't for very long. The ride to the top of Sulphur Mt took 8 mins and then we hiked up to Sampson's peak where there is a national historical site which was established in the 1950s to investigate cosmic rays. The views were amazing as we could see all around the mountain - and again the weather was great. Later we took a bus to Banff Springs Hotel which looks like a Scottish castle but this time I only spotted one man in a kilt. We looked around the shops and found ourselves in an art gallery. We went to see the Bow Falls which are near the hotel. We finished the day wandering around the shops and a meal before heading back to the hotel to pack ready for our final leg - Calgary airport and flight to Manchester tomorrow afternoon.
Thanks for reading this blog and see you all soon.

Friday 7

The Fox and Suites is a great stopping place in Banff. We have been given complimentary breakfast for the 3 nights here. There is a fantastic hot spa, sauna and gym underneath the hotel so look out after all the walks and weights!! we are as fit as fiddles!!!
Took a drive out to Lake Minnewanke where we were able to walk about a mile along the side of this beautiful lake (the rest had been closed off due to an aggressive female grizzly and 2 cubs in the area). We then drove to Johnson Lake for another walk (2.8km). After sitting a while and lunch we drove about 20km to Johnston Canyon and on the way we encountered a herd of Elk grazing on the hill side. We took a walk into the canyon to see the waterfalls, a very impressive 5.4km. What a day, total walk of about 11km. All this walking really tired Caroline out so we had to come back and relax in the hot spa and sauna, what a life.
Well one more day to go then it's back to the real world (maybe).

Thursday 6

Had to have breakfast in the Deer Lodge dinning room as we had run out of breakfast food and there was no supermarket handy. The dinning room was exceptional where everything was made out of wood and there were deer heads on the walls and a huge log fire. Had an amazing walk climbing nearly 2000 ft up to Lake Agnes tea room (the highest tea room in Canada) and on up to Little Bee Hive (a rock shaped like a bee hive). The tea room was established in 1901 and specialises in different sorts of tea. The weather was great again and it was lovely to see Lake Louise so blue looking under the sun. Left Lake Louise at around 3pm and drove to Banff on the minor road (1a) where we saw a coyote crossing the road in front of our car unfortunately we did not have the camera to hand. Arrived at our next stop, the Fox and Suites in Banff where we will be for the next 3 nights.

Wednesday 5

Another amazing day today. We left Jasper and set off along the Icefields Parkway (the main road to Lake Louise). On the way we decided to do a U turn and go up a mountain road towards Edith Cavel Mountain. The road was very steep with some breath taking views and near to our destination we came across a grizzly bear foraging in the verge (see photos). We drove as far as the road would go arriving at a car park and did the three glacial trail. The valley had been covered in a glacier which had only melted in the 1920s leaving behind it an inhospitable landscape of amazing coloured rocks but growth of trees and bushes were now beginning to appear. (see photos) After this we returned to the Parkway and stopped at the Athabasca Falls and the Sunwapta Falls - also taking the time to walk down to the lower falls. We arrived at Lake Louise in the evening and had a great meal in the restaurant. We just managed to get to the Lake before sundown and a thunder storm.

Link to some pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/steveford53/Cannada

Tuesday 4

Been having such a great time and been out so late haven't had time to write the blog. Jasper was brill. We took a more sedate trip on Lake Maligne and landed at Spirit Island. From there we hiked to Lakes Lorraine and Lake Mona. Stephen was hoping to see as much wild life as poss, Caroline was hoping not to see much wild life - certainly not the 'big animals', so Stephen had to be content with birds!! Anyway not to be disappointed - on the return journey we came across a black bear quite near to the road side and Caroline even ventured out of the car too - some good photos were taken. Next on the itinary we travelled about an hour, stopping to photograph some big horned sheep on the way, in the opposite direction to the hot springs at Miette. This was a new experience and we alternated between the hot, cold (but not for very long) and the very hot. Feeling relaxed we returned to Jasper for the night stopping for a hamburger on the way.

