where were we?

thu 22/07

so our first drizzly day has us booking a cruise on Lake Maligne... on the way we spot an Elk and a black bear cub.....but we have a somewhat grumpy driver so no photos ! boooo!

once on the lake we learn all about glaciers and stop off at Spirit Island just in time to see a deer walk along back into the forest from the island to the shore because because the island is actually a peninsula... and guess what there are solar power ecological loos....then we head back to the tea house for rasperry scones !!

then back to jasper to do some laundry and catch the 10 o clock Seinfeld double bill

fri 23/07

TRAIN leaves somewhat delayed but we make up time on the way despite having to reverse one mile en route to pick up two elderly German cyclists in the middle of nowhere.... i spend most of the time in the skydome which is populated by quite interesting people quizzing me about who the Prime Minister of Canada is - of course i have no idea but then he didn't know the UK or German one so there!!... there is also a non-stop-talking train expert - his 26th trip on this route ..so we get running commentary - thank God for my new headphones - then i hit a new low when a lady next to me says "there sure are a lot of trees"....

we leave it too late to get food so are left with pot noodle tomato flavour but then i have that for lunch most days....

the views are fantastic though .. you just don't get tired of rivers, lakes and mountains... there is a full moon so even in the dark you catch you find yourself staring out at moonlit lakes....

24/07

we arrive a bit knackered but our North Vancouver hotel is brand new and a room is available to check in at 11am!! result! we head to Granville Island to meet up with Christine and go to best VEGGIE food place ever.... we have Nachos for starters on a plate the size of a 14 inch pizza and that is small Nachos.... and we drink beer out of jam jars... quite a few of them

25 / 07

sunday starts with a swing - well breakfast at Londsdale market (think Borough market but indoors and next to the bay with the Vancouver Skyline in the back) - there is a Gospel choir singing Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye tunes... then off to the Vancouver Tower for view of the city before we watch the sun-tanned Vancouverites?? play volleyball on Kitsilano Beach.... then on to Gastown - we start at a touristy pub and end in a dodgy... Igor and the Red Elvises charged $10 cover charge so we went back to the dodgy pub... at which stage we realised we missed the last seabus (it's a ferry) to North Vancouver so Night Bus it is....

26 / 07

another sunny day so we're off to stanley park for a walkabout and a visit to the Aquarium which is expensive but ace.. dolphins, beluga whales, otters, birds, crocodiles and even a sloth!! we end up suitably thirsty so head for the pub.... not just any pub but the Morrissey Pub..... guess who wanted to go there?? and no we didn't miss the ferry a second time

27 / 07

after a couple of days in the city we decide it's time for some nature and hiking and we're only a 20min bus ride to lynn canyon which is perfect as it's nice and shady (did i mention it's a another hot, sunny day yet?) we brave the suspension bridge to hike to the twin falls, then on to rice lake
and go back via the loop trail....

after quick swim i head out to watch the sunset on nearby Ambleside Beach............aaaaah this is the life!!!!!

tomorrow - last day in Canada!!