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Canada 2018

April 2018 - May 2024
Celebrating 37 years married by discovering Vancouver and the Rockies plus Seattle & Vancouver Island. Read more
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  • WaddleAboutCanada 2018
    11
    Day 4

    Granville Island Public Market

    April 27, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Imagine the scene - tall buildings in the background and a bridge overhead, an old industrial site transformed into a magnificent eclectic array of shops, stalls and artisan expressions.

    Today was overflowing with sunshine. It felt like a cold Brisbane winter’s day. People sitting and enjoying their delights, soaking up the gammas or walking around the many options on display or sale. In the background sailing boat were gliding past, industrial noises from the adjacent concrete works reminded me of this sites history - 100 years of industry.

    Sheree was people watching. Me, writing and, you guessed it, she is now off and wandering around the stalls savouring the details on offer.

    A relaxed afternoon shared together. We are ready to collect our RV, leave the city behind and begin exploring the mountains and countryside and smaller communities.

    Vancouver, you’ve left a wonderful memory in our hearts!    Read more

  • WaddleAboutCanada 2018
    Day 5

    Our RVing begins

    April 28, 2018 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 8 °C

    After months of planning, working and saving our exploration of the Rockies begins. Our first day was raining... we're OK with that! The morning started slowly, pack up done, breakfast completed and a taxi ride to the outskirts of Vancouver where the RV was waiting.

    For the nerds... it’s a Ford F-350, a small V8, 5-berth vehicle, 7m long, 3m wide and 3.7m high. Comes with A/c, heater, generator, separate shower & toilet, full fridge and microwave and plenty of bits and pieces for eager campers.

    It took us several hours to do the prep but finally we were on the road and immediately got lost. With the marriage still in tact we re-navigated our way to our very first Walmart to buy stuff.

    With rain dripping and clouds descending we eventually found our way onto Highway 1, heading west to the ocean, then north to Squamish for our first night camping. We were greeted by an loud and overflowing Shannon Falls, right next to a cloud covered Sea to Sky Gondola.

    We set up camp, saw the falls and then settled into the RV. It’s fresh outside, still raining, but what a delightful day its been. We are loving our new Merrell shoes, extreme comfort. Now for a good night’s sleep with rain tinkling on our roof!    Read more

  • WaddleAboutCanada 2018
    1111
    Day 6

    Rain, snow and ice and then sunshine

    April 29, 2018 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 6 °C

    Camping overnight at Squamish was Plan C, but we would not have discovered Shannon Falls in full spring grandeu. The rain, or better called drizzle, did not stop all night and continued for much of the day.

    Our first stop was the world-famed ski resort, Whistler Blackcomb, made even more famous by hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics. They had just received another 13 cms of snow overnight on the peaks so their was some activity on the slopes, as well as a band weekend bringing thousands of teens.

    It was good to be around snow, the shops, the people, the energy of this place. Met various Aussies… so good to hear that familiar accent. Our trek took us a little further north through Pemberton and then west towards Lillooet where we began our run down the Fraser River.    Read more

  • WaddleAboutCanada 2018
    2
    112
    Day 6

    An accidental discovery

    April 29, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    An absolute highlight of our trip so far was the accident discovery of Lower Joffre Lake. We’d been climbing a range in the RV for at least 20 minutes, taking us into snow region, but with low hanging cloud it was hard to make out what was around. Then this sign indicated a lake was nearby and with the car park half full we decided to stop and take a peek.

    Well, to our absolute delight, a fifteen minute walk through snow covered ground led us to a lake covered in snow and ice. It was like we’d entered a winter wonderland, a magic place we’d dreamed of many times. The spring melt had only just started at Joffre Lake and so both of us got to walk [very gingerly] out onto the ice. What a privilege! The silence was profound and extremely magnetic… could have stayed there for hours!

    Then the road descended rapidly, the sky cleared and we entered a much dryer part of the country, with very tall mountains, plunging cliffs and powerful rivers flowing in the valleys, resulting in our eventual arrival at Lillooet, a First Nations town in the middle of BC.

    Now onto our Fraser River experience!    Read more

  • WaddleAboutCanada 2018
    Day 6

    Fraser Valley flaunt

    April 29, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    The Fraser River originates near the Rockies' tallest mountains, Mt Robson. But today was about following a section of the Fraser, from Lillooet in the north to Hope in the South, including the towns of Lytton, Boston Bar and the famous Hell’s Gate.

    If you want to see the amazing power of water, do this drive. Incredible mountains and agriculture on each side, farms eeking out an existence on each side on any available flat section. This drive offers spectacular cliffs, great ingenuity and the resilience of the locals.

    It was a tad long and rough at times for Sheree, but well worth the several hundred kms of detour. The bonus was seeing our first deer in the wild. We finally made our camp site right on dark, ready to call it a day.

    It's really hard to capture the essence of the river but here are some highlights… Enjoy the pics!    Read more

  • WaddleAboutCanada 2018
    Day 7

    Hope... full moments

    April 30, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    When you visit the town of Hope you expect something special. This town is familiar with fame, various big movies have been shot in the area [Sylvester Stallone and one of the Rambo series]. I expected to see a familiar face or two, but to no avail.

