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Connie van KollenburgConnie van Kollenburg
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Off on a trip of a life time Read more Victoria, Australia
  • Canada and Alaska
    11
    Day 12

    Victoria

    September 10, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    After a well deserved sleep in we head down for a late breakfast. So peaceful & the view across the water is perfect.

    We cab it up to China town and then wander down Government street. We head towards a shop named Camoflage, Lachlan’s in his element. We’re in there for a while before he decides to purchase new compass.
    We continue down the street and stumble across the very appropriately named “Rogers’ Chocolates” the store is amazing with all its original cabinets oh and chocolate of course.
    Notice the local enforcement agency, first one we’ve seen.

    There’s beautiful flower boxes & hanging baskets all down the street, the gardens are lush and beautiful.
    We make it to the Legislature Building (but stop for sneaky ice- cream first) where Mum hands over a letter of introduction from her local council Mayor and asks them for a reply. They were very accommodating.

    Back to the hotel to change & We’re off to Butchart Gardens & farewell dinner. This part of the tour is over tomorrow we’re on our cruise through Alaska.    Read more

  • Canada and Alaska
    1
    Day 11

    Cultural Day

    September 9, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Bag pull at 7am, breakfast will be at the Squamish & Lilwat cultural centre. It’s a normal buffet but they have traditional bread - interesting, texture is like sponge cake with little to no taste.
    Back on the road and we have Chief mountain in front of us. In the formation you can see a witch riding her broom 🤣
    Next we stop at Shannon Falls truly majestic, beautiful walks and very pretty scenery. It’s along Hwy 99 - Sea to Sky.
    We’re now heading back through Vancouver towards the ferry terminal - Victoria here we come.
    It’s an hour and a half sail from point to point, we didn’t queue for long before all the vehicles & passengers are loaded... gee they’ve done this once or twice. There is beautiful coast lines to see and a few homes are dotted along the way that really do have a view to die for. Off the ferry and we do a city sights tour - Gorgeous.

    No time for relaxing - the washing needs to be done, so off I trot to the “local” laundromat. Never thought I’d enjoy doing laundry - or was it just being away from the chicken coop... I mean tour group 🤣
    Dinner is down in the hotel restaurant, it’s very quite because of renovations but we don’t care, we sit back and enjoy each other’s company.
    The food was simply yet delicious. Then dessert arrives.... more happy birthday celebrations for mum.

    Dare I say it, what a relaxing afternoon. Tomorrow will be a long overdue sleep in, we’ve decided not to do the morning excursion. We’ll catch up with the tour group in the afternoon.

    Oh and the view from our room is not too shabby 😁

    Nigh nigh.    Read more

  • Canada and Alaska
    1
    Day 10

    Dinner in Whistler

    September 8, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    So we followed Chef Matt’s suggestion and ate in hotel restaurant, the meals were magnificent. Mum just wanted cold prawns, they weren’t on the menu, but the chef made a plate any way. Lachlan had a New York steak & I had a rib eye steak.....
    We waddled back to the room to find mums birthday is still continuing - wine & dessert have been placed in the room & the beds turned down .......

    Wonder what the poor people are doing???? 😊    Read more

  • Canada and Alaska
    Day 10

    Scenic Route

    September 8, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Last night the heavens opened so this morning we’re greeted with low cloud and grey skies. Liquid Sunshine 🌧
    Sun Peak Village still looks pretty.

    Not so much of a problem as we’re pushing through to Whistler only stopping for morning tea & lunch.

    The change in weather has really changed the scenery, the cloud is so low it looks like fairy floss strung through the trees.

    Our tour guide Caterina took it upon herself to be our entertainment - singing and dancing in the aisle of the coach. Very funny, really made the time pass quickly.

    We stopped at a quaint property for morning tea where the scones, pies & sausage rolls had literally just come out of the oven - OMG, they were yummy 🤤

    Back on the coach and we head for Lillooet for lunch - I swear all we do is eat. Then we get off the coach to find we’ve parked across the road from the RCL (Canadian version of the RSL). It’s not open but mum spied a women heading in. So what do we do?
    Follow her in of course. Eunis was lovely to talk to, she asked us to sign the book and gave us guest ribbons. We had a quick look around then left her so she could get ready for today’s meeting.

    We continued the not so scenic drive through the rain and made it to Whistler in amazing time - our driver Heather is a star....

    We have enough time to check in then head off for yet another kitchen tour, Lachlan passed on this one.
    Sous Chef Matthew gave us the tour - one thing different here is they grow their own herbs & some vegetables. We met and chatted with Executive Chef Isabel Chung, she runs a very tight ship. Off down to the bakery to meet executive pastry chef Annup, I almost didn’t hear what he said because all I could smell was muffins, danish & all things pastry 🤤

    What a fabulous facility, so pleased we had the opportunity to see the mechanics of it all.

    Chef convinced us to head to his restaurant for dinner - let’s see what he has in store for us....

    More food I’m sure    Read more

  • Canada and Alaska
    Day 9

    Fun filled day ahead

    September 7, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    Up early to see the sun break over the mountains - stunning

    Head out to Maligne Overlook, a little brisk but the scenery is also stunning.

