The best of times-----paddling

Mention paddling here at home and folk think of putting a toe or even feet in the water. In Gibsons, everyone knows what it really means!

Karen and Dave (and the rest of the team) show us landlubbers what paddling is all about, and we were impressed. What speed, and agility with the paddle!

A few days later it was my turn.

What am I supposed to do with this?

I was soon to learn.

I haven't quite mastered the technique of straight arms  but I'm doing my best.

We were out on the water for an hour, which flew by, and it was such fun that I want to join the club. Unfortunately, I can't commute from Chorley each week!

Hello Sunshine Coast

Part 4----time with our wonderful daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Dave.

 Time to unwind after a whirlwind two weeks.

Always time to drink beer and eat apple pie.

Time for mother and daughter to relax on the pier and admire the view.

'Move over,' says dad, 'and make room for me.'

Also time to soak up the atmosphere of Gibsons......... the  magnificent mountains, the bustling marina, the peace and joy of just being here. 

And,of course, time to discover the passion of the locals for HOCKEY!!!

While we were in Canada the Vancouver Canucks tried to win the Stanley cup, an elusive trophy which it would appear truly belongs in Vancouver.      As can be seen in the photo, even George Gibson, the founder of this town, had to wear a Canucks' shirt!

Sadly, in vain, as they lost the final. 

Good-bye Vancouver.

Me and my new friend, Inukshuk.

These stone figures were originally used by the Inuit for communication and survival in the barren landscape of the Arctic.

This one is outside our hotel.

This is my older friend, Allan, inside the hotel for the last time.

At Horseshoe Bay we will soon board the ferry which will take us on to part 4 of the trip, over to Gibsons where family awaits and maybe a welcome rest.

Round and about--------- Vancouver

Before we moved on to Part 4 of our big adventure, we spent a few days in Vancouver. Here are some of our brief encounters.

Hop on-hop off bus for the day. First port of call, Stanley Park.

Sadly, Allan has a totem pole growing out of his head!!! Just 1 or 2inches either way and it might have been a decent photo!

Lions' Gate Bridge, one of the busiest routes into Vancouver.

Unavoidable if you have come on the ferry but very impressive.

The sequence of traffic lights changes according to the volume of traffic.

Gastown. A quaint little place.

This is the world's first steam-powered clock. The weights, chimes and whistle are operated solely by steam power.   Amazing!!! 

Just Bridges!

Sadly, not many photos of this part of our journey. Camera battery was low and charger was in suitcase elsewhere!
 To appreciate the Rockies you need to go and see them yourself.

One or two great bridges. That's quite a large creek down below, not just a tiny stream. This 600 foot long bridge is 164 feet high!

This little beauty is one of the original bridges, over 100 years old.

This is one of the bridges at Cisco Crossings.

There are two bridges that cross the Fraser River here.

We are on the higher Westbound one, looking down at the Eastbound bridge.

It's an amazing experience to be a part of .

Hell's Gate, the narrowest part of the mighty Fraser river.

200 million gallons of water per minute surge through a 110 foot wide gorge.

The bridge is for pedestrians only. 

The Rocky Mountaineer

At last, our first view of the Big One! Here it comes! Great excitement all round.

This train is amazing, mainly because of the scenery it passes through, and the awesome feats of engineering that were needed to allow it to negotiate the landscape of the Rockies.

However, overall we enjoyed the experience on the Canadian better than the Rocky Mountaineer. Maybe we should have travelled Goldleaf!!

We're very excited as we wait to board the Rocky Mountaineer!

This is what we have been looking forward to throughout the holiday.



More of the Same

Looking down Bow River from Bow Falls.

Magnificent!!

Lake Minnewanka amidst the Rockies.

Is it obvious why this is called Castle Mountain?

This is the nearest I got to seeing an elk.

Just one antler, which was very big and very heavy!

Imagine carrying two around on your head!!

Part 3-----Banff to Vancouver

It's almost time for the Big Train, but first a few shots around the Banff area.

Here I am at Bow Falls, which was featured in a Marilyn Monroe film, The River of No Return (1953)

View over Banff.

Little wee-e-e-e-e-d.

A little break from Canada news.

In April this year I posted a picture of the ugly stump of a beautiful willow tree. Here it is now in July.

It is covered with one of the most invasive weeds in the U.K., Himalayan Balsam, but it is no longer ugly!!

There is a saying that a weed is just a plant growing in the wrong place for you.

How true!  To me these are just right.

Help! Get me down.

This is the Jasper Tramway. It climbs/swings up to the top of Whistlers Mountain...........8,100 feet high.

Very cold, but stunning views.

Still coaching!

One of the highlights of this journey was a visit to the Columbian Icefield.

We transferred to this huge Snocoach which took us onto the ice. We then stepped out onto a glacier which is as thick as the Eiffel Tower is tall!






This was amazing.

Surrounded by majestic peaks and five glaciers, blue sky and sunshine added in.

Absolutely Fantastic!!

Little me-----Big experience

According to legend, drinking the glacier water makes you younger.

I wished I had a cup or a bottle!

On the Coach

Part 2----Jasper to Banff by coach.

This was even more amazing than our journey on the Canadian.

We watched this black bear snuffling around by the roadside (through the coach window, I hasten to add!!) for about ten minutes, after which it just wandered off into the woods. Also glimpsed the back end of a grizzly!!

Our coach is about to drive through an animal overpass on the Trans-Canada Highway, near Banff.

This amazing idea allows the large animals,---- bears, elk, moose etc to cross this busy road safely. Also incorporated is an underpass for the smaller creatures,----coyote, small deer, foxes, ground squirrels etc.

The folk who run these national parks certainly care about their wildlife.

Snippets

We had three days of lakes, trees and rivers!!!

Delicious food

and many new friends to share it all with!            

The Park Car (above) had constant drinks and snacks on demand, so we gathered there a lot!!!

Our journey on The Canadian was a truly delightful experience.

Trip of a lifetime

We have recently returned from a brilliant holiday..........a train journey across Canada!! So much to share; hundreds of photos; memories by the million!

How do I sum this up in just a few words and pictures?

Part1--------The first train.

Oops! This wasn't our train. It was a car on one of the first trains to make a complete crossing of Canada. It's called the Cape Race,and can be seen at the new Railway Museum in Toronto.

That's more like it! The Canadian took us from Toronto to Jasper,amid beautiful views. Lakes, trees, rivers galore, followed by huge stretches of prairies.

Here we are in the viewing car.