North to Alaska

We left the familiar rugged landscape of the Rockies with their barren often snow covered peaks to where the Mountains are more rounded and the endless pine trees grow right up to the summit. We were on the trans Canada freeway which runs for several thousand miles from coast to coast and the scenery didn't change for miles and miles. Eventually we were in Vancouver for two nights, sheer bliss being able to unpack a few things and not to have to be up early to put the suitcase out ready for the "bag pull" early the next morning. Vancouver is a lovely vibrant Cosmopolitan City and I would have liked a bit more time to explore, and shop! We did visit Stanley park which is full of totem poles, so important to the people of the First Nation. This is the name that has to be used for the original dwellers of Canada. Then it was on to the Capilano suspension bridge! This bridge takes about 5 minutes to walk across and it sways, and it appears as if nothing is holding it...

Yesterday we continued our journey west toward Blue River. We visited two more lakes both as stunning as the previous ones, but the object of this trip was to see the wildlife. Several different types of deer, and squirrels were spotted but we were after bears! Along the freeway all of us were looking both sides of the bus hoping to be the one who saw something. There were several sightings of black bears and Russ our driver did an amazing job trying to give us the best chance of seeing them without causing a traffic hold up, or breaking the law. iPads are great for scenery but are no good for close ups. I really wish I'd used a camera for the animal pictures. Our destination was a river safari to look out for wildlife, it was so hot even at 5ish in the afternoon. So it was great when we were driven off at speed in motor boats across a lake, cool at last. We did see bears, two adults and a cub, what an incredible experience. Wish my photos had been better! There was also an ...

Today had a slightly different feel to it, quite literally. Temperatures have been up to 30C even into this evening. But today was a day for sensible shoes and warm jackets, we were off to stand on the Athabaskan Glacier. On the way we stopped at Bow and Peyto lakes, all tranquil and beautiful, with the background of the dramatic snow capped Rockies. To reach the Glacier we were driven in an Ice Explorer, an amazing vehicle which coped with the steep inclines and the icy conditions. It was strange stepping out and gazing at a vast river of ice some of which had fallen hundreds of years ago. Like a river it's constantly moving albeit very slowly and is capable of carving out huge valleys and chasms in the rock. Then it was on to Athabasca falls. An amazing amount of water from the melting snow, cascading down quite spectacularly. Driving on towards Jasper, our stop for tonight, we saw another black bear! They move really quickly and again no one was able to get a...

We visited Lake Louise on Tuesday another beautiful sight with the turquoise blue water and the mountains behind. There was still a lot of snow to be seen quite low down. There were interesting  trails to explore all around the lake, but it was also nice to find a handy bench to sit and enjoy the view and watch the world go by. Tonight our evening meal was a BBQ in the hotel's gazebo. A huge wooden building with seats and benches all around a big pit in which there was a fire. This wasn't for cooking on but was just a feature to provide warmth in the colder months, bit hot for those sitting at the end of the benches! Wednesday took us to more beautiful lakes and rugged mountains. The beautiful blue colour comes from rock flour which is rock which has been finely ground by glaciers and it then becomes suspended in the water. This suspension then refracts sunlight giving this distinctive blue colour.

Why do Americans and Canadians have to beat about the bush? Why CAN'T they say toilet or loo? It's " Wash Rooms ", which I suppose is marginally better than "Bath Rooms " which is what they used to call them. They've made me call them washrooms, otherwise they don't know what I'm talking about. Well today at the Wolf Dog sanctuary there was a building with a painted sign on it saying Wash Rooms. Let me tell you there was not one single drop of water anywhere in there! The toilet was what is called " A long drop " with no way of flushing! Also no wash basin, the only concession to hygiene  being a hand sanitizer dispenser, luckily I had Wet Wipes with me. The sanctuary was way out in the wilds and I completely understand that there was no running water there, but how could they call it a Wash Room?? I didn't take pictures.

What a brilliant day! The weather is glorious and we are in the Banff National Park. It's a beautiful area, we've seen a family of elk but no bears. The picture is of bear proof rubbish bins! You have to slide your hand under the slot on the top and release a catch to open them. If they didn't do this the bears would come into town scavenging. We've also visited a Wolf Dog Sanctuary today. There are a lot of cross breeds due to people wanting them as pets. But they don't fit into human lives so they are abandoned and don't fit into the wild or domestication.  A picture of the River Bow flowing through the National Park with the Rocky Mountains in the background 

Today is Canada Day so the whole town has been in carnival mood. I've had great fun exploring the town and getting into the holiday mood with everyone. There are bands playing all over area, loads stalls people just enjoying themselves. The town has also been host to Otafest which seems to celebrate all things Anime. People are dressed in really elaborate, expensive looking costumes representing Anime characters. Tonight there's a massive fire work display which I'd love to see but it doesn't start till gone eleven, don't think I can stay awake till then. My breakfast this morning was an omelette which I thought should be quite light. What turned up was a beef steak mushroom and cheese omelette! Slices of steak layered in it, there was loads of it, plus stacks of hash browns and toast. Needless to say I couldn't eat even half of it! Off to Banff tomorrow, grizzly bear country, I hope I see one.