    Back on the coach and off to Jasper - first stop, Whistlers Inn. It’s had a tissy up but not much has changed - still that very 70’s feel. Speaking to our coach driver Heather this is where she & other drivers stay when they’re on tour. The tradition lives on.

    Secret Naval Base in Jasper - 1940’s

    Little bit of souvenir shopping (another fridge magnet for me). Back on the coach for our trip to Mt Robson. (3,954 mt) highest peak in the Rockies.

    OMG - there’s an Elk on the side of the road..

    Lunch is at Blue River, then we’re straight onto a “catamaran” - it just looks like 2 boats strapped together. It was sea worthy enough 😳. So out onto the lake we go, the whole time scouring the bank for wildlife. We had a brilliant sunny day so our day of wildlife discovery turned in to a lovely cruise around the lake.... bit of natural vitamin D was the order of the afternoon.

    Back on the bus for the next leg of our journey- afternoon tea @ Painted Turtle. It was an RV park @ Dutch Lake.

    Last leg before we settle in at Sun Peaks.

    Very big day on the coach - we did some miles today.    Read more

  • Canada and Alaska
    1
    Day 8

    Birthday surprises continue

    September 6, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    We arrive at Jasper Park Lodge, room keys are issued & we’re dying to get settled. I’m a little confused because there’s two different room numbers. Maybe we have adjoining rooms???? Not quite, we’ve been upgraded to a two bedroom, 3 bathroom, lounge with lake views villa..... OMG 😲
    Then I spy a fruit & cheese platter and a couple of bottles of wine. Pity we’re not here longer, we could really go a nice quite sit at the lake. Watch the world go by.....
    While I’m dreaming of all things peaceful the phone rings, it’s the front desk - Mrs Sloan, executive chef Christopher (didn’t catch the surname) is waiting for you in the lobby, he wishes for you to tour the facility...... um - ok....

    These kitchens that were like rabbit warren’s all through the building. And they service 72 acres of facilities, today there were 5 weddings & a golf tournament on, Chris took time out of his day for mum.... I personally believe he was just tickled pink that someone was wanting to see into his world.

    No sooner was the tour over that we only had enough time to change and head off for dinner at Moose’s Nook - steak house. Wow the food was delicious.

    Back to the room for a nice cuppa with our dinner guests from the tour - Maria & Adina. Two Italian ladies that had us in hysterics all night.

    What a sensational day, travelling miles & making memories. 💕    Read more

  • Canada and Alaska
    2
    111
    Day 8

    On the road again

    September 6, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C

    We’re spending the day making our way to Jasper. Via the National Parks. As normal there’s rocks & trees and trees & rocks, sorry, the tour guide played a song and they were the only words - apart from the chorus “and water”.

    First stop of the morning was Bow Summit. Beautiful gorgeous blue lake, fed by Bow River.... didn’t see Ian Moss here either 😂.

    Next stop was Athabasca Glacier - Wow, what an experience. Photos just don’t do justice to this magnificent place. Wasn’t as cold as expected - that was until the wind picked up 🥶

    Athabasca Falls was next on the agenda, the falls are only 23 metres high but still quite stunning. Mum enjoyed the bench and rays while Lachlan and I wandered down to the falls.

    There was a few slow down points fir roads works but other wise it was s dress free day.

    We did a quick drive through Jasper on our way to our accommodation and drove right past “whistler inn” this is were dad stayed on his tour, we’ll be back in the morning for a better look.

    Off to our accommodation to see what surprises await us today.    Read more

  • Canada and Alaska
    3
    3
    Day 7

    Birthday Dinner

    September 5, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    What would a Birthday be without a dinner to remember.
    Lachlan suited up and escorted his Grandma to dinner. We were seated close to the window facing the Lake. Very little conversation initially as we were too busy staring at the view (after the sun moved).

    Food was lovely & a nice bottle of wine to match.

    Birthday cake went missing but we’re assured it will be delivered in the morning.
    Cake for breakfast anyone???

    More memories to treasure.    Read more

  • Canada and Alaska
    1
    Day 7

    Castle to Chateau

    September 5, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C

    What a way to spend a Birthday, waking up in a Castle - the beautiful Banff Springs. We start the morning leisurely making our way from Banff to Lake Moraine. But not before everyone on the tour song happy Birthday 🥳.

    The surroundings are beautiful at the Lake so we sit and just take it all in. A few people are in canoes but we just sit on the bank in complete awe of Mother Nature - GORGEOUS

    Back on the coach and we head into the village of Bow River - and no, Ian Moss is not there singing.
    We take the time to get some lunch and wander through the handful of shops.

    Back on the coach and it’s the long 8 minute drive to Lake Louise. Beautiful surroundings and the Chateau is very grand. Standing in the foyer we see the lake through the window - WOW 😲

    We head outside and sit in the gardens to take it all in. Photos will never do justice to the magnificent place.

    Dinner is booked in the Fairview restaurant..... but before we’re able to relax and think about dinner we’re told there’s something organised for the Birthday girl.

    Executive Chef Jean-Francois gave mum (and Lachlan & I) the tour of his kitchens & banquet rooms. What a massive operation. Anywhere between 5,000 & 10,000 covers per day, plus 700 staff - now that’s a lot of mouths to feed.
    It’s an old Chateau which has fabulous old world charm. Magnificent

    What a day so far.... making memories.    Read more

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