It's All About Perspective in the Last Frontier

 Greetings from Victoria, Vancouver Is.  We disembarked from our cruise this morning and are now doing our own thing for about 10 days here.

Embarkation by cruise photographer

Alaska - what do you say??  We have had an amazing week.  The reason I refer to 'perspective' is as a result of the weather.  You would think I was a little obsessed with matters meteorological but the weeks prior to our visit were not looking good and it's all so out 'doors y' that weather matters!!  Well those who call Alaska home also call grey, cold  but DRY summer days fantastic!  We Aussie's had a little trouble making the leap in thinking but the reality was the weather suited our adventures.  For example icebergs look much bluer under grey skies than under blue!  It's all about perspective!

The highlights from the Alaskan point of view have to be our up close and personal glacier experiences.  Oh my!! Just spectacular.  Other than cruising so close to these giant rivers of ice, I did a scenic float plane flight over the Juneau Icefields.  Simply amazing!

From a cruising point of view being on board with friends (APT travellers) made it a very different experience.  Lots of meals and drinks with our group as well as two wins in the daily trivia!  We were certainly lucky to travel with such great people.  The bar has been set very high for the next group we meet in ten days.  Could we be so lucky twice?  We'll see - but we doubt it.


We are still convinced that cruising is for us.  A couple of rougher patches saw some fall but again the Kwells were not needed by us.  The Holland American Cruise line met our expectations - though did not exceed them but that's OK.  There were some simply stunning cruising days - our last day into Vancouver was warm and picture perfect with the ocean like glass.  Great for spotting orcas.  

Scenic Cruising Glacier Bay

We are looking forward to the relaxing, doing our own thing mode, but will miss the group aspect of the past three weeks.  


Hope this finds all well and looking forward to spring!

Into Each Life A Little Rain Must Fall

...but the emphasis is "little"!  We woke for our departure from Lake Louise to pretty heavy showers.  It had apparently snowed in the mountains for the first 'fall' this 'fall'!  I thought it was supposed to be summer.  The rain continued as steady drizzle through to Banff but did not stop us visiting a few view points that were a little obscured. The morning highlight was a visit to do a Laundromat drop off - ah the joy of travelling!

Fairmont Banff Springs 

We wandered Banff shops between the rain drops but miraculously the rain stopped and clouds parted just as we were going to scale Sulphur Mountain in a gondola.  A spectacular view was revealed - and thus ended the rain and glorious weather has continued.

Banff Lake cruise was close to disappointing after our Jasper experience and we had our only thoughts of "I wish we had done another activity - helicopter was apparently fabulous - ah well!!!

The Rocky Mountaineer two day journey was fantastic in so many ways.  The scenery more varied than I probably expected, but spectacular at every turn.  The crew were attentive and entertaining and as a result of being well into our trip the group has bonded well and as we were in a captive environment, but with lots of room to wander round, led to much chatting and frivolity.  The poor 6 or so non APT travellers in our carriage!!!  We continued to enjoy amazing weather.  How blessed we have been.  Even the delay which meant we crawled at a snail's pace, due to track work in the morning leaving, Banff resulting in our arrival in Kamloops being 3 hours late!!  The poor staff had to pull an extra meal out of emergency supplies!!!

A taste of Rocky Mountianeer scenery day 1

Day 2

Vancouver is a lovely city and home for both our guide and drive.  They have been proudly showing off the sites.  There are many features that remind us of Aukland.

Vancouver from Canada Place

Our fingers are crossed that the incredible summer conditions continue tomorrow as we sail for Alaska.  I am writing a pen and paper draft of this blog as we wait for a bus to return us to our home - the Waterfront Fairmont from Grouse Mountain after an unsuccessful bear hunt!  The internet deal does not exist here unfortunately and @ 49c a minute decided preparation was a wise idea.

View from Grouse Mountain

The bear we didn't see!  Long story.  Thanks John Longworth.

Though we are old hands, as it is our third cruise, it will be very different as we embark with 42 'friends' who we will no doubt socialise with at times.  Should be fun.

50% of the term is over for many of you but only 20% of our trip.  May the teachers enjoy the downhill run as we continue to enjoy an experience of a lifetime - part 2 of six (west coast road trip done, cruise 1 to begin)
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Well that was the draft I wrote but minutes after finishing that, sitting on the bus I decided it was time to send a text to someone who's 50th I was supposed to be at - NO PHONE.  Don't know what happened???  Have put a stop on it so if it turns up (unlikely) I can reactivate and at least can keep my number when I get a new phone on my return.  So feel free to email - helenl@a1.com.au, if you feel moved to say hello.  I will email Lisa's mobile number to John in case of emergencies.  BUGGER!!!!

Beautiful One Day Perfect The Next

Greetings from Lake Louise! 

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Where to begin? I have been 'quiet' as internet access is not easy in this 'wifi' world we live in.  But I am now in the Business Centre in Chateau Lake Louise using unlimited free internet as I joined the "President's Club" for nothing! 

