North Pacific Passage

Cruising the North Pacific Passage via the Alaskan coast, the Aleutian Islands, Eastern Russia and Northern Japan. Read more

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Trip start
August 8, 2019
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Day 2
Friday, August 9, 2019 at 4:00 AM
🌙 14 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Australia Sydney International Airport -33.948852, 151.17883433°56’56” S 151°10’44” E
Flying 1st Leg
August 9, 2019 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
At the terminal for a flight to Hong Kong, boarding as the sun comes up. Apparently we were lucky to get out of Sydney. Many flights cancelled because of wind.
The flights were bumpy because there were typhoons around the Phillipines and Taiwan which were far-reaching.Read more
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Day 2
Friday, August 9, 2019 at 1:19 PM
⛅ 36 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Hong Kong Kowloon Rock 22.31586, 114.19560922°18’57” N 114°11’44” E
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Flying 2nd leg
August 9, 2019 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 36 °C
Hong Kong is amazingly mountainous, much more than I imagined and really smoggy today as we fly in.
We have a champagne as we take off because it's wine time back home. The next sector is very bumpy, typhoons again. We cross the international dateline on the flight to Vancouver. The Canadian Rockies poke their peaks out above the heavy cloud cover.Read more
Traveler ooooh it's wine time , in stemless champagne glasses with much better views than ours :)
8/10/19Reply
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Day 2
Friday, August 9, 2019 at 4:49 PM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 27 m
Canada Coal Harbour 49.286871, -123.13088749°17’13” N 123°7’51” W
West End Guest House, Vancouver
August 9, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
We are staying in this historic B&B near Stanley Park. We've got the garden suite and enjoyed a hot coffee in the back garden and some fresh air... after more than 24 hours since leaving Australia.
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Day 2
Friday, August 9, 2019 at 8:38 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 29 m
Canada Coal Harbour 49.286727, -123.13107849°17’12” N 123°7’52” W
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Canadian Winetime.
August 9, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
A Canadian Bad Girls Rose.....from a specialty local wine supplier.
Traveler Very unruly I see!
8/10/19Reply
Great to see you two travellers having fun again - thx for sharing! Ny & Col
8/12/19Reply
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Day 3
Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 11:00 AM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 23 m
Canada Vancouver Aquarium 49.301291, -123.13122749°18’5” N 123°7’52” W
Stanley Park Totem Poles
August 10, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
The Totem Poles in Stanley Park tell the stories of the local aboriginal community - the salmon, the raptors and the bears. The carved wooden poles are very detailed and traditionally coloured.

The Shore to Shore bronze totem was cast in bronze and is a tribute to the ancestral connection between the aboriginal and Portuguese communities. It depicts Portuguese, Joe Silvey who came to B.C. in 1860 from the Azores. He was a fisherman who had 2 local aboriginal wives and 11 children. The children are depicted as salmon in the sculpture. The base is typically Portuguese tiled mosaic.Read more
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Day 3
Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 1:08 PM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 84 m
Canada Prospect Point 49.312606, -123.14438649°18’45” N 123°8’40” W
The Teahouse, Stanley Park
August 10, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
A fantastic lunch in a fabulous location. For me, Crabcakes Benedict (just delicious). No food shots! Elegant surroundings but we chose to eat outside breathing in the fresh pine-scented air.
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Day 3
Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 2:13 PM
🌧 18 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Canada Granville Island 49.271052, -123.13449649°16’16” N 123°8’4” W
Granville Island
August 10, 2019 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 18 °C
Granville Island, formerly an industrial and engineering area has been transformed into a boutique shopping and eating area with lovely artisan markets daily. a coffee stop for the afternoon with a typical Vancouver drizzly day...so we had a picnic in the drizzle.Read more
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Day 3
Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 4:21 PM
☁️ 17 °C
Altitude: 27 m
Canada Marina Square 49.288364, -123.13316949°17’18” N 123°7’59” W
West End Guest House - Inside
August 10, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Entirely redecorated in a mix of antique and art deco style, the house was originally built in 1906 and remained with the Edwards Family until 1966. Since then, the house has seen several businesses operating from the premises and then as a boarding house and guest house. The current owners purchased the property in 2014 and extensively redecorated the whole house, converting it to a high-end B&B. The artwork in the house is mainly by B.C. artists that the owners have collected over the years.Read more
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Day 3
Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 4:34 PM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 18 m
Canada Marina Square 49.29036, -123.13569349°17’25” N 123°8’8” W
West End Guesthouse - Room 8
August 10, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Our Garden apartment is at the rear of the house and has a private entrance and garden.
