Stampede towards the finish line...

We finished the holiday in style, staying in Calgary and visiting the Stampede on Friday 3rd July.

We all woke to the sound of the Parade gearing up, had an early breakfast in the hotel, then on the tram to Stampede Park. We took a quick detour to collect stampede backpacks full of loads of little goodies and a tour round the exhibition and trade stands.

Stampede Park is acres of Rodeo related fun, food, rides, exhibitions - kind of like the Royal Show but on a REALLY big scale.

We bought huge drinks, drooled over the 5th Wheel and Pickup raffle park, wandered round a bit then headed for the Rodeo. I loved it - Calf Roping, Barrel Racing, Bronc Riding, Bull Riding... I could have stayed all week and done it all over again.

We finished our day with a Prime Rib Alberta Beef Buffet and retired back to the hotel.

On Sunday we went to the morning display at Rope Square and saw Indian Dancers, Gunslingers and a Country Singer. A stroll round downtown, a trip up the tower, a late lunch and it was time to go home...

The last pictures are here...

Thanks for reading!

Claire XX

Canada Day

This is just a quick blog entry as we're all sat round the firepit waiting for Canada Day fireworks!

Here are the relevant pictures for:

Steve - the Lumberjack

Athabasca, Sunwapta and Johnson Canyon Falls

The Sno Coach Glacier Experience

Jasper and Banff

Today we're in Canmore, our last night in the motorhome. Tomorrow we drive to Calgary to drop it off and then on Friday - YEEEEEHAAA it's the Rodeo!!

Internet is hard to find in the Mountains

This has been a busy week to say the least. But the big news is - we saw a Grizzly Bear whilst we were on the Lake Louise Gondola where we had the lunch and ride deal! Excellent views of Lake Louise and the mountains.

Hells Gate we went to Hiawatha RV Park on Okanagan Lake and ate out at the Wild Apple Grill - lovely meal with excellent wine.

Tuesday we mended - or rather disabled - the heating furnace so we stopped freezing to death!

Wednesday we went to Lake Louise and saw columbian ground squirrels and nuthatchs. Stayed the night there then made it to Rampart Creek for some wilderness camping. Dad did his Lumberjack impression. From Rampart Creek we drove to the Icefields and went exploring in a Sno Coach on the Glacier.

Last night we stayed in Jasper... on the way down to Banff now via Bow Valley Parkway.

Pictures here.

Catch Up Monday

It's Monday 22nd...

We had a hary scary slow drove from Pemberton to Lillooet through the mountains with some fantastic views and we're not even at the Rockies yet! Three hours to do 70miles :) And that was after we went on a 3 km nature hike to Nairn Falls in the morning. We're that remote were in a communication black spot for phones but WiFI works!

Malc and his lot caught up with us, after a new van was delivered to them, and we camped at Fraser Cove RV park in the middle of a canyon! With an amazingly fast river running behind us. http://www.frasercove.com/

Dad cooked steak on the new frying pan he bought. And we now have an Axe and wood so we can build a fire and roast wieners! Couldn't use a fire pit last night as the chance of fire was too high with the winds - very dry here.

I've got some great photo's of Whistler and the Peak to Peak Gondola ride.

Yesterday, we travelled from Lillooet to Hope and stopped at Hells Gate Air Tram on the way. Today we are on the way to Okanagan Falls and Lake.

Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/guitar73girl/WhistlerEtc#

A Brilliant Wednesday

We popped across the harbour to Victoria again on the Harbour Ferry and went Whale Watching and then to Butchart Gardens.

Whales - we saw about eight or nine Orca whales popping in and out of the water - I have lots of photos of the trip and none of the whales as they were too quick for me. Will upload some from Dad's super camera though!

The trip took about 3.5 hours and we also saw seals and a bald eagle! The trip was worth it for the coastal scenery alone.

Then we got dropped off in a private cove at Butchart Gardens. The sunshine was brilliant - you can see for yourself in the pictures attached. We got a bonus tour of Victoria from the driver on the way back to the Harbour Ferry.

A long day and worth every second and cent.

Pictures

First days in Victoria

We picked up the 30 foot RV's in Vancouver on Monday. Quick handover, then Dad had to launch on the Highway following Malc in search of the Ferry and Supermarket. Quite exciting, considering the vans are 10 foot wide.

The Ferry crossing and scenery was amazing! Gread views as we passed through the straits round Vancouver and across to Victoria. Eventually found a Safeway and stocked up with essentials and a BC Liquor Mart for Granville Island beer and local wines...

We used sat nav to find the campsite and it worked well. We're right on a penninsula here overlooking the way to Victoria Inner Harbour.

Yesterday, we took a trip from Westbay Marina to Victoria Inner Harbour on a Water Taxi. We walked around Old Town, went to the Year Round Christmas Shop then went to the BC National Museum. The 'Treasures' Exibition was a visting collection from the British National Museum and then we spent most time in the Native Peoples Exhibition looking at totem poles!

Finished up with Fish and Chips at Barb's Place - a famous eatery at Fishermans Wharf.

Click for pictures... http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/guitar73girl/Victoria02#

We made it...

Had a great trip to Heathrow and then on to Vancouver in British Airways cattle-class. Spent this weekend in Vancouver, visiting Canada Place, Yaletown, Gastown, Stanley Park and Vancouver Aquarium - here are a few pictures from the weekend.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/guitar73girl/Vancouver#

Off to collect the motorhome now!