http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Bluey/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Bluey en-us Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:34:57 +0000 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:34:57 +0000 It is an enjoyable but reasonably long drive from Lake Louise to Vernon taking about 5.5 hrs plus breaks. Passing through several national parks including the Yoko and Glacier NPs time passes very quickly. Golden was a pleasant spot for lunch then late afternoon we sought out ice cream. Setting for a manufactured variety at a 7eleven in Revelstoke we were then dissappointed to pass by many i http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vernon/blog-424317.html Vancouver is a pleasant spot to spend the last two days of a North American holiday. However one part of the downtown is quite confronting. As we drove into town along Hastings St with our fuel gauge on empty we saw many unfortunate people wandering along the footpaths lying on the paths or queuing for soup kitchens. The Lonely Planet book devotes a half page to this area's plight and its c http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/blog-421636.html It is an enjoyable but reasonably long drive from Lake Louise to Vernon taking about 5.5 hrs plus breaks. Passing through several national parks including the Yoko and Glacier NPs time passes very quickly. Golden was a pleasant spot for lunch then late afternoon we sought out ice cream. Setting for a manufactured variety at a 7eleven in Revelstoke we were then dissappointed to pass by man http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/blog-421633.html As we drove towards and into Banff township the rain that followed us from Drumheller struggled to wane. We spent a short while in the town glad that we chose to stay in Lake Louise instead as Banff is so busy and commercial. We didn't see the surroundings for clouds so did not know what else we may have been missing. Darren enjoyed a short walk around a fen before we headed to Lake Louise w http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Alberta/Banff-National-Park/blog-419627.html As we drove away from Calgary towards Drumheller I told Anna to expect a sudden dramatic change from the miles of rolling prairies. She didn't believe me but there it was Canada's own version of the Grand Canyon the Badlands with Drumheller inside its edge. Gary and Val took good care of us treating us to Val's own pork ribs first evening before we hit the fabulous Royal Tyrell Museum ded http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Alberta/blog-419162.html Calgary does itself up for the stampede with murals in many windows and the locals dressed in Wrangler shirts and jeans. First night we went to Caesar's Steakhouse to try out Albertan beef and a local creation the 'Bloody Caesar' supposedly invented at the Westin Hotel in Calgary in 1969. Next day we wandered downtown to watch some festivities associated with the Stampede including square da http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Alberta/Calgary/blog-418161.html Edmonton is around the same size as Adelaide back in Australia. Except that its river has much more water than the Torrens It also has what was the world's biggest shopping centre the West Edmonton Mall. On what started out as a rainy day we happily spent a day wondering around the mall fulfilling one of Darrren's childhood dreams. Only problem is we didn't feel youthful enough to ride its http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Alberta/Edmonton/blog-418160.html We were out of luck during our stay in Jasper as there was either heavy cloud or rain for the most part of our time there. We had some good fortune on our full day when we hired a car though as the morning remained relatively clear. We drove up the Maligne Valley to its canyon and lake enjoying the spectacle of its river gushing though a very narrow gorge. Also spotted about four black bears http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Alberta/Jasper-National-Park/blog-417137.html The Skeena train run by VIA rail is a 20 hour journey with an overnight stop in Prince George. The trip was very scenic for the first four hours then extremely pleasant but not so stunning for the remainder. Early in the trip the conductor told us we were very fortunate to get a vista of the Seven Sisters a spectacular jagged mountain range. The train also runs along the Skeena River for th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Prince-George/blog-416500.html Travel guides tout Prince Rupert as Canada's gloomiest city and they weren't kidding. The sun failed to show all day with a thick fog surrounding this town of around 15000. No small wonder given it is so close to Alaska. We wandered around Cow Bay a small historic shopping precinct near the wharves where we enjoyed our best coffee on the trip so far. Then Darren checked out the Museum of North http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Prince-Rupert/blog-416494.html The NV Northern Explorer run by BC ferries from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert is a comfortable way to travel through the Inner Passage on Canada's west coast over 15 hours. The trip is mostly through protected waters sheltered by dozens of islands. We saw two humpback whales from a distance and heard Captain alerts for orcas and porpoises but no success in spotting these. The weather was fine http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Prince-Rupert/blog-416490.html Port Hardy is the takeoff point for the day ferry up the Inner Passage to Prince Rupert. The drive here was very scenic with many snow capped mountains along the way. It was tempting to stop and take photos though I suspect even better is to come in the Rockies. We stopped at Campbell River to check out the local museum which had an excellent display on indian history arguably even better t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Port-Hardy/blog-414658.html After saying farewell to Dave and Helen in Victoria we headed to Chemainus about an hour north. Chemainus is famous for its 40 murals dotted around the town. The local historical society was handing out flags cake pins and the words to 'O Canada' for its national celebrations and promised a choral rendition at 12 noon. Alas 12.20pm came without a note so we headed to Coombs. Coombs has a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/blog-414481.html Our friends Dave and Helen took extremely good care of us in their hometown. Victoria is a very lovely city. It's Parliament Building and the Empress Hotel take pride of place downtown but its suburbia impresses me even more. The vegetation on the West Coast is noticeably different to the East. In Vic at least the oaks take precedence over the firs. The variety of arts and crafts and tudor http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Victoria/blog-414121.html Kingston is a lovely town about 3 hours south east of Toronto. We enjoyed a delicious german meal there and the next morning Darren visited the former home of Canada's first prime minister Sir John MacDonald known as Belluvue House. This home is a very impressive Italianate abode. Then we left for Toronto airport driving in heavy rain for much of the trip. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Ontario/Kingston/blog-414119.html We were very pleased to spend some time with Larry Jan and Sarah at their Ottawa home. Larry worked with Darren at the ACCC on exchange from the Canada equivalent eight years ago. Larry cooked us a wonderful BBQ replete with Melbourne placemats and Jacob's Creek wine so we were made feel much at home though the Canadian ribeye was probably better than your average Aussie cut. During the day http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Ontario/Ottawa/blog-412951.html Montreal is around the size of Melbourne and just as busy but much more humid. It was 30c but the humidity took it to 38c. In the relative cool of the morning we enjoyed walking around the Old Port District but then Anna really came into her own in the afternoon walking part of the 30km of underground shopping arcades. In the evening we took pleasure in an inexpensive french meal in Rue St De http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Quebec/Montreal/blog-412688.html In 1990 the Canadians narrowly turned down a proposal for an independent Quebec. However a good level of nationalistic fervour is present among the Quebecois. I witnessed this when I joined a crowd of 100000 or more most waving the blue and white 039Fleur de Lys039 Quebec flags on the eve of Quebec039s own 039national039 holiday. In fact in Quebec City they celebrate this day http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Quebec/Quebec-City/blog-412321.html The french culture in Quebec is very evident in Riviere where english is little spoken. We had a most enjoyable stay with Carl et Lorraine who recommended a lovely french restaurant to us overlooking the river which is 23km wide at this point. The next day we visited a Christmas museum that included nativity scenes from 24 countries and the biggest Xmas store in Canada. Then we drove along the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Quebec/Riviere-du-Loup/blog-411522.html We left Prince Edward Island via Confederation Bridge then enjoyed two days of driving through New Brunswick. After some nondescript highways we took quiet country roads and two river ferries through the pretty lower St John River valley arriving in Fredericton where it was Saturday night mayhem at the restaurants and cinemas. The next day we drove the upper St John River valley calling on t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/New-Brunswick/Fredericton/blog-411520.html