Canada.

This trip to Canada included a cruise from Vancouver to Alaska

Calgary
We arrived in Calgary after an 8 hour flight from Heathrow, the weather was hot as we transferred to the hotel in the centre of the city.
I suppose I should not have been surprised that Calgary is a modern city with multi-national businesses and not the one horse town that cowboy films had imprinted on my mind.

The following day we were taken round the city by coach and visited the famous "Stampede Ground" before heading for the town of Banff.

Banff
Just before arriving we stopped for a distant view of the famous "Banff Springs Hotel" and visited the Bow River ("The River of no Return" with Marilyn Munro and Robert Mitchum..
However we stayed in the Mount Royal Hotel in the town.
From here I took a trip in the gondola up Mount Sulphur, a fantastic viewpoint, quite a few stalwarts had even walked up.

Lake LouiseNext day we left for a day of sightseeing, 1st stop at Lake Louise - breathtakingly beautiful aqua marine coloured water from the glaciers. Next stop was the Athabasca Glacier where we were taken by "Snowcoach" onto the ice, - incredible. On the way back we saw elk grazing at the side of the road and soon after spotted a black bear just sitting under the trees.
Onwards next day to Kamloops.

Kamloops
Stopped at Kicking Horse Pass, the ingenious spiral tunnel system to enable the trains to climb over the mountains.
The lunch stop was at a place called 3 Valley Gap, we had an all too quick tour round this ghost town, all the buildings had been bought and rebuilt in there original condition by one man and his family over the last fifty years. He also had vintage and veteran cars, trains and horse drawn coaches; what a place, if you ever find yourself there, don't miss it!
We later made a brief stop at the point where the "Last Spike" in that section of the railroad to the west was laid.

We left Kamloops quite early (as usual) and stopped at "Hat Creek Ranch" a staging post for the stagecoaches. Had a tour round the inn, still in its original condition.
Then into the Indian Village where we met Lorraine who belonged to the Sushwap Tribe, she explained and showed us how her ancestors lived in the past, an amazing experience.

Vancouver
Arrived in Vancouver and headed for Chinatown, they were just opening up and saw some weird things, dried lizards, live fish & crabs and things in bottles and jars that to us were unrecognisable.
Round about mid day we left for the dock to board the ship, this was my first meeting with US Customs and is something see. Never seen so many dour faces asking me stupid questions, taking my picture and fingerprint, hell where was I going?
Anyway on the ship, but not before them wanting my credit card details or $100 deposit against purchases, more photos, hand desanitizer, not a good start for me.
Nice cabin, fresh fruit, bubbly, fridge, TV etc.
My first cruise and it seems OK, plenty of restaurants, theatre, pools, hot tub, bars & lounges. Bit pricey mind!

Inside Passage
Sailed all night, and next day, which was maybe just as well as I had seven restaurants to get round, have to admit the food was excellent and just never stopped.
Saw porpoises and little auks paddling around.

Ketchikan
Docked at the town of Ketchikan around 6am, and after breakfast we hit the shops??? Took a Duck Tour round the town and then into the water and round the harbour, saw a bald eagle. Set sail again around 1.30pm, so it was The Four Season Restaurant for lunch and relax.

Juneau
Went on a whale watching trip today in the Jet Boat, very soon saw quite a few Humpbacks, one of which made a spectacular leap right out of the water. Stopped at a salmon fishery to see them going up the fish ladder, thousands of them.

Sawyer Glacier
Spent today sailing through the floating ice in Tracy Arm, the lumps of ice just got bigger as we sailed further up the channel and finally we saw the glacier itself, spectacularly beautiful. Spotted black bear and three cubs on the shore.

Skagway
Skagway Docked at Skagway at 7am, then by local bus into the town, it is a lovely little place, the name boardwalk certainly means something here and the shops are all fronted as if it was still a mining town in the days of John Wayne.
I took a walk up the hillside, but was careful not to encounter any bears, some nice views of the surrounding area, also available were helicopter trips. Plenty harbour seals and bald eagles to watch.

Vancouver
After 2 days cruising back to Vancouver, during which we spotted some Orcas blowing in the distance, we spent the next few days with my cousin Ron who lives just outside the city in Delta.
Whistler MountainWith Ron and Helen, we visited local markets,and the mountain resort of Whistler. Ron and I went up the gondola to the mountain top - wow some place.
On the way back we visited Stanley Park and The Lions Gate Bridge, saw some raccoons.
Next day we crossed into US and visited a piece of land Ron owns at Point Roberts.

Next day it was home again from Vancouver to Edinburgh via Heathrow.
A very enjoyable trip, the coach part through the Rockies was spectacular, but we did feel a little rushed at some of the stops, never mind if we had been given more time we would not have seen so much.

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