May 10, 2013 - Rocky Mountaineer day 1

We left our apartment at 6.30 for a taxi ride to the train station. We had a dude in a kilt pipe us on board, and it was all a bit early for bagpipes for my liking, but then it's always a bit early for bagpipes. Tartan day memories! The train is very comfy and the food and service is great.The scenery began in typical Vancouver fashion, then became drier and more Aussie looking later in the day. We are now in Kamloops for our overnight stop, and it feels like high 20s and dry. We saw some bald headed eagles and big horned sheep, but expect...

Apr 16, 2013 - Salmon Arm actually Kamloops Part Deux

We had a great afternoon/evening in Kamloops with Shelley and Joanne. They drove here from Salmon Arm and took us to a great restaurant for dinner and drinks. We came back to the RV park where we got a chance to hear Shelley play her ukulele. Tried to upload a video of her playing but the file was too large. Disappointed, because it's really, really good. It was so wonderful to see them - doesn't happen too often so it's extra special when it does. Thanks for a wonderful evening you two! Let's do that cruise we talked about! So this is it...

Apr 16, 2013 - KAMLOOPS!!!!

Hi Well, we are in Kamloops and I am freezing to death! At the moment Moe is snoring away - she is having a nap before we meet up with Shelly and Joanne. We met my brother on Sunday morning just after we left the border and had a great visit. He is recuperating nicely but still needs a walker. Physio, of course, is ongoing and will be for some time. We stayed at the Capilano RV Park which is located in West Van right under the Lion's Gate Bridge. Yesterday we went for lunch with my sister and then spent the afternoon at her house and had...

Oct 10, 2012 - Warning (as per)

October 8, 2012 Freud discovered that in every culture there are words which are considered taboo: words that are rarely spoken aloud, but, when they are, produce a dynamic and sometimes emotional and judgmental of the reader of the writer’s character. For those of you who don’t know me or have not known me for long, I use these words. Why? Because I am brutally honest…period…full stop. Honest in my feelings as I see it and as I feel it and as I write it. While not given a place in polite society, it is who I am and what makes me who I...

Sep 28, 2012 - One more week!

Sept 28, 2012 WOW it's been awhile since I wrote in on of these. Feels sooooooo good! The excitement is building. I don’t know how long I am going for. One thing that I do know is that I booked my return flight to leave one month past the expiration of my visa. Stupid is as stupid does. I do have trip cancellation/change insurance. The Indian visa is only good for 6 months and I may get sick of it by then anyway. The bastards only gave me a single entry. SOB! My mom is going coming with for the first month. 1st class all the way; from...

Aug 1, 2012 - Day 18 - Kamloops, BC

Well we are back in Canada. The mountains are higher here and more dramatic. Had a good day until I ran out of gas. We hit a stretch that had signs saying no gas for 110 km. I trusted my Distance To Empty which said I had 190 kms so I thought we were OK. Did not count on the mountains. Actually, we made it to Merritt but had to stop at the Information center and call for gas. Cost us about an hour and a half late getting into the campground here. Got the third last site. That's all for now. Tomorrow we should be in Banff and staying there...

Jul 31, 2012 - Seattle to Kamloops

30 July Walked all over Seattle. Visited Pike Markets, Seattle Centre,Space Needle and did Duck Tour, land and water tour of Seattle. Great day, lovely city. Sent home some winter clothes to make room in suitcase for more clothes! Not really, just to make it lighter. 31 July Met tour leader and others at 7.30am at the Clarion Hotel near Seattle airport. Seem a nice bunch of people. 6 Aussies, 3 Pommies, 1 Irish, 2 South Africans, 1 German. Long drive today to Kamloops BC. Only stopped to shop for lunch items. We all put in money and buy...

Jul 15, 2012 - Kamloops

Canada is not conducive to emailing for phone calls, bought extra MB for our trip but quickling went through them with only checking my online banking. Have found a Wifi that is fast so here's an update. We had a beautiful drive from Seattle to Fort Langley, BC; we chose the entry from a locale's advice as it was small and not the usual 1hr.+ wait. There were 4 coaches, with one going through about 1/2 hr. before with Bill and I being the first of the 4. A not too friendly female customs officer asked if we had any firearms, which we...

Jul 15, 2012 - Kamloops

I got the truck fixed. (It was just a fuse!) I had checked the fuses in the cab of the truck where I thought all fuses hung out only to find out (at the dealership) that there is another huge fuse box under the hood. Oh well, now I know. Then I headed out the next day (Tuesday) for Kelowna to have a solar panel installed, so now my batteries should never get run down. After that I drove a few hours to Merritt and my friend John's place to wait for the rodeo grounds to open on Thursday (the 12th) so I could park the trailer at "party...

Jun 26, 2012 - Pritchard

Day six – Pritchard – 144k I was on morning kitchen duty so I was unable to ride out with Old Bob O. He ended up missing the turn and took the wrong highway to Kamloops. He was on the Coquihalla with the steep climb. The route we took was the old highway which meanders through the Nicola Valley. A most enjoyable ride. We were the last ones to leave camp. Besides hanging around to clean up, the kitchen crew is also responsible to be the last ones on the road and make sure that no one is left on the route in need of help. There were three...

May 31, 2012 - from the Nooksack to Canada

I left the casino in Lynden, Washington around noon (after a 99 cent breakfast). The casino was rather plain (only slots and no entertainment) but breakfast was good. Within a half an hour I was at the border (Sumas crossing) and got through in about 5 minutes although they don't have a Nexus lane for us privileged travelers. What they seem to have now at every border crossing are these humongous yellow posts as you approach the guard shacks and they are just far enough apart for me to squeeze the trailer through with about an inch to...

Oct 30, 2011 - Kamloops and the Trans Canadian Highway

Off to Vancouver on Sunday October 30th with a stop along the way in Kamloops about 1/2 way to Vancouver from Banff traveling 310 miles should have only taken us 6 hours.. But didn't expect to hit snowstorms and highway closing due to accident took us 9 hours.. Before leaving Banff, I called highway road reports, spoke to the ranger in the morning and looked on line.. only reports we heard were some rain but mostly clear... So thought, some rain shouldn't be problem.. Well should have thought differently traveling up around 6,000 feet up...