Vancouver.......farewell to Canada

We arrived in Vancouver yesterday. The largest city in Western Canada, Vancouver has a picture-perfect setting perched on the edge of the Pacific Rim and backed by mountains dusted with snow.

Feels like we really are in a different world now, a long way apart from the rural settings of Jasper and Clearwater, but an interesting city all the same. The locals are in a real height of excitement today as William and Kate are here and a lot of the roads were closed this morning. Myself and a couple of others decided to go to Granville Island for the morning, and then came back to do a good walk along the sea wall all around the perimeter of the city. Now sitting with a cuppa in my room finishing my blog before dinner.  Oh yes, forgot to mention that I am on the 31st floor.......yes, 31st. Wonderful views from my room over the city and sea, but have not been tempted to go out on my balcony. Have had far too much excitement on this holiday already!

That will teach me not to ask for a high room again!

Tomorrow morning I pack my suitcase for the last time and say farewell to Canada. We fly home tomorrow evening. My journey across the Rockies has been an absolutely amazing experience and one I shall never forget. The scenery has been stunning from start to finish, and I shall have an abiding memory of my 'bear encounter'!

I hope those friends and family who have been following my blog enjoyed travelling with me.

Pauline.......tell Harvey I shall be home soon.....x

Peak to Peak

Well, this holiday is certainly helping me with my aversion to heights! Yesterday morning before we left Whistler we did the Peak2Peak, which involved catching a cable car to the top of Whistler Mountain, from where you step on the Peak2Peak, a four and a half km long gondola ride to the top of Blackcomb Mountain. We had excellent views (if I was brave enough to look out the window), and I tried not to think about the fact that I was dangling 4,000ft up!! The people who were with me kept me busy chatting, and I was very pleased with myself having done it without having a major panic!!

After living that experience we left Whistler and followed the Sea to Sky corridor south to Vancouver. The upgrading of this road was instrumental in securing the bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics, and was quite spectacular to see the dramatic mountain peaks and ocean vistas along the way.

A Bear Encounter

Remember I said I was going off on my own for a stroll? Well, I decided to do a walk called The Valley Trail as it looked fairly easy and it was still raining a little. It took me along good tracks beside a forest and around Alta Lake. Strolling along, minding my own business, when I glanced to my left and about 50yds away in the forest was a very large black bear! We looked at each other, my heart racing and just about to go into a major panic, and he just ambled off. What a moment......never forget it. No photo I'm afraid.....too scared. I got myself onto the main road and started to walk towards what I thought was Whistler, but must admit I was a little lost. Came across some chaps building a house overlooking the lake, asked the way back and was told it was at least an hours walk! Looked a bit pathetic and this lovely guy called Mike, who was a carpenter (how weird was that) offered to drive me back to Whistler in his truck. The following photos are some I took walking around Whistler afterwards trying to calm myself after quite a scary experience!

When I returned to the hotel and mentioned the episode to Robyn she was not amused!! Chastised me for wandering off on my own......!! Anyway, still in one piece I am glad to report.

Wet Whistler

We left Clearwater yesterday morning and travelled through the rolling countryside of British Columbia's Cariboo heartland, which is studded with pretty lakes, gold rush towns and working ranches. In places it looked just like something from a cowboy film. John Wayne galloping over the hillside would not have looked out of place! It was a very long day and thankfully our driver John remained alert and got us all here safely.

Our hotel here in Whistler is extremely posh, totally different from the last one, so a bit of luxury.

It is set in the heart of Whistler village where cobblestone walkways and colourful piazzas are packed with restaurants, boutiques and lively nightspots......so different to where we have been staying during the last week. Today is our first day of rain unfortunately and the fabulous mountain scenery has disappeared  into a mist. Whistler is a four-seasons resort that offers different outdoor pursuits all year long, having a stunning setting at the foot of the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.Some of the group have set off on a guided walk this morning but I have decided to have a stroll around Whistler by myself, dropping into coffee shops if the rain persists. This afternoon we are visiting the Aboriginal Culture Centre where we are having a lunch based on native ingredients (???) before touring the facility to learn more about the indigenous people who have lived in this region for thousands of years.

Tomorrow.......Vancouver, really looking forward to seeing that city.

Black Bears and Osprey on River Safari

Now, where was I......this trip is so full on and we have seen so much that I am not even sure what day it is!  On Tuesday we left Alberta behind and travelled west along the Yellowhead Highway into Mount Robson Provincial Park in British Columbia. It was a long but scenic drive past roaring rapids, alpine forests and imposing Mount Robson, the highest of Canada's mountains whose summit is often lost in the clouds. We were lucky as it was a nice sunny day so got great views.

Then we headed off to Blue River for a river safari aboard a specially designed boat and local guide, travelling along the river that runs through the inland temperate rainforest keeping our eyes peeled for bears, moose, eagles, and anything that moved really! Well, after a little while we all got extremely excited to see a Mum black bear and three cubs following along the shoreline of the water. They were quite a distance away so my photos not too good, but got an excellent view through the binoculars. We cruised along a little while and then saw a HUGE male bear quite close to us, ambling along the edge of the river. Better photos this time. Then, to top it all, we saw an osprey perched high up on his nest......my favourite bird. What a treat......but then I learnt that it was a youngster, and his parents had already left the nest to fly to warmer climes down south, leaving him to fend for himself. Felt really sorry for him......wonder if I could smuggle him home!!

Today, Wednesday (I think!), we have spent most of the day in Wells Gray Provincial Park. We have walked forest trails accompanied by a local guide, had a picnic lunch and seen some amazing waterfalls. We are at a lower level now having left the Rockies behind so the scenery is dramatically different......cedar forests, alpine meadows, bit of a back woods wilderness area that is much less visited than the popular National Parks, but very pretty. Unfortunately I forgot to put the memory card back in the camera before I went out this morning so have had to rely on my phone for photos. Stupid!

