http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , Canada , British Columbia en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 08:02:04 BST Sat, 26 Jul 2008 08:02:04 BST We finally arrived and are glad all the driving is done. Gas is not as expensive as we thought only 1.44. We had an extra day so decided to take the north ferry and spend the night in Nanaimo. Got up in the morning with plans to head to parksville to take Jordan to the beach. Not in the cards us and 5 other cars had their windows broken and vehicles totally vandalized. They even ripped ope http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Victoria/blog-303856.html Hello.After uploading nearly 30 photos my energy is nearly depleted. Have no fear my love for my newfound family and riding crew is not. Im generally having a really amazing time. Its great seeing both the good bad and ugly sides of everyone. We all love eachother very much. Never have I been so close with so many people at the same time. We are a roving family we are a wandering communi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Peachland/blog-303619.html Had a better sleep than yesterday. Had breakfast and visited the Trilogy Cafe right outside the field station. The guy gave me a discount because I brought my own cup I was able to drink fresh hot coffee as I strolled around the garden. I found the pathway on to the mud flat...and it's really muddy. Hard to believe shorebirds actually come here and that it's a vital habitat. It seems impo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Tofino/blog-303426.html Summer in Whistler is incomparable to my beloved Gold Coast where it's guaranteed 300 days of sunshine every year. The sun rises around 7am sets at 10pm and temperatures vary between 1030 degrees celsius sometimes with sun showers..... remind anyone of MelbourneThe month of June was fairly quiet in town but since 1 July when the sun was out in full force it's been getting busier and busier i http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Whistler/blog-303268.html Woke up to the rooster crows just outside my bedroom. It was only 720am.So I had breakfast and jaunted down to Mackenzie Beach which was rather impressive. The sand is so smooth moist but not muddy. I walked around a bit saw starfish on the beach sea anemones or some polyp on the rocks and barnacles too. People were climbing on the rocks trying to get a better view of the beach and s http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Tofino/blog-302973.html A somewhat short drive today out of Alberta into beautiful British Columbia and another timezone. It was uneventful driving through the parks no wildlife to be found. We didn't really want to see a moose in the middle of the road but off in the tree line would have been nice. The Rockies were beautiful as usual with some still snow capped. We had planned to stop in Clearwater for the night http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Kamloops/blog-302961.html Didn't want to get out of my comfy bed at the Nanaimo International Hostel. But I had to. Found the Greyhound Bus depot it's kind of tucked away on Terminal Ave. The ride seemed quite quick even though it was a 4hour bus ride. The driver was nice he gave a commentary about some of the things we passed and offered to stop if there was something interesting provided he had the time.The lo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Tofino/blog-302553.html Hey guysHope all is well wityh you all. I'm in a kinda daze at the moment really only been doin this 3 weeks an it feels like forvere as I'm so far away from my old life an doin so many different and or stupidthings than i would've before. before i go on ya should know this will be full of typos as i have no time left on the logon an my money'll prob run out before i can check it an hey ho http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Whistler/blog-301678.html July 17Harrison Hot Springs to JasperFirst off there is no ice in Canada. Its frustrating for people like us who like iced drinks that we can't pull into a gas station and get an icy diet coke. Most of them just have pepsi. UghThe day started with a breakfast to the Lakeview Restaurant. The view of the lake was vey scenic. The town was built by tourism. There are hot springs accessible by w http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Kamloops/blog-301670.html July 16Victoria to Harrison Hot SpringsFrom Victoria we drove to Butchart Gardens at Brentwood Bay. But first we had breakfast at a quaint little caf called the Seadrifter with the locals. Butchart is divided into several gardens including the Rose Gardens the Formal Gardens the Japanese Gardens the Sunken Gardens and the Totem Gardens. Jennie Butchart developed the gardens on a played ou http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Victoria/blog-301666.html Today was somewhat sad I had to leave Ocean Island. It's such a funky place and when I come to the island again I'll stay here.I bought a VIARail ticket to Nanaimo one way for 17.50. As I made my way to the station at 700am another girl who was on the shuttle bus yesterday was headed to the train also going to Nanaimo So we chatted for a bit and she suggested we could split a budget c http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Nanaimo/blog-301623.html Here are a few pictures of when we were in comox. It was really hard to only pick a couple photos. There is few more on our facebook. thx http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Comox/blog-301493.html We got to the ferry at 10 in order to insure a spot on the 1245 ferry to Victoria. We walked around the town and had lunch at Rick's American Cafe. The ferry ride was about an hour and half and was very scenic. Arriving at Victoria we found our hotel The Delta another Priceline find and very very nice. We walked over the draw bridge to the main part of the city. First stop was the Parliam http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Victoria/blog-301259.html Today was scenic. I realize I haven't been