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Day 4
Sunday, August 11, 2019 at 8:20 AM
🌧 12 °C
Altitude: 830 m
Canada Whistler 50.106638, -122.95373150°6’24” N 122°57’13” W
Sea To Sky Highway via Squamish/Whistler
August 11, 2019 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 12 °C
A misty, drizzly day so typical of British Columbia....we drove the Sea Too Sky Highway along the inlet to Squamish and on to Whistler, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The spectacular scenery was largely hidden by the mist and low hanging clouds but was nevertheless breathtakingly beautiful.
Whistler Village is currently in extreme adventure mode with the Mountain Biking Festival called Crankworx. It attracts riders from around the globe of all ages. The mountain bikers are covered in mud from the trails as they hurtle down Whistler Mountain into the village.Read more
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Day 4
Sunday, August 11, 2019 at 11:17 AM
🌧 7 °C
Altitude: 1,830 m
Canada Whistler Glacier 50.069419, -122.94691450°4’10” N 122°56’49” W
Whistler Mountain
August 11, 2019 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 7 °C
Taking the gondola up Whistler Mountain, we are in one of only 2 glass-bottomed cabins. Rising to 2,184m, the ride takes us almost 20 minutes. The clouds are so thick, it's almost a white-out the higher we go.Read more
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Day 4
Sunday, August 11, 2019 at 12:00 PM
🌧 7 °C
Altitude: 1,864 m
Canada Horstman Glacier 50.095189, -122.90123950°5’43” N 122°54’4” W
Peak to Peak Gondola
August 11, 2019 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 7 °C
Next stage in our journey is to cross to nearby Blackcomb Mountain (2,440m) where the ski runs are extremely difficult. This lift was constructed in 2007-8 and holds a number of world records for a lift of this kind:-
- longest unsupported (free) span (3.024km)
- highest lift above the valley floor (436m)
- longest continuous lift system (4.4km)
There is 1 cabin every 49 seconds.
Fitzsimmons Creek can be clearly seen on the valley floor as we go back. The forests of Whistler/Blackcomb support 60+ black bears.Read more
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Day 4
Sunday, August 11, 2019 at 12:20 PM
🌧 8 °C
Altitude: 1,862 m
Canada Horstman Glacier 50.095391, -122.90045950°5’43” N 122°54’2” W
Blackcomb Mountain
August 11, 2019 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 8 °C
By the time we reach the top, we are above the tree line. Lunch is a warming soup in the cafeteria watching the rain tumble down.
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Day 4
Sunday, August 11, 2019 at 1:35 PM
🌧 8 °C
Altitude: 1,863 m
Canada Horstman Glacier 50.09541, -122.90020650°5’43” N 122°54’1” W
Blackcomb Mountain
August 11, 2019 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 8 °C
On the trip back into Vancouver, we were able to see much more of this picturesque area as the cloud had started to lift and the rain eased.
The day culminated with a spectacular salmon dinner with the extended Plummer Family at their home.Read more
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Day 5
Monday, August 12, 2019 at 10:00 AM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 80 m
Canada Treetops adventure 49.34062, -123.11806349°20’26” N 123°7’5” W
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Capilano River Regional Park
August 12, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
There's a free shuttle to the park from Vancouver city. The park is privately owned and has the largest private collection of First People's Totem Poles and costumes which highlight the area's history.
The park's attractions (the suspension bridge, the cliff walk, the treetop adventure and the rainforest) attract major tourist numbers.Read more
Traveler Love the selfie!
8/12/19Reply
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Day 5
Monday, August 12, 2019 at 10:30 AM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 129 m
Canada Treetops adventure 49.341911, -123.11771249°20’31” N 123°7’4” W
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Capilano Suspension Bridge
August 12, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
There has been a suspension bridge here since 1889. The current bridge was built in 1956.