Link to some pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/steveford53/Cannada

Monday 3

Left Valemount and set off for wild activities on the River Fraser after we had signed our indemnity forms (see photos of us in life jackets!!!!!) after negotiating the rapids we saw a bald headed eagle and brilliant views of Mount Robson (the highest mountain in the Rockies. We then made our way into Robson Provincial Park and hiked to Lake Kinney. After a lunch of just crisps today, we returned to base and set off for Jasper stopping to see these wild animals on route (see photos). The weather has remained very hot throughout our time here and we as if we have an attack of the measles!!

Link to some pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/steveford53/Cannada

Sunday 2

Kamloops isn't much to write home about, however we spent a pleasant morning up Sun Peaks, just 30 mins up the road. It certainly lived up to its name - it was hot and sunny and covered in alpine flowers which were very beautiful. On leaving there at 1pm we had another scenic drive most of it alongside the North Thompson river arriving at Valemount at 5pm.

Saturday 1

Left Whistler at 10:45 am local time. Drove the 5 hour trip through the mountains via Pemberton and Lillooet where a large area of the Forrest was on fire. The air was rather hazy. We heard on the news tonight that the residents are on evacuation alert. The drive through was spectacular and very different. Quite arid and dry. Once through the mountains we dropped down into Cache Creek, a bit of a backwater trading post where fuel prices had been hiked up. As we approached Cache Creek the scenery changed and we saw some ranch type beef farms and even one dairy farm, which I was surprised at. The drive on into Kamloops was again breath taking as we drove along the Thompson river. The evening meal was a visit to MacDonalds, Caroline's standards are slipping!! This evening we were entertained by live music in the park down by the river.

Link to some pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/steveford53/Cannada

Friday 31

Nearly overslept which sent Caroline into a flat spin meaning we were queing for the Gondola for 20 minutes before it opened.
Went up Whistler mountain today on the Peak Express. The temp was 10 oC lower than in the village below, even so it was very hot, somewhere in the region of 22 - 25 oC so down in the village it would have been too hot.
Took the longest peak to peak unsupported gondola in the world between Whistler and Blackcomb peaks. Had to stay in our pod due to the fires still burning. Views were spectacular.
Came down around 4pm and saw 3 bears from the safety of the pod. Went for a welcome cool off in the pool before tasting the Indian Cuisine.

Thursday 30

Left Parksville on Vancouver Island after a very hot night and an early morning walk up the beach. The ferry crossing was calm and after landing at Horseshoe Bay we drove up to Whistler. Stopped off at The Shannon Falls at Squamish. Spectacular drive on the sea to sky highway!
Arrived here in Whistler to see Helicopters and Planes dropping water bombs onto a fire that had broken out due to a lightening strike earlier in the day. Blackcomb mountain had been evacuated and closed and we could see the flames from Whistler village.

Wednesday 29

Well, while you're sleeping at 4.45 am, it's 8.45 pm here and we're sitting on the balcony overlooking the Georgia Straits of the Pacific Ocean in temperatures of 30 oC looking out on the islands and mountains beyond. People are still swimming in the sea - which we did earlier. It is very calm and warm. It took us about 5 hrs drive to get here from Hidden Cove Lodge and I actually did some driving as the roads are extremely quiet. We self catered tonight as we have a kitchen in our Ocean Suite! Well as you can see Caroline is really enjoying herself and proud of her driving!! The contrast between here and Hidden Cove Lodge is vast, sand, quiet still, shallow warm waters as oppossed to rugged cliffs and inlets of deep waters at Hidden Cove.
Catch the ferry off the Island tomorrow and head for Wistler. Temperatures look set to reach 30 oC and 35 - 39 oC by the weekend. Don't you wish you were here?