Cannot upload any onto the IPad here as wifi quite slow. You will just have to imagine the superb waterfalls!!

We leave Clearwater tomorrow morning, travelling south to Whistler where we stay for two nights.

Weather has been wonderful today, really warm and beautiful blue skies. Hope it continues.

Jasper National Park

 

Here the Rockies are more rugged and less visited. Jasper is the largest park in the Rocky Mountains at 10,875 square kilometres, and we started out this morning travelling up the Maligne Valley to Medicine Lake which is fed from sinkholes beneath its surface. We were told to keep our eyes peeled for elk, moose, coyotes and bears........but not a thing unfortunately today. But.....we did spot a bald eagle sitting in a tree and everyone was hugely excited. Not close enough to get a photo unfortunately, but I got a good look through my binoculars. I am beginning to think all this talk about bears is just a myth as we haven't had a sniff of one yet, yet all the local shops are selling 'bear deterrent'!!

Then onwards and upwards to Maligne Lake which is the largest glacial lake in the Rockies, encircled by pines and snow-covered peaks. I am so glad I opted to do the cruise on the lake as an extra as I found it quite magical.

This afternoon most of the group went off on a hike, but I decided to stay and have a good look around Jasper and spend some time by myself. It really is a lovely little town, very quaint and picturesque, with some nice shops to do a little retail therapy. I was walking the Discovery Trail around the edge of town when I saw this train approaching on the main Canadian Pacific Railway and decided to sit and watch it pass by. I could not believe that this train, with two engines at the front, was pulling 200 wagons behind it!! Think it was heading for Vancouver on the west coast.

Tomorrow we leave Alberta behind and travel on to Clearwater in British Columbia. At last we are able to have a bit of a 'lie-in' as we are not leaving too early (thank goodness). Not sure of wifi there as it is a bit off the beaten track but will try and do another episode for all my devoted readers!

Rocky Mountain High

We left Banff this morning heading for Jasper along the Icefields Parkway, the most spectacular scenic route in the Rockies. What a remarkable journey it was. The road runs along the ridge of the mountains past ancient glaciers, alpine lakes and waterfalls. I was humming John Denver's signature tune all day........'Rocky Mountain High'. What made it all the more wonderful was that the aspen trees are changing colour right now to a lovely golden yellow colour, and when seen amongst the dark green pines look quite spectacular.

We then made our way to Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefields, a remnant from the last ice age, 7000ft above sea level. We had a tour booked to see the glacier in specially adapted vehicles which skim over the ice to prevent damage. Just as we left on the tour it began to snow, which made the whole experience quite magical.

Today has been a truly memorable day, one which I shall never forget. We are now in Jasper for a couple of days and tomorrow we are out hiking in the morning, and then a lake cruise in the afternoon, hoping to see some wildlife. Still waiting to see bears, so binoculars at the ready!

Lake Louise

Still here in Banff. Nice little town, reminds of somewhere from a film set. Very clean and the locals are extremely friendly, but very busy today being the weekend because apparently the people from Calgary come to the National Park for the day if the weather is good. This is a photo I took last night of the sun setting over the Bow river.

Today we were up and out on the road again at 8am heading west along the Bow Valley Parkway to Johnston's Canyon where we did a nice hike up to the Lower Waterfalls.

Then we continued on to Lake Louise, Canada's most famous lake, which despite the crowds of people, was a uniquely beautiful lake, shimmering turqouise at the foot of Mount Victoria. There is a magnificent hotel called the Chateau at one end of the lake which was built when the Pacific railway had been finished and tourism expanded. I walked for quite a while around the lake which was nice and peaceful away from the crowds.

I

I am now relaxing on my balcony with a cuppa, while some of the group have headed off for a helicopter ride over the Rockies. I considered it for a nano second and discounted it very quickly due to my aversion of heights! 

You will all be not surprised to hear that I managed to find some good wine last night in the bar!

An excellent Sauvignon Blanc to start with, then a good glass of Malbec with my dinner.

Tomorrow is going to be an even earlier start as Robyn wants us to be on the road at 7.30am for our journey to Jasper! Wake up call needed I think.

Hopefully I shall have wifi in Jasper......if not, will give you the next chapter when I can.

Beautiful Banff

Well folks, I have made it to the Rockies after a long and tiring journey to Calgary. It seemed like I had been travelling for days because of the 7hr time difference, and after our tour manager Robyn had scooped us all up at the airport and we were on our way to stay in Banff for three nights, she insisted that we try and stay up until 10pm! Quite difficult as most of us were practically asleep on our feet.

Anyway, today is another lovely sunny day and we have spent most of it in Banff National Park. The scenery was amazing, jagged peaks, alpine forests and beautifully blue lakes. Apparently the origins of Canada's parks began in 1885 when three railway men stumbled across a series of caves concealing emerald green pools. Highlight of today was a a cable-car ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, reaching about 7000 ft above sea level (most of it done with my eyes shut!!) At the top the panoramas were quite breathtaking when I went out on the observation deck.

From the top of Sulphur Mountain 

We are quite a large group of 42. Apparently it is that number because Saga cancelled the previous date in Sept so we are two groups together as one. It is not a problem as all the folks seem very nice and of course we have walking in common. Not had chance to try the wine yet (WHAT, I hear you ask) but could not face it last night, so think I must give it a go to this evening......would be rude not to! Hope the weather stays as nice as this, warm and sunny, but a bit chilly in the evening. Have good internet here in Banff so will try and do another episode tomorrow before we move on to Jasper.