JASPER

We've had a lovely day exploring around Jasper National Park - all for free because we didn't realise we had to buy a pass before we went into the Park and there was no gate stopping us.  Ian is obviously an old hand at this left hand drive and handled it today like a champion - I only put my foot on the imaginary brake a couple of times which is unusual on our first day out.

Our first stop was at Maligne Canyon.  This is quite amazing.  It is feed from Medicine Lake and flows underground for a while before surfacing at the top gorge which has been created over millions of years.  The force of water is incredible considering it is the end of summer and the snow has long ago melted.

We then drove around Medicine Lake and on to Maligne Lake.  The views here are spectacular with the mountains surrounding the lake. Some of the peaks still had snow on them and after lunch we went for a wander around the edge of the lake for a short while.

Back towards Jasper we went to the Tramway and did the 7 minute ascent up to Jasper's peak 2263 mtres to the end of the tramway).  Although the top is only 200 metres further on to the top it is a two and a half hour return walk and we were too late to do that thank heavens.  The views were amazing looking around the various peaks and then down to the many lakes and rivers.  The colours in some of the lakes are beautiful.

Jasper is much larger than we expected and quite a tourist mecca.  Lots of restaurants to chose from for dinner tonight and we chose  a Greek one and were not disappointed.  

KAMLOOPS TO JASPER

Another day on the train, this time we really were in the Rocky Mountains with some wonderful high peaks which reach from the river beds up very steep mountains, some covered in a huge variety of conifer trees, others bare with just rock face.  There are lots of trees alongside the train lines which makes taking photos difficult, you just have to hang out waiting for a break in the trees and be very quick.  I have a lot of photos of very blurry trees wizing by however the train does slow down or roll-by the outstanding sights and you can go to an area with an open window. 

We've waited a lot today for the freight trains to pass us and to keep us amused we were asked to count the cars and then the girl looking after us would calculate the length of the train.  Some were over 2 miles long.  Of course there had to be a concensus amongst us as to how many cars there were.   We have been feed constantly for the last two days and today the chef on board made some little quiche as a treat for our being so nice about the hold-ups as well as more complimentary wine
to wash them down.  Between the food, the wine and the rocking along it was hard to stay awake towards the end of the day however there was always another spectacular sight to see so we managed.

Tonight we are in Jasper.  Ian picked up the car when we arrived so we are now on our own for the next six days to look around between here and Barnf. 

 

Pyramid Falls

Mount Robson with snow and cloud on the peaks.  This is the highest peak in the Rockies, 3,954m.

VANCOUVER TO KAMLOOPS
We had another early start this morning when the Rocky Mountaineer coach collected us from our hotel and took us to their station to catch the train.   Lots of other passengers joining the train.  Once seated we were given breakfast.  Smoked salmon bagel - why not?  For most of the day we have followed the Fraser River up through the rugged rocky mountains. For hundreds of years the salmon have swum upstream to spawn in the still waters.  When the railways (there are now two tracks) were built they narrowed the rocky cliffs which created very fast rapids at Hells Gate.  This meant that a large percentage of salmon died with exhaustion so in recent times small 'ladders' have been created in the rock face for the salmon to help them negotiate the strong current and rapids.

The scenery has been spectacular.   Some of the mountains are covered in trees, others bare, with magnificent colours from whites, purples, yellows, blacks. 

We crossed the river many times and changed sides with the many freight trains we saw along the way.  These belong to Canadian National and we were on the Canadian Pacific line (we think it is this way around).

Kamloops is a big town (80,000) and we caught a great sunset along the river tonight after checking into the hotel.  We have been so well feed during the day dinner has been a glass of red and a few biscuits and some fruit. 

MONDAY 27TH
After, what seemed like a long flight from Christchurch to Vancouver   we arrived here this morning which is your Tuesday. I was sitting on the plane telling my  self to remember how long these flights are next time we decide to go overseas.   We were able to get into our room when we arrived at the hotel at 9.00am which was great as we were still in our warmer clothes that we left Christchurch in and the morning was really nice and warm here.
Our room overlooks the BC Centre which is a huge sports stadium with a retractable roof and close to the False Creek so we decided to go for a walk around the area.  I needed some food and coffee so had an early lunch and then jumped on the 'Hop On, Hop Off' bus and have only just come back to the Hotel at 7.00pm.  It's been a long day however it was great to have the opportunity to familiarise ourselves  with the City.  Part of the bus fare was an hour long trip around Stanley Park,  a 35 acre park in the centre of Vancouver with natural forest which is fantastic.   We had a free pass to go up to the Centre Tower (a bit like Sydney Tower) and it was good to be able to pick out the various places we had seen earlier in the day.  
Tomorrow is another early start to catch the Rocky Mountaineer train so an early night is what we need most right now. 

How fast the week has flown by.  It was cold and miserable the first few days we were here however the last couple of days have been much more pleasant with sunshine which makes just so much difference. 

Yesterday was Milly's 7th birthday which was a full day.  We started with breakfast at 7.00am.  Luckily the Motel is within walking distance, then the girls and Raeleen went off to school.  Guy wasn't working so we went off house hunting for him.  I had coffee with a neighbour whilst Ian and Guy had a quick lunch before picking up the girls from school.  Milly had a couple of friends around for afternoon tea, neighbours and Aunty Sally called in with presents then off to Denny's family resturant for dinner.  The girls slept well that night.

Today was my day shopping with Alice - this is an annual event, the one that is not having a birthday has a shopping morning with me while the other helps prepare for the birthday.  We spent two hours downstairs in the toy department at Ballantyne's department store choosing.  Mid-way through Alice  decided that we should go and have morning tea in the Tea Room whilst she thought about what she would buy.  After an orange juice and an enormous piece of chocalate cake we went back and she made the major decision.  We arrived home just as Milly's little girl friends were arriving for the birthday party and a great time was had by all with loads of presents to open, lots of party food to eat and they then made lovely little craft pictures to take home. 

Aice finishing our cake

 Mlily cutting her birthday cake.

We are currently babysitting while Raeleen is out with friends for a bit of time-out.

We have our last day here tomorrow and then catch an early flight on Monday to Vancouver.

WE'RE OFF AGAIN.

Our Itinerary.

Sunday 19th August - Fly to Christchurch

Monday 27th - Leave Christchurch and Fly to Vancouver

Tuesday 28th - Thursday 6th September Catch Rocky Mountaineer train tour.  We leave train in Jasper and pick up car, stay 2 nights, then on to Lake Louise for 3 nights.  Finish in Banff after 2 nights there then travel on train back to Vancouver.

Friday 7th to Tuesday 11th - Vancouver and possible visit to friend on Salt Spring Island between Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

Wednesday 12th - Fly to Juneau, Alaska. 

Thursday 13th and Friday 14th Juneau

Saturday 15th - Board Innerseas Discovery Boat 'Wilderness Adverturer' in Juneau until Saturday September 29th when we arrive in Seattle. 

We understand that there is no online access on the boat so the only chance we will have to catch up on emails etc will be when we are in Ports along the way. 

The website is: http://www.innerseadiscoveries.com/alaska-wilderness-passages-southbound

 29th, 30th September and 1st October - Seattle

 October 2nd.   Fly to Salt Lake City:  Pick up car and start driving towards Yellowstone National Park.

We have the car until October 22nd and will drive North to Yellowstone and then back down south through Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon then west around Las Vegas, across Death Valley to Yosemite National Park on finally to San Francisco.

We are in San Francisco from 22nd to 26th October and fly home arriving in Sydney on 28th.