Up with the sparrows for a 0715 bag pull - need to be taken to the rail station for our Rocky Mountaineer train trip. Expected to go at 0815 to the train and get breakfast on the train. Oh oh. Russell comes back from dropping the bags and tells us there has been an incident between Calgary and Banff and the train is stuck. Arranges breakfast for us at the hotel but has no more information. Everyone is a bit worried but still positive. Eventually he comes around and tells us that the train is now expected at 1015 so they will drop us at the station on their way back to Calgary. More farewells, more tears, etc. On our own now and we walk down the platform to our allocated carriage (CB07). Train arrives and ... read more

Especially awakening and breakfast then onto the bus at 0815 for a trip back towards where we had come from yesterday. Today we are going to the Moraine Lake and then Lake Louise (one of the girls is salivating over the Lake Louise visit). Back down the highway we have used twice now - same wildlife fence to keep the animals in and the tourists out when suddenly - BEAR is yelled from the back of the bus. Patrick does his usual stop and we reverse on the highway - grizzly bear - yay..... Find it across the other side if the highway but right against the fence so visibility is great - lots of pics and then away we go - all excited at sighting our first grizzly bear - and a great sighting to ... read more

Up early for the optional excursions this morning. Early breakfast then picked up at 0800 for a trip up to the Mount Edith Cavell guided walk. We have 2 guides who give us info on the trip up - about 40 minute drive up into the mountains. Very funny guys with lots of wildlife stories, etc. Arrive at the car park and they get serious with their bear spray, etc. OK, thought this was a leisurely stroll.... Get our walking sticks, one guide at the front, and the other at the back to make sure we are all safe. Walk about 2 minutes and there is grizzly bear scat (poo) on the track - everyone a little more alert now. On we go and the mountain looks spectacular up close. Stop a couple of times to ... read more

Hmm - up early, pack bags and down for breakfast. Give book I had just finished to Vince (on Anzac stories). Settle account and off tot the airport heading for Calgary and our next tour (Rocky Mountains). Get the right taxi for our voucher and arrive at the airport in plenty of time. Book in and drop bags (1 almost at limit the other still under). Do some more wifi stuff (all the last 7 or so posts from the ship) and then go through security. Oops - forgot to take the shampoo out of the hand luggage - that has to go - all quite good about it but held the line up a bit - d'oh...... On the flight and into Calgary - after quite a few violent bumps - rock and roll in ... read more

Another sailing day this time through the inner passage. Seems a lot of the inner passage is open sea or done at night. We do get a fair bit of time between 2 lots of land and there are numerous sightings of whales and porpoise during the day. Plenty of time spent looking out to sea or at the eyelids. Need to have our bags packed and at our door by midnight. Forms to fill in for Canadian immigration and special bag tags that identifies our disembarkation group and time. Way too much to take in after weeks of no paper work. Off to our last dinner. All the waiters are dressed with chef type hats and we are treated to a massive pass by from the entire food crew - chefs, waiters, officers, etc. All ... read more