Vancouver Vacation

Two days in Vancouver saw some glorious weather and the bike didn't move from the hotel car park. The next day saw us deliver the bike for air freighting back to Manchester, it was just strapped to a metal plate with a few alterations at my insistence. I need not have worried, it arrived back in Manchester a few days later in pretty much the state we left it. We, on the other hand, arrived back at Heathrow completely shattered and needing a few days to get over the jet lag.
The months adventure went very quick, we had a fantastic time, met some great people, saw some incredible places and hope you've enjoyed our blog.

The end of the road

Into Vancouver on a wing and a prayer, tyres shot to hell, low oil warning showing and running on fumes ready for air freighting home. Still managed to chase a k1300s but he couldn't have been trying, or his tyres are as bad as mine!

Riding into a busy city was quite a culture shock and an idiot reversing in front of us would have had us on the ground if it wasn't for Rosie bashing and kicking his rear wing! He looked a bit dumb struck when I went and shouted through his open window, funny I thought they spoke French in Canada.

The beach in the city looks quite good but will improve with a bit of sunshine tomorrow, we hope! Today was the first time we got wet this holiday and that was only the last half hour.

Now for a couple of days sight seeing before the plane home, a bit of holiday at the end of our adventure.

Whistle while you play

Rode from Dutch Lake to Whistler along some very nice roads and some others which were the worst surface we've come across this holiday. We arrived feeling a bit battered, ameliorated by seeing a black bear that ran off at the sound of our approach. We soon felt better when the hotel gave us free parking and upgraded us to a deluxe room with giant double jacuzzi and views of Whistler mountain.

Had a stroll round the Olympic village but didn't see Claire Balding in the square where most of the TV coverage started. It's now the MTB season with lots of fancy downhill bikes to rent.

This is a view from the hotel room

Whistler Village is quite a smart place and still quite lively at this time of year.

Ate very fine dinning, so fine you needed a meal afterwards! Some of the folks and places take themselves a bit seriously but it's hard not to smirk at a 50 year old skate boarder.

Top of the Rockies

Left Jasper and stopped over at a little Motel by Dutch Lake. Came via Mnt Robson which is the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. Then we headed south westwards.

Went to see this very impressive waterfall in Wells Gray provincial park next to where we are staying.

Tremendous weather, eating outside at 9:30, a bit cool but very few mosquitos, apparently there will be loads soon! Tremendous view from the tables.

Walking on Ice

Hers's Rosie climbing in the ice and snow;-))

Last night we stayed at the Icefields Centre opposite the Columbia Icefield which is the largest mass of ice south of the Arctic. Had dinner overlooking the glacier opposite the hotel and hiked up to it this morning.

There were some pretty impressive waterfalls just off the Icefields Parkway. Here is one of them.

There were a few of these deer running about

We stopped overnight in Jasper in another cabin aka shed which was actually very comfortable and quite ok for one night plus they provided a really good continental breakfast.

Hallelujah we shot a Grizzly

Leaving Banff we spotted this large Elk with a fine set of antlers and a little while later we nearly bumped into this bear, he's a pretty large grizzly.

Then it was up the Icefields Parkway, a spectacular road with mountains, lakes and glaciers on each side.

These longhorn sheep and this little fella posed for photographs.

Bumbling around Banff

Our first day off the bike since leaving Denver, we spent the day hiking trails through the woods and round the lakes, all with great views as Banff, the highest town in Canada, is encircled by snow capped mountains. The forecast rain didn't happen and the weather was quite reasonable, if a little cloudy at times and brilliant sunshine at others. We waited over ten minutes at a level crossing as the longest freight train I have ever seen went through Banff, it must have been over a mile long with 4 or 5 engines and lots of the containers were labelled Hyundai. One of the pictures is of a native American museum, looks like the Indians captured the fort!