Story so far: CANADIA
Aug
2
2010
Well, delicately put: this w/end was one of contrasts!
In one way we took a trip with nature and walked through the famous Stanley Park. Jane got told off for feeding the ducks; Mike got to look through the lens of a telescope; and we witnessed a murder . . . A Kestrel swooped from on-high and verily plucked a young duckling from the waters’ edge and flew off into the woods. The Police were not called and everyone was okay in the end!! Except the little birdy. Nature, huh?!
So an other contrast was of a queer sort . . . And involveed a procession of several thousand ‘happy-to-be-different’ type individuals all hoping for some form of equality. And then the politicians tried to be ‘Hip’ and got boo-ed. That’ll Learn ‘em!
Jul
31
2010
aka So Long YYC, Greeting YVR (3-letter city codes don’t you know?!)
After a great 6weeks staying with – and moving – JT, we hopped on the 7pm Greyhound bus from Calgary on Friday and ventured westward on a 13hour road journey to Vancouver as part of our ‘epic?’ bus trip to San Fran.
We’ll be staying here Sat and Sun nights at the Cambie Hostel in Gastown (no comments about farts please!). A good 1/2 hour walk to the beach area of west Vanc, we’ll be able to watch the world’s biggest firework spectacle tonight with the “Celebration of Light” fireworks competition, featuring China! More blog about that tomorrow, aswell as any details about the Gay Pride festival here this weekend also!!
Jul
29
2010
Near the small town of Brooks, near the bigger town of Medicine Hat in southern Alberta lies the even smaller provincial park of Kinbrook Island: part water playground, part campsite. But with great views, a “quaint” little beach, and some seriously smelly bogs!
Totally water-based as a facility, the campground has the best fire-pits so far which double as BBQ’s (which between us and Jez we tested to the max!!) and ground to pitch tents on that was wholely made of grass! (should stress here that most of the campgrounds so far have been dirt/gravel/hardcore, and therefore a nightmare when pegging tents!!)
So: it sets on the left then?!
And as for the evening views of sunset over the lake…Wowah! Those who have followed our blogs so far will have seen evidence of our love of sunsets/sunrises etc: those who haven’t, take this as a good example. We have posted the best pix on our PHOTOS page.
And it was about more than just the views, as we got the chance to meet up
Where's me beer Jane?!!
again with a top mate from England, Jez. Escaping from some top-level spying for HM Govt…(better stress here: NOT really!!) … we had a very relaxed and chilled night drinking Canadian beer and English cider, eating BBQ food and marvelling at the aforementioned views!! We look forward to seeing Jez back in Blighty after he sorts out his bit Afghanistan.
Jul
27
2010
So far, so not a lot! We are spending yesterday and today doing all the exciting things…Laundry, Route Planning, Bus Ticket buying, Hostel Booking, Rucksack Packing/Sorting – its all go!!
We have today bought our Greyhound bus ticket from Calgary to San Francisco (2 days direct) stopping off in Vancouver 2nights hostel, Seattle same, Portland for a night – prob a decent hotel as it will be our 10th Wedding Anniversary, so a hostel isnt quite that romantic – and then arriving in San Fran. The plan at the mo is to spend a couple of days either camping or in a cool hostel, both days with Robin from Morgan Hill.
We’ve also emailed several campervan companies in NZ hoping to do a relocation drive to save money / go touring / see Kiwi countryside.
SO: Although not esp riveting, its been a couple of those legwork days for the month ahead!!
And the Sunny Haze is the view from JT’s balcony. we are now paying for a w/e of hot weather with the threat of thunderstorms! Yippee!!
Jul
25
2010
And not just some slightly incorrect song lyrics, but a great way to spend a lazy few hours on a sunny Saturday!
Ingredients: Take one large inflatable dinghy, add air from a 6V pump, gently fold in 4 humans (Jane, Mike, Jt & Todd) and float on the Elbow River in Calgary for approx 2hours at 29C !!
The Results: Four rather toasty yet chilled peeps.
Jul
22
2010
Spending Wed – Fri this week at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort where a friend has a timeshare Condo. Its at the base of the Rockies by a small ski town called Golden. Quite a pretty little town with a few good bars and a good breakfast cafe (had a double burger for breaky!!).
Today after said morning meal we drove about 40km into the countryside to find Wapta Fall. We drove literally along gravel C-roads making the most of the 4×4, then we walked for a couple of miles ’till we got to the Falls. Not as impressive as others we have seen, but this one was wider than it was high -see pics….
Jul
19
2010
SUNDAY JULY 18th:
It suddenly occured to us the other day that despite all the travelling around Alberta Province, we hadn’t actually photographed any of downtown Calgary itself.
With the weekend proving to be fairly hectic and strenuous helping JT move house (!!), Jane and I decided to do a bit of casual strolling around the city and snapping anything that looked either historical (there isn’t much) or at all interesting. Happy to report that we actually found a few out of the way parks and squares which were part of the ‘old town’. There are a few pix on the PHOTOS tab.
Calgary is a city that seems to rebuild every couple of decades rather than preserve and build elsewhere – consequently the city always looks modern and in the midst of a building boom; but also lacks many buildings of different histroical periods. This we know is partly because we are so used to England’s long and varied and (mostly) well-preserved cultural past, and goes a long way to show the difference in approach between a ‘new’ culture and an ‘old’ culture.
Jul
15
2010
After a couple of days of creative loafing (some of the Canadian TV channels have some retro programmes and good comedy shows) we went last night to a friends house for ‘drinks and fireworks’ w hat-ho?! His apartment (or Condo as the north Americans call it!) has a prime view of Stampede Park:
As you can see, they were good!!
Jul
11
2010
Excuses for not watching any horse-related shananigans is that it was quite
All for one..!
pricey and then it rained. So, the decision was made that if we were to get wet, it might as well be from the inside out!! Besides, having friends over from England meant we should act as overseas hostsd and introduce them to a few of Calgary’s agreeable retail outlets!
Jul
10
2010
Dressed to impress (who? we’re not sure!!) Jane and I are off to the world famous Calgary Stampedes with our good friend Jez.
Hats on, beer money in pockets, camera charged! More info to follow!
The Three Amigos!!