Design: Simple Suspension for pedestrians only
Total length: 140 metres (460 ft)
Height: 70 metres (230 ft) above the Capilano River
It sways and rocks as you walk across, very unnerving. Not for those who hate heights.Read more
Traveler Scott would ,ove this ! Scared of heights with all these people on the bridge at one time ! That would be the scary part!
8/12/19Reply
Traveler One idiot was even doing star jumps, imagine how that was, we watched him from a view point.
8/12/19Reply
Traveler I showed Scott the bridge and he said ,not a chance!,
8/13/19Reply
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Day 5
Monday, August 12, 2019 at 11:05 AM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 111 m
Canada Treetops adventure 49.341072, -123.11814149°20’28” N 123°7’5” W
Cool Temperate Rainforest Walk
August 12, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Temperate rainforests are at latitudes between the two Tropics and Polar Circles. What they have in common is a lot of rain, which causes the lush rainforest canopies to flourish.
Close to 25% of the world’s temperate rainforest is in BC. Most of it is coastal.
Temperate rainforests decompose slowly, resulting in a rich vegetation base (including a variety of mushrooms) but few tree varieties (mostly coniferous), due to the climate and low light levels.

Here, a series of elevated walkways lead us through the rainforest.Read more
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Day 5
Monday, August 12, 2019 at 11:41 AM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 83 m
Canada Treetops adventure 49.340736, -123.11779849°20’27” N 123°7’4” W
Raptor Ridge
August 12, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
On display today - a Harris Hawk and a Barred Owl. The hawk is approximately 8 years old. Raptors can be seen in the rainforest diving for the fish in the river.
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Day 5
Monday, August 12, 2019 at 2:01 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Canada Gastown 49.284361, -123.10949°17’4” N 123°6’32” W
3
Gastown
August 12, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
The area where the city originated along the waterfront. This historical district is a picture with old gas street lighting, hanging baskets, the steam clock and Gassy Jack's statue. It's filled with pubs, restaurants and very good souvenir shops. Bought a Canadian Jade Inuksuk (Inuit symbol of a man made of stones) which was the Olympic Symbol back in 2010. Always bring home a piece of art from my travels.
Lunch is in the Steamworks Brewery where we have a beer and fish for lunch. Apple Watch says I've walked 8.83km today.Read more
Traveler Ah good to see the beer at the pub!
8/12/19Reply
Traveler John had an IPA and I had a Summer Ale wheat beer.
8/12/19Reply
Traveler Ah very nice ! Might be worth trying a few different ones in each country !
8/13/19Reply
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Day 6
Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 10:00 AM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Canada Devonian Harbor Park 49.29334, -123.13559649°17’36” N 123°8’8” W
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On the streets of Vancouver
August 13, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
The streets of Vancouver are wide and the traffic well behaved. There's lots of development in the city but we are struck by the extensive parks throughout the city area.
Traveler Is that lady listening to you John?
8/13/19Reply
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Day 6
Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 11:00 AM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 25 m
Canada Stanley Park 49.300231, -123.1356549°18’1” N 123°8’8” W
Stanley Park by Horse Drawn Carriage
August 13, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
We jump on a carriage drawn by 2 draught horses for a ride around Stanley Park. This area is designated for all peoples for all time. Stanley was the British Governor-General of the time and also the Stanley Cup (Ice Hockey) trophy was named after him.Read more
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Day 6
Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 11:30 AM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 32 m
Canada Ferguson Point 49.299896, -123.15762349°17’60” N 123°9’27” W
Stanley Park by Horse Drawn Carriage
August 13, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
By horse-drawn carriage along the harbour side.
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Day 6
Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 12:00 PM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 24 m
Canada Vancouver Aquarium 49.301239, -123.13335449°18’4” N 123°8’0” W
Vancouver Aquarium
August 13, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
The Vancouver Aquarium is located within Stanley Park. it is a premier attraction showcasing the sea creatures of BC and the climatic zones of the world.
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Day 6
Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 12:30 PM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Canada Vancouver Aquarium 49.299656, -123.13101949°17’59” N 123°7’52” W
Vancouver Aquarium
August 13, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
The Amazon environment.
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Day 6
Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 1:00 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Canada Vancouver Aquarium 49.299656, -123.13101949°17’59” N 123°7’52” W
Vancouver Aquarium
August 13, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
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