Canada and Alaska

August - September 2019
Making the dream a reality Read more
  • 42footprints
  • 22days
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List of countries
  • United States
  • Canada
  • New Zealand
  • Australia
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  • 34.0kkilometers traveled
  • Flight28.0kkilometers
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  • 42footprints
  • 22days
  • 226photos
  • 226likes
  • 34.0kkilometers
  • 28.0kkilometers
  • 4 weeks :)

    August 2, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    It’s only 4 weeks until we’re off on our trip.
    Thinking about what else needs to be done and what needs to packed.
    The excitement levels are high and now to test the Blog... fingers crossed we have success ;)Read more

  • 3 weeks to go

    August 9, 2019 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 7 °C

    Only 3 more weeks and we’ll be off on the adventure of a life time. 3 generations retracing some travel destinations that Don Sloan (my dad) did in 1977.
    42 years in the making and we’re nearly there. Just a little excited 😁 (can you tell?)Read more

  • 2 Weeks now.

    August 16, 2019 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    It’s a bitter sweet day today, we’re two weeks out from an adventure of a life time and it would have been dad’s 89th Birthday. So mum & I spent the day together while poor Lachlan was at school. Did some final shopping, mum got the all clear from the cardiologist. I got the all clear from the dentist & Lachlan’s exam was postponed- win win today.
    Mum then rummaged through her treasures and located the posters that dad bought home in 1977. They’re a little faded and the framing needs some TLC but are reminders of what has taken us 42 years to accomplish.
    I don’t see us jumping on a trampoline made of hide but I’m sure our experience of Canada & Alaska will be just as exhilarating.
    Read more

  • 1 Week to go

    August 23, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    For those playing along at home we’ll give you a quick run down on what our itinerary looks like.
    We depart Melbourne & head to Auckland, we’ll hang out for a couple of hours then back on a plane to Vancouver Canada. Sightsee for a couple of days then jump onboard the Rockie Mountaineer (train) and see all this fabulous wilderness has to offer. Overnight in Kamloops, back on the train very early destination Banff - more sightseeing. Next day off to the magnificent Lake Louise where we’ll celebrate mum’s birthday. More sightseeing Columbia Icefields then staying in Jasper. More glaciers and wildlife on our way to Sun Peaks. The next day we’re off to Whistler (2010 winter Olympic Games hosts).
    Then we’re heading back towards Vancouver Island to stay in Victoria for a couple of days.
    The last leg of our tour is an 8 day cruise through Alaska. Inside passage, Juneau, Skagway & Ketchikan before sailing back to Vancouver.
    We spend our last day in Vancouver before hopping a flight back to Melbourne via Auckland.
    In 21 days we’ll experience these beautiful countries but also be in many places that Don was in 1977.
    3 generations experiencing this trip is something we never dreamed would happen..... Not long now 😁
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  • 1 day to go <3

    August 28, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Well there’s one more sleep until we’re off, bags are packed, final errands are happening and the excitement level is through the roof. As part of our tour we’ll get picked up and driven to the airport. Bliss, no long term parking and lugging bags on the bus... yippee.
    But one item that I haven’t packed yet & may change my mind on is “Oscar the Grouch”. He made the trip from Canada to Australia in 1977 and has been my trusty sidekick for all that time. So the million dollar question is.... does Oscar come on the trip????
    Or do we take an array of new friends???
    The struggle is real 😂
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  • Today's the day

    August 29, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    And the journey begins.
    And with every big event the obligatory photo taken out the front and of mum’s home. 🥰
    Apart from a brisk start we’re ready and raring to go.... big smiles all round 😊

  • Day 1

    Auckland

    August 30, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    First hop done.... Auckland here we are. Transit for a few minutes then on to the next leg 😊

  • Day 1

    Vancouver International

    August 30, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Well we' ve made it. And guess which brand of toilet they have???

  • Day 1

    Fairmont Vancouver - downtown.

    August 30, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    So our tour guide rounded us all up and packed everyone & there belongings on a coach, 45 minute drive from the airport to Downtown Vancouver. Apart from being on the wrong side of the road & the steering wheel on the wrong side of the coach the place looks similar to Melbourne. Oh, except for the electrified buses (they’re a cross between a tram & bus)

    We made it to Fairmont & after 3 attempts we’re finally checked in. First was a mix up in rooms, the 3 of we’re not got to fit in one double bed... well not comfortably anyway. Next room had 2 queens, not perfect but doable. It had a funky smell though - so instead of complaining we opened the windows - nope that didn’t work either . Building maintenance will need to sort that bathroom out. 🤢
    Last option- 2 bedroom suite. King & a sofa bed. A lot more room to stretch out and Lachlan’s pretty happy with his “own room & TV”.

    So after a long day travelling we’ve agreed on the upgrade to a suite, no extra charge. The staff are amazing here and have been more than accommodating.

    Dinner was at Urban Fare - think of an IGA supermarket that also had a self serve smorgasbord. Very different and the food was good. They charge by the weight of your food... then they add a couple of different taxes and hey presto that’s the price. We were too tired to care. On how they came to the cost, handed over the notes and got coins back.

    And what would a trip anywhere be without my mum cornering a police officer and asking for a uniform patch - she got a patch & a photo....

    Life’s to short, enjoy it, laugh lots and make memories.
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  • Day 2

    Vancouver Sightseeing

    August 31, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Dare I say it, I think we all had a little jet lag, because waking up at 3am ready and raring to go is so wrong.
    We did make it to breakfast on time, buffet was yummy even the bacon was good. Cooked to perfection mum says. After breakfast we wandered across the road to see the Catholic Church, it was all locked up tight which is a shame but we did get to see the bells 🔔.
    First day of sightseeing and we’re on the bus heading north over the Lions Gate Bridge. First stop, Salmon Hatchery. Our tour guide Ed is very knowledgeable and can answer all the questions.
    Did you know that Salmon head back to their place of birth after 4 years, the females lay the eggs then die. But not before they’ve had to swim upstream, against the current.

    Next stop is the CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE. Not for the faint hearted and if your afraid of heights.... well I suggest you stay in the gift shop. It was very beautiful, fresh air, lots of trees and crystal clear water. Just lovely.

    GROUSE MOUNTAIN is our next stop, quick gondola ride to the top of the mountain, stunning views. The sun came out in time for us to watch the lumberjack show. Very cool. Followed by seeing two grizzly bears. Too far away for a picture but you could see the size of them - wow.

    Back to the hotel for a quick rest then a meet and greet with our tour guide for the rest of the trip.

    It’s Labour Day long weekend here in Vancouver so it’s busy, plus they have a festival on - we just may head down to have a look around.
    TaiwanFest.... could be interesting but noisey at the very least.
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