Link to some pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/steveford53/Cannada

Tuesday 28

An amazing day - the boat picked us up from the jetty at the lodge. It was pretty cold as we hurtled south in search of whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea lions and seals - and we weren't disappointed. We were also entertained by the police chief who was taking 3 weeks vacation and was helping out as a crew member. We were given some very interesting information eg apparently whales can be recognised by the noises they make. Stephen was so enthralled by the whole experience he told me he had taken 360 photos!!!!
On our return we took the car to Telegraph cove where all the wooden houses were built on stilts - it was like stepping back into an old american movie. We had a drink on the deck over looking the harbour before moving on to Port McNeil. We ended the day having our evening meal watching the racoons on the veranda, the herons and a beautiful red sunset.

Link to some pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/steveford53/Cannada

Monday 27

Left Vancouver this morning at 8am to drive the 20km to Horseshoe bay to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island. The 20ks should have taken 20 minutes but took and hour due to the inaccurate Google maps. Any way still arrived in time to claim our reservation so set sail at about 10:15am arriving on the island at 12 noon. We then had a 4 hour drive to our destination, Hidden cove lodge, truly hidden down a 3km dirt track which ends at the sea. The lodge is a wooden construction that barely has enough electricity or running water to function adequetly. There are notices in the rooms to be economical with showers and "no baths to be taken" as electricity is generated by wind and solar power. Very Eco friendly! Also, needless to say there is no Internet access so you will not be reading this until we get back to civilisation in a couple of days.
Off whale watching tomorrow, being picked up from Hidden cove lodge jetty, right from the front door so to speak.

Link to some pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/steveford53/Cannada

Sunday 26

Got up early,at breakfast by 7:15am yes that is 7:15am. Then went down to the Vancouver waterfront where we hired bikes for a few hours so we could cycle round Stanley Park. Stanley Park is a conservation area which is 9km circumference and has it's own beaches and attractions. It was a good job we got up early as the temperature hit 30 degrees C by mid afternoon. We then took a hop on hop off bus around the city to see the many other sights of Vancouver which is an impressive city that is busy getting ready for the 2010 winter Olympics
Ended the day with swimming at the hotel swimming pool situated on the 8th floor terrace overlooking the harbour. Very relaxing but went into meltdown not just because of the heat but at the price of two drinks, £17!!!!!
We were able to stay on the terrace until 8:30pm as it was so warm.

Link to some pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/steveford53/Cannada

Friday 24

Went to Niagara falls today. About a 2 hour drive from Orangeville but well worth the ride.
The falls are stunning. The horse shoe falls are on the Canadian side while the American falls are, obviously on the American side.
The weather was beautiful contrary to the forecast which led us to believe it was going to rain all day. That's about the same as the UK,the forecasters getting it wrong! As a result of the sunshine we were able to see rainbows in the falls, an amazing sight.
We went on the Maid of the Mist up to the falls which was absolutely amazing, got soaking wet but just to be right under the falls and looking up at the sheer immensity and power of the falls bearing downwards where nothing was going to stop its flow was powerful.
Also went to see the white rapids a bit further down the Niagara river. Further down the river we stopped to view the whirlpool. We also saw a groundhog here (the one in the picture).
Finished the day with chicken and salad at Swiss Chalet, a restaurant chain.

Link to some pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/steveford53/Cannada

Arrived

Well here we are in Orangeville Ontario. Landed Toronto at 6:35pm local time (12 midnight UK). Great to see our friends Mark and Jo again. Had a good night and am writing this at 6:30am It is light and the sun is just rising over the trees. The weather has apparently been wet and it is forcast for more rain today, but hey, that does not matter we are on holiday and we are set to enjoy ourselves. Nothing else to report just now.

The time has Come

Well here we go. The holiday begins NOW
See you all in 3 weeks

4 Days to go!!!!

Well it is only a few days now. Need to work hard this weekend to get all the last minute stuff done.
Can't wait

When are we off

We travel on 21st July 2009 leaving Manchester at 4pm then head for Toronto to stay with Caroline's school friend Jo. We are with Mark and Jo for 4 days then head off to Vancouver on Saturday 25th. Here we pick up the car which will be our means of transport for the next 2 weeks until we leave Calgary on 9th August. Hope you can join us as we travel around.