    Our stay overnight was wonderful, the second night in our RV. Quirky little park, but it suited our purpose of visiting the Othello Tunnels, old train tunnels dug in the push for rail running east to west. We walked alongside the Coquihalla River, joining the much larger Fraser River.

    Hope's other claim to fame, CHAINSAW CARVING. Many unique carvings littered the centre of town. With no shortage of logs, artists with chainsaws [not a common tool of creativity], created eagles, tigers, moose and even a hairy mountain man [Sheree suggesting that would be me after living in the Canadian wilderness for a month or so]

    Our main discovery was the Blue Moose - the produce a coffee to die for! It was a fascinating study in the locals - people proud of their little patch, surrounded by snow and tree covered mountains, Highway 1 and the mighty Fraser River flowing through its midst. A pleasant time... a place worth we will visit again!    Read more

  • WaddleAboutCanada 2018
    Day 8

    How the west was won!

    May 1, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    When you’re on a four lane freeway driving through the Rockies it's hard to imagine a time before modern transportation. The indigenous people understood the climate, landscape and migration of Western Canada. The prairies to the east were vastly different to the mountainous west. Navigating the Rockies meant mountains, river crossings and massive winter snows.

    Along came the ‘white fella’ and the resources were quickly taken/'stolen' and consumed for profit. Transport became a critical factor in building a new economy. First, foot and horse, then stagecoach, and eventually paddle steamer.

    But a mid-1800's Gold Rush saw rail as the best transport option. Fast forward to 1885 and Craigellachie, right in the middle of the Rockies, became the site for driving The Last Spike, where east joined west. The frontier was open for trade.

    Paddle steamers, horse, stagecoach and foot transport quickly lessened as rail became the dominant transport mode. Durng our sojourn we were never far from a train whistle, these behemoths taking up to 10 minutes before they'd finally passed-by.    Read more

  • WaddleAboutCanada 2018
    Day 9

    Stoked in Revel

    May 2, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    How would I describe Revelstoke, BC? Think Queenstown [NZ], Beechworth [Victoria], Obberamagau [Bavaria] then add charm, pride, setting and really friendly people and you've got 'the Stoke'. In winter a skiiing / snowboarding mecca; in summer a mountain bike paradise.

    We arrived Tuesday, and just the entrance alone was enough to say we had to stay. With six main mountains well over 2000 metres surrounding the town and the mighty Columbia River flowing through the centre, the setting is spectacular.

    Snow was on all the mountain tops, but only a month ago the whole area was struggling with the heaviest falls in the valley ever - one to two metres deep everywhere! A lovely walk across the deep blue river saw us finish our day. The sun disappeared behind one of the mountains at 6:30pm but still light well after 9pm.

    After breakfast we walked into town and found the mandatory coffee shop, enjoying a decent 'flat white'. The town has many 'art deco' buildings so the cameras were busy. Then Sheree wandered around the shops and I hired a bike to enjoy the delights of the trails along the river.

    Our dinner under our tree at the RV park was delghtful, enjoying the quietness, the stillness and the freshness on offer. We were 'stoked'!    Read more

  • WaddleAboutCanada 2018
    Day 10

    Foodies on the road

    May 3, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    We can't deny that part of our travel experience involves food. Why? We are intrigued with the tastes, colours, origins, ambience that combine to make the eating experience. Add the unique settings and you enter a world of intrigue and magic delight.

    Rather than work through a long list of great moments, let me share a few.

    Cafe/bakery in Revelstoke - a cafe filled with cakes and pastries plus the best coffee in town

    Eating in the RV - It's a privilege to prepare a meal anywhere you choose whilst travelling

    Poutine - a famous Eastern Canadian delicacy - chips, melted cheese, gravy & chives

    Great meal @ The Local - for our last dinner on Canadian soil a pub meal @ The Local

    The Best Coffee - an unexpected moments, after 2hrs walking. Made by old Asian guy

    Our 37th anniversary afternoon tea - May 2018 royal wedding food at Fairmont Banff Springs

    Delighted!    Read more

  • WaddleAboutCanada 2018
    Day 10

    Oh no... it's frozen!

    May 3, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    Ever walked on water? Maybe when you’ve been chased by a shark in the surf. But besides Jesus 2000 years ago it’s not common. So the intrigue of ambling across a frozen lake was enticing to say the least.

    Both of us ventured a little on the ice seeing the water below. Most lakes in the Rockies were beginning to melt, but spring was still early and night time temps held the water solid for now.

    We had the privilege of accidentally discovering Lower Joffre Lake, [See Accidental Discovery] With low cloud, plenty of snow on 300m trail to the lake and then tall trees surrounding this little gem of water above the snow line.

    Once into the Rockies frozen lakes became common. We enjoyed seeing a stunningly white Emerald Lake, the famous Lake Louise, the well hidden but majestic Maligne Lake, and of course my favourite, the normally deep blue Peyto Lake - still frozen and it's early May!

    What an honour to see these majestic bodies of water! And then to imagine paddling a red canoe across their crystal clear waters in a few week’s time. That’s for another trip!    Read more

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