having a very cultural holiday thus far but I suppose that's fine.I woke up one minute before my alarm was supposed to go off. Nice timing. After breakfast I looked at some cultural brochures about Victoria decided I wanted to see the Chinese Temple and wandered to Chinatown. Well the temple is actually in a small building nothing that would made http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Victoria/blog-301235.html 16th July 2008We got up at 730pm this morning in Howe Sound Squamish. Amy went for a run as usual the rest of us went to explore the granite cliffs called the Stawamus Chief. The closer you get to it however the more difficult it was to see the scale of it or even see the cliff at all for the trees around the foot of it. We walked through the tall trees at the foot of the cliff which was also a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Squamish/blog-301222.html We havenrsquot put anything up for a few weeks now mainly because we have been working a fair bit and have been essentially living the lives of shift workers. Wersquore keeping the bar staff at our local wondering why we are so weird rolling in at about midnight dressed from head to toe in black our work uniform requirements carrying backpacks dark bags under our eyes ordering a coup http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Victoria/blog-301110.html 15th JulyThis will be the last entry until we get back to Guelph very early on Friday morning as we will be travelling all day tomorrow to catch the plane in Seattle.The day started well as I got all the laundry done and Amy got her her run before we set off to Whistler. What we had not realised was the road over the mountains was very windy and narrow so took a lot longer than we had anticipated. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Squamish/blog-301107.html 13 July AND THE LIVIN' is easy... Up at 445 a.m. off on subway regional train and express bus to Hamburg Airport yes that's what the sign says not Hamburger Flughafen as it would have years ago. The trains are busier than one would think with early workers and late night revellers. But then this is a port city that never sleeps and public transit runs around the clock.Hamburg Frank http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Victoria/blog-300806.html Despite my room being pitch dark and my body ohsoverytired i woke up at 745am after 7 hours of sleep. i showered realized i thought the hostel would give me a towel but didn't and used my Tshirt I slept in.Turns out i somehow lost my toothbrush...i swear i packed it. I had breakfast bought coffee and started walking. I guess I'm attracted to shops even though I don't like to look at http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Victoria/blog-300776.html Irsquove just ditched an idyic life in the BVIrsquos to live in one of the last undeveloped nature reserves on earth. The Bedwell Outpost is home to some of the wild and pristine nature in Northwest British Columbia. It is a biosphear Located 18 miles north of Tofino in the Clayquot Wilderness I feel Irsquom as remote as one can get. BEARS BEARS and MORE BEARS On my first day here I am http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Tofino/blog-300571.html 14th JulyWe woke early after a good night sleep at Mary's motel in Golden. We know there are bears about as there were some rubbish bags shredded to bits outside the Kicking horse grill but we are just not going to see anyWe made a reasonably early start after Amy had done her run and we had had breakfast at the Golden bakery on main street which was delicious. We arrived at the Canyon hot sprin http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Kamloops/blog-300373.html So it turns out I was supposed to wake dad up this morning at 600am. But I didn't realize I had to because I thought he had his own alarm. But we only left ten minutes later.Graeme was a wonderful young man and bought us latte's.The flight went fast enough. The flight attendant was nice and gave me two packages of Bits n Bites. There was a lady beside me sleeping and the weather was gorgeo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Victoria/blog-300268.html Dianne retired from her job as an elementary school principal in June 2007. She wasnrsquot really ready to retire just not willing to keep up the pressure of being a full time principal as well as teaching two days a week. During her ldquoyear offrdquo she managed to keep busy as International Student Coordinator one day a week as well as completing a seven week project as Literacy Coordina http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Victoria/blog-300208.html So now we begin the Canadian part of our adventure. We arrived in Vancouver and jumped in a bus that would take us near the hostel that we would be staying in for the next few days. We checked in and popped upstairs to our room we had a private room with ensuite a TV and free wireless internet which came in handy not anything near 5 star but we have found that really you only turn up there to http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-300022.html 10th July 2008Bob and I had our last viewing of Eddie swooping down for his food before breakfast with earth coming out from under the house for the extension. We had to catch the ferry at 10.00 from Duke Point to Tsawwassen on the mainland so we packed up and had a last look round before leaving for the ferry. It is sad to be leaving Vancouver Island where there is so much to do and see and we h http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver/blog-299882.html Well another Canada Day has come and gone and again the Melville clan was lucky enough to spend it together in one of the most beautiful locations around. Thanks to George an Sylvia we were all able to stay together for 5 days surrounding our country's birthday. There was a whopping 35 people including all the little people who make for a very lively and entertaining time. We were missing some of http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Peachland/blog-299866.html