When I left off we were in Victoria.  That night ended with a post dinner harbourside sunset wander with pink sky and a setting moon in front of a backdrop of our first snow capped mountains!  You wouldn't have thought it could get any better.  But we were wrong.

In sunshine we crossed back to the mainland and arrived in Whistler under blue skies. The next morning we were a little disappointed to see there was low cloud obscuring the view of the peaks but undeterred we scaled and were not disappointed.  You can sure understand why Australian skiers are unsatisfied with our slopes after being here.

We headed further into the Rockies and the next few days have been crammed with stunning scenery at every turn under perfect blue skies.  Lakes, snow capped mountains and glaciers everywhere you look with the occasional bear sighting for good measure.  We lunched at the foot of the highest mountain of the Rockies (Mount Robson) on Wednesday and our driver commented it was the best conditions all year.  A comment we keep hearing from the locals about the recent arrival of summer.

Just some of the spectacular views

Mount Robson

Jasper has been a particular highlight.  Again beautiful weather greeted us and our Fairmont Lodge lakeside accommodation did not disappoint.  Friday was spent on a morning lake cruise (Maligne Lake to Spirit Is for those of you who have been to these parts), a walk around our lake (40 min) which I did twice as Lisa had a sleep and  a Harley ride for an hour into the mountains.  All of this under perfect summer skies!  We are feeling very blessed.

Maligne Lake

Our lake at the Fairmont Lodge Resort

The journey to Lake Louise along the Icefields Parkway was breathtaking!  Didn't know which side of the bus to look out!  All the stops are perfectly chosen for best vistas for oohing and aahing and taking pictures.

Athabasca Falls

Just a taste of Icefields Parkway

Walking on the Athabasca Glacier

Lake Peyto

Bow Lake

Lake Louise itself - what can I say.  Probably the only place I had any expectations of and it has surpassed all.  The weather, the lake view room, the grandeur of the hotel itself!  We discussed our concern this morning that we may have peaked too early in our holiday experiences.  How could we top this?

Our room in the Lake Louise Fairmont

Lake Louise from gondola

On a practical note yes the weather has been perfect, cool mornings and evenings but sun filled days around 25 degrees.  Accommodation is a far cry from what we use to stay in years ago - such disappointed if there are no bathrobes!  Mostly because I'm enjoying the novelty of them fitting which they never use to!  On that note - The food - Oh dear!!!  Most of you would appreciate I was concerned about how my Liteneasy 18 months would cope with this type of travel.  There is so much to choose from that it is often actually easier to have nothing than choose! The cost of the tour includes some dinners which have all been real experiences.  I have felt like I was on Masterchef!  Even had Green Eggs and Ham for entree the other night which Masterchef watchers will remember being cooked this year.  Every plate is a work of art and each restaurant would have 'hats' if in Australia I'm sure!  The Fairview dining room here last night was an extraordinary experience!  I could get use to this!!!

On the up side I am making lots of good choices and we are doing lots of walking.  No gym yet - no time!!! But every time the bus stops and others eat I walk and 20,000 steps have been achieved on several days and not far off that most others.  Had one and a half drinks in the first week!!!! so that is helping too.  So at this stage... yes my clothes still fit!!!

I have bored you enough! There is such a variety of people who will read this - some with the time to read, others with the joy of reliving their own experiences and others who just want to see if I'm still alive!  Read what you will - there will be no test when I return!

My apologies to those of you who, like me, eagerly read Maria's (my niece) recent Grand Trip.  As I discussed with her before I left, this blog would not be nearly as entertaining thanks to her travelling companion (no offense Lisa!)  but at least I'm quite confident she wont die in her sleep!

Greetings From Beautiful British Columbia

It is 4,20pm Sunday here but you're at work Monday morning!  Still having trouble getting my head round the time difference. 

Well we survived the flight which was loooong. It would have felt alot shorter if I'd slept at all but alas this was not to be - though I tried.  Comfortable, good leg room and entertainment - but still long.  Arrived Vancouver to be met by our tour guide and went straight to the ferry on our very big, comfortable coach.  As we walked onto the deck I commented to Lisa that though it definitley looked like rain it didn't feel like it would.  Amazingly half waly through the crossing to Vancouver Is the cloud disappeared and we arrived in Victoria under a perfectly clear sky which has continued today.
Group seems very pleasant and we have not been challenged for the title of 'girls' which we always seem to get in situations like this.  Our accomm is lovely, our morning at Butchart Gardens spectacular, the carriage ride round town informative and relaxing and now a Sunday afternoon exploring more harbourside tourist features a real touch of summer holidays.  All in all a perfect start to the 8 weeks.




















This is the only internet cafe available so am wondering how often I'll blog.  So if you don't hear/read I may be having access probs. 
Off to Whistler tomorrow.  The bar has been set very high.  Hard to imagine it will get better.  More of the same? Bring it on.