Planned Trips

Greg and myself will be very busy (travel wise) over the next couple of years. Just look at what we have planned:

South Pacific Cruise

We have a cruise planned for July. This goes to New Caledonia, We felt like some sun on the bones so thought a 10 day trip would be just right. Chris and Loretta are coming with us. Both couples were married the same year but 6 months apart. This is the 30th Anniversary so we are going to celebrate

Tamworth

I have booked for the Tamworth Country and Western festival in January 2016. We have decided to take our time driving to the location. I really want to stop at Dubbo Zoo, I have heard so many good reports.

United Kingdom

We are off to the UK in March 2016 and will be away for about 7 months. I have planned the trip and  booked two tours, Ireland and Scotland. The rest of the holiday we will be hiring a car. Can't wait to go to Cornwall to check out more of my family history.!

South America

An 80 day cruise is booked for January 2017. There are many port stops along the way and once at South America the ship travels around the entire country.

It's all over

We start our long journey home today but we leave with many wonderful memories of places we visited. This has been a well planned holiday and I must congratulate the person who organised it....oh that was me, ok I will accept applause.

We saw on the news there has been flooding in Manitoba and Saskatoon, these are the places we visited early on our trip. I doubt that people travelling through the areas now would be able to get through.

In my opinion, Canada should highlight all the beautiful huge lakes throughout the country, this may encourage more tourists to other parts of the country rather than the currently popular Alberta and British Columbia, home of the Rockies. No doubt the prairie thought Canada is flat and uninteresting but the massive lakes seem to be everywhere.

I have to also say, Canada has the most comfortable beds and pillows we have ever come across. I am talking about every hotel we stayed out from the East to west of Canada.

I am not sure how many photos we have taken, so when we get back I will choose the best ones to keep, that will probably be a job in its self.

See you soon.

Photos

The upside down tree in the Glacier Gardens in Alaska.
Above: one of the many displays at the gardens

                                             
                                     

                                   

The smallest desert in the world, located in Canada in the Yukon Territory.

Whistler

This is a big call, but Whistler would have to be on top of the list of the places we have visited while on the Rocky Mountaineer.

Whistler was the home of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The town has a population of about 10,000, we were informed there are a number of homes owned by Americans who love coming here in the winter. They also donate money to the town to ensure the infrastructure is maintained.

Our hotel is in the Whistler Village and has shops and restaurants at our back door. I should mention we have definitely hit Canada's summer, it is about 32 degrees here, the nights are beautiful, a cool breeze flows through which makes it ideal for dining outside.

Our first tour was to the First Nations Cultural Centre. Upon arrival we were provided a nice lunch of salmon and salad, then a Lil'Wat girl sang a traditional song, it was very entertaining. The tour was informative and we were able to enter a house that is built over a large mound of dirt. This kept the occupants cool in summer and warm in winter.

Greg and I decided to take ourselves on the Peak2Peak gondola. The first ride took 25 minutes to get up the first mountain, the second ride took us across to the second mountain, that was a little scary, it was a long way down, then we caught the ski lift to the bottom. It was a good adventure and it gave USA lot of "birds eye" views.

Quesnell

The Rocky Mountaineer took us to a town named Quesnell (the s is silent).  The population is 25,000. The town is not a well known or popular tourist place but is does have the deepest fjord lake on earth,  Quesnell Lake.

We stayed overnight, I didn't go for a walk around town, both of us were so tired we hit the sack!  We had already seen lots of scenery on the train trip so I didn't feel that we were missing on on anything.

Up bright and early the next morning heading for Whistler. Along the way we saw another black bear munching away. His coat was shining with the reflection of the sun, what a memorable sight.

The Rocky Mountaineer provides us with breakfast and a 3 course lunch. The food is very tasty and it is nice to meet other travellers while we are having a nice meal. We especially enjoyed the company of a couple we met who hail from Ontario. They both have the thickest Scottish accents which tricked us for a moment, they moved from Glasgow to Canada 35 years ago. We got some very good tips for when we travel through Scotland and Ireland.

Jasper

We are staying at the Fairmont Lodge Resort and our accommodation. Is a log cabin. The Lodge is situated on a beautiful Lake (every bit as nice as Lake Louise).

The big news is just as I was about to say I do not believe there are bears in Alaska and Canada, low and behold there is a black bear near the side of the road munching away on berries. Ever so cute and they look soooooooo cuddly.

We visited the Athabasca Glacier (1,000 feet thick) and went on an Ice Explorer half way up the Glacier. We were able to get out and walk around (very slippery). What an experience, well worth the cost.

Our tour included a visit to Bow Lake that has a massive waterfall, the Mustai River Valley and saw the Crowfoot Glacier, named because it is shaped like a crows foot and finally the Paedo Lake.

I am convinced we are currently travelling through the most beautiful country in Canada.

A few interesting things I learnt today:
  Black Bears can be blonde
  I learnt the difference between ice fields, glaciers and snow fields
  All the beautiful water colours in Canada's Lakes is due to glacier rock powder
  There is 20% less oxygen in this neck of the woods ( no wonder I have been puffing and panting)

The Lake where our log cabin is situated.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise was named after one of Queen Victorias daughters. It is a beautiful relaxing experience to visit here. The hotel on the lake has the monopoly for everything because you would have to catch a cab to get to the small village below.  I must say they certainly know how to charge, $30 for fish and chips!

We did a half day tour through the Yoho National Park where we visited Lake Emerald (yes the  water colour is emerald) and the Spiral Tunnels. The highlight was Kicking Horse river, now it has some serious rapids.

Still having problems with photos, on occasions it works then decides to throw a hissy fit!