Jasper/Lake Louise

Today (Thursday I think) is another clear blue sky day, crisp and calm.  Everyone is off on excursions except me as my name somehow got lost off the excursion list.  They have now arranged for me to go on a Harley Davidson motorbike ride at 5.30 this evening so I am spending my free day at the Laundromat catching up on the washing and updating the blog.  I will take this opportunity to go visit the shops in Alan’s absence ( he won’t let me buy anything as we have no room to carry it). Alan is off doing gondola sky things.

Been a beautiful morning and Alan enjoyed the scenery from the gondola.  Went on our Harley Davidson bike ride – I rode in the side car,  The weather had closed in and it was very cold and starting to snow.  Enjoyed the ride but really don’t understand what all the fuss is about. (sorry Sue and Bob but I thought the best thing was the heated vest).

Dinner was a nightmare, we were booked for 7pm and still waiting for main course at 1030.  Apparently the Chef had a melt down and when we eventually got our food it had been sitting warming in an oven for so long it was inedible.

Woke up this morning to a blanket of snow.  We boarded the bus and went to Columbia Icefield and the Athabasca /Glacier in Jasper National Park.  Lots of snow and the view was jawdropping. Absolutely beautiful day with the sun shining and no wind and the snow is very dry so it made great snowballs.  Had fun then back on the bus to Lake Louise where we arrived about 4pm.

I was really looking forward to the brilliant emerald colour of Lake Louise but its still frozen over.  Still spectacular scenery but hopefully Lorraine and Trevor will get to see its true colours in Sept.

Had a pleasant dinner and now catching up on emails.  Tomorrow we are off to Banff.

p.s. Fairmont Hotels are very overrated!

Rocky Mountaineer

Up at 5am for a light breakfast and off to the Rocky Mountaineer.  Very excited.  Get on board, the train is fabulous, lots of leg room, comfy seats and fabulous dome for viewing.

We were immediately fed hot scones with coffee, followed by a five star breakfast then back to the seats for drinkies and cheese and bikkies then a 3 course lunch, more drinkies (in fact they were continuous) and more food.  All you do is eat and drink – didn’t finish lunch till 4pm.

A bit disappointed in the scenery as I was expecting jaw dropping stuff but it was very pretty and different and the train ride was fabulous.  We were so full and tipsy that we got off train and to hotel about 8pm and just went straight to bed.

Up reasonably early and off  to the train for another day of overindulging.  Morning was quite – think everyone was a little hungover.  Afternoon scenery got into the jawdropping beauty stuff.  It was just magical as there was a beautiful clear blue sky, lots of snow, frozen lakes – picture postcard stuff.  We were all on the hunt for bears and as it’s a late spring we were told not to expect to see any as they were just starting to come out of hibernation now.  Saw one in the distance which had everyone excited and then late in the afternoon when all the men were out the back (we were last carriage)doing secret mens things with cameras I spotted 2 bear cubs up a tree.  Very excitedly I jumped up knocking drinks flying shouting ‘bear my side, baby bears, up trees, baby bears,’ apparently quite incoherently. A brief view of mumma bear at the bottom of a bare tree with 2 cubs right at the top – magical.  It was an unofficial sighting as apparently no man saw them but was later officially recognized as a number of us females did.  The men complain that they had no idea what the hell I was shouting about but the women did, so suck eggs to the men.  That certainly livened everyone up and we spent rest of the journey oohing and aarhing about the scenery and wildlife watching. 

Thoroughly enjoyed the train trip. I think it would be even more spectacular in Sept with the changing colour of the leaves but can’t complain about views through the  bare trees and the snow.

Even though the late spring has meant lots of snow and frozen lakes – which has meant we can’t do canoeing or rafting as everything is frozen still – it has made for spectacular sightseeing.  We are having to rearrange our excursion choices due to the snow.

Must say the food is fabulous everywhere we go and already I’m finding the clothes getting too tight.

Vancouver Part 2

Sunshine replaced by drizzle yesterday and rain today.  Spent yesterday doing the Granville farmers market.  Its a foodies paradise - fresh homemade delicacies of every description and  lots of  craft stalls.

Joined the tour group for dinner last night, there are 50 on this trip and today it was up early and off to Capilano Suspension Bridge and rainforest.  Definitely worth a visit - even in the rain.  Followed this with a visit to every place we have already been to, but expected that would happen.  Enjoyed another trip to the markets and saw Stanley Park from the bus - can now say we have thoroughly done Stanly Park - bike, walk and now bus.

Hotel room is very old but classy - we actually have a coffee machine in our room!
Tomorrow off on the train - will do update in a few days when we get back to Fairmont Hotels and free wireless

Happy Birthday Triona

Itinerary

22 Apr             Depart for Vancouver

22 Apr             Arrive Vancouver

26 Apr             Rocky Mountaineer – Kamloops

27 Apr             Rocky Mountaineer – Jasper

28 Apr             Jasper

29 Apr             Lake Louise

30 Apr             Lake Louise – Banff

1 May              Banff

2 May              Sun Peaks

3 May              Whistler

4 May              Whistler

5 May              Howe Sound – Victoria

6 May              Victoria

7 May              Seattle - Alaskan Cruise

8 May              Cruising

9 May              Jeneau

10 May            Hubbard Glacier

11 May            Sitka

12 May            Ketchikan

13 May            Victoria

14 May            Seattle depart cruise for Montreal

15 May            Montreal

16 May            Montreal – Quebec City

17 May            Quebec City

18 May            Quebec City – Parc Omega – Ottawa

19 May            Ottawa

20 May            Thousand Islands Cruise – Toronto

21 May            Toronto

22 May            Niagara Falls

23 May            Niagara Falls – Lancaster

24 May            Lancaster – Washington DC

25 May            Washington DC

26 May            Washington – New York
27 May            New York

28 May            New York

29 May            New York - Boston

30 May            Boston

31 May            Boston – Home

2 Jun                Home