Fabulous day trip today to Niagara Falls. Mark started off with a helicopter ride over the whole area, then on to the viewing points and after a sumptuous lunch overlooking the falls on to the “Maid of the Mist” boat trip to the bottom of the falls – When they say you need a raincoat for this stage they mean it. We still got quite wet – incredible amount of wind and spray – like being in a rainstorm. Both the Horseshoe Falls (Canadian) and American Falls are very impressive – massive volumes of water falling over the drop – the difference between the two great lakes – Erie and Ontario. We took lots of photos which we will put up as soon as we can.
Category: Canada
Teppanyaki dinner
Impressive dinner tonight – will be Mark’s new BBQ party piece next summer.
Dinner was cooked by a one-man show at our table – steaming onion volcano, fancy knife turning and chopping and all. Delicious and filling.
Toronto
Woke up to the exciting family news- another engagement! Congrats KC and Nick.
Farewelled Chris heading back to Whistler and work, while we flew on to Toronto. Has been great to spend time with Chris.
Bumpy-ish flight to Toronto. Lovely drive into the city beside Lake Ontario and park areas. Another nice room at the Fairmont Royal York with a view of the lake and port area. After drinks and hors d’oeuvres, we had a big early evening walk around some of the central city area, shopping malls, parks – tall buildings everywhere. Still sunny and warm at 8pm and we are off to dinner.
Calgary
Too early for the stampede unfortunately! A good drive from Banff today- leaving the Rockies behind and travelling through countryside that could be found in NZ. Very pastoral at times and we all thought it looked like home (Mark, Gill, Chris).
The highways were mainly long and straight for kms- speed limit mostly 110km. Lots of warning signs again for elk but fortunately for us we did not meet them on the highway! We had an interesting little excursion through the suburbs following Google directions which turned out to be to a similar sounding location but miles away from where we were meant to be! Chris had us out on a shopping spree for him post arrival – new shoes and essentials he needed! The weather here is ok but considerably cooler – the brochure says it can be “rather unpleasant” and the city has an interesting “Plus 15” walkway system through numerous building links at first floor level – accessibilty to shops, malls etc without getting wet.
Early start tomorrow as we part company again – sob, and catch planes in different directions – Mark and I to Toronto and Chris back to Whistler via Vancouver.
Lake Louise/Banff
A lot cooler today- a change from the 30-35 degrees we have been experiencing. Great to sleep in for awhile this am, breakfast overlooking Lake Louise, named after Princess Louise the daughter of Queen Victoria – just beautiful – the lake is a turquoise colour due to the melting glacier silt. Chris canoed the length of the lake and back! Mark and I walked around the side – great views of Mt. Victoria and Victoria glacier until the rain set in!!
We set off for Banff in dry weather again along the Bow Valley parkway- picturesque and we saw some bears – mum and 2 cubs gamboling on the verge and then across the road. Black bears not grizzlies (grizzlies are more aggressive, bigger and have rounder faces and a big muscle across their backs).
Banff is in the Banff National park and therefore has a population cap of 8,000 people and you can only live there if you work there or own a business. We took a ride up Sulphur Mountain in the bi-cable gondola (8 mins) for expansive views of the town, Banff Springs Hotel (castle!!) and surrounding mountains. The dominating mountain is Mt.Rundle (2,949m) which actually has 7 peaks. We dined at the top of the gondola and then had drinks down below in the very posh and expensive Banff Springs Hotel. This hotel is another Fairmont property – the Company which Chris works for. Our Lake Louise and Jasper stays were also with this 5 star chain – Chris has enjoyed experiencing and evaluating how other hotels operate, and we have enjoyed the luxury!
Sussed out the golf course for Chris Mac (cost a million to build in 1940’s), 27 holes – had a 4.5 mil upgrade of 18 holes in 1999. Very impressive as it runs along the Bow River. Met some elk grazing around town – they wander freely as do other livestock and speed limits are set low on the parkways to accomodate them. Chris met friends who now live and work in Banff and stayed on to check it out (he’d look good in a kilt working at Banff Springs – the uniform of the doorman who greeted us). We drove back to Lake Louise in some difficult driving conditions just after dark.
