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
Thursday, 30 July 2009
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
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
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
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
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
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
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.
Monday, 20 July 2009
Friday, 17 July 2009
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
Can't wait
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
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.
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