Rocky Mountain highs
Wow! spectacular scenery all around. We entered the rockies at the end of day 2 of our Rocky Mountaineer train trip. Day 2 took us to Jasper where we stayed overnight having covered 625.6 kms that day. The scenery along the way was diverse going from green and treed to very arid. The train trip was very relaxing though also tiring in a way as you rock along! We were fortunate to be on a trip with very low numbers so had plenty of space to wander around and also to enjoy a special lounge car.
Jasper Park Lodge where we stayed is set in a huge 1000 acre park on the edge of a lake – beautiful! trees and mountains surround and make for stunning views.
Yesterday we drove through the Rockies to Lake Louise arriving just in time for a walk along the lake-side before dinner. Lake Louise is very small -only unthawed 2 days ago, but extremely picturesque as mountains rise directly up from its shores. On the way via the Icefields Parkway we passed numerous glaciers amidst the mountains and stopped to experience a walk on the Columbia icefields- you take a 6-wheeled giant all terrain vehicle out onto the glacier- pretty cool (haha)- great viewing.
The Rocky Mountains are stunning, dramatic, towering and exciting-an eclectic mix of shapes, glaciers, low tree lines and snow caps and runs. They go on and on and every mountain is so different- magnificent and this can’t describe them! All sorts of waterfalls like the Weeping wall where melting snow seeps out through the rock walls, lakes and scenic spots.
We will get some photos up as soon as we are able hopefully in the next day or two.
Rocky Mountaineer Day 1
All aboard the train at 7.10am! De-trained at 7.30pm in the stop-over town of Quesnel. A full day but very relaxing and enjoyable – great scenery- steep canyons, raging rivers, soaring peaks, contrasting vegetation, no bears on route (but saw one on the Whistler slopes early this am), good company and heaps of food and drink.
Another early start tomorrow – on to the Rockies!
It’s true…
It’s gorgeous! you hear about how pretty, stunning and picturesque Whistler is and it’s true. Even without the snow the village encompassing Whistler and Blackcomb mountains is impressive. Towering fir trees, beautiful tulip displays, “alpine” architecture and careful landscaping make for a truly delightful setting. I had a great wander and window shop this am- I was exceptionally good- it was very unfortunate- you can’t buy at the beginning of a trip with limited luggage space !! I did assist Chris with purchases this afternoon though (and paid!).
Whistler is bear country and this is bear season with lots of sightings close to and in the village. Chris’s friends had an awesome encounter today but we weren’t quite in the right place at the right time!
By night Whistler is humming- great food, clubs and atmosphere!
A day in Whistler
This morning Mark and Chris tackled the “Zip Wire” a series of huge flying foxes (zip lines) strung across a river valley between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Gill went shopping. The zip-trek was great fun – spectacular scenery – pics and video will hopefully be up in the next day or so. In the afternoon Chris and Gill did the shopping thing and added to Chris’ wardrobe and pantry! For dinner we were invited to a meal with Chris and 7 of his friends to celebrate Emily’s birthday and Jen’s leaving Whistler. Tomorrow we board the Rocky Mountaineer train again for a two day journey through to Jasper.
Zip Trek Photos
Reunion at Whistler
Yes Mark is alive and well although you haven’t heard from me! An early start yesterday for commuter Sky Train into Vancouver then onto the Whistler Mountaineer Train for a fanstastic journey through the North and West Vancouver communities along the coastline skirting the fjord, Howe Inlet – and on up through the mountains to Whistler by lunchtime. Met up with Chris who had come to meet us off the train with his new boss who took us through Whistler Village to the Chateau Whistler where Chris works and we are staying – great room overlooking both Whistler and Blackcomb – bit of a tour of the hotel, village and staff accomodation – so we have a good impression of the set up here – and it is apparent that Chris is doing well, enjoying himself, has no intentions of coming home anytime soon. Dinner with Chris in the poncy dining room and then met a few more of his mates at a favourite bar in the village Cinnamon Bear. Great to be here